NATIONAL FISHING AND BOATING WEEK 2023
June 3rd through June 11th, marks National Fishing and Boating Week 2023, an annual celebration in recreational boating and fishing which also serves to promote awareness of conservation efforts related to these activities.
The week is sponsored by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational boating and fishing, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources.
Each state sponsors this celebration in their own specific way. Many states have a “free” fishing day where no license is required. Some states and venues will have fishing competitions as well as other fishing and boating related events throughout the week. The emphasis is to entice people to celebrate the lakes, rivers and waterways for recreational boating and fishing.
The Take Me Fishing website has a state by state interactive map showing activities, fishing and boating locations and more. A how-to video shows how easy it is to use and for those who want even more detailed information, the Fishbrain App is available for download.
TakeMeFishing also provides a list of Free Fishing Days for National Fishing and Boating Week 2023 by state:
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- Alabama – Second Saturday in June. June 10, 2023
- Alaska – Youth anglers 15 and under and anglers 61 and older fish for free year-round.
More info about Free Fishing Days AK - Arkansas – Second full weekend in June. June 10-11, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days AR - Arizona – First Saturday in June. June 3, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days AZ - California – Saturday July 1 and Saturday September 2, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days CA - Connecticut – Saturday, May 13 & June 18, and August 12th, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days CT
- DC – June 10-11, 2023
- Delaware – First full weekend of June. June 3-4, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days DE - Florida -First consecutive Saturday and Sunday in April (freshwater) April 1-2; Second consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June (freshwater) June 3-4; First consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June (saltwater) June 3-4
First Saturday in September (saltwater) September 2
Saturday following Thanksgiving (saltwater) November 25
More info about Free Fishing Days FL - Georgia – June 5, June 12 National Hunting and Fishing day September 23, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days GA
- Hawaii – 365 days a year (marine) More info about Free Fishing Days HI
- Idaho – Second Saturday every June. June 10, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days ID - Illinois – Father’s Day weekend in June. June 17-18, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days IL - Indiana – May 7, June 3-4 National Public Lands Day September 23, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days IN
- Iowa – Free Fishing Weekend is the first Friday – Sunday that falls in June (June 2-4, 2023) More info about Free Fishing Days IA
- Kansas – June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days KS
- Kentucky – June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days KY
- Louisiana – Second Saturday and Sunday in June. June 10-11, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days LA
- Maine – Feb 18-19 and June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days ME
- Maryland – June 3, June 10, July 4 Independence Day, 2023. Year-round License-free fishing areas throughout the tidal portions of the Chesapeake Bay More info about Free Fishing Days MD
- Massachusetts – Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend is June 3-4, 2023 Free Saltwater Fishing Weekend is June 17-18, 2023. More info about Free Fishing Days MA
- Michigan – The summer weekend is always the Saturday and Sunday following the first full week of June, June 10-11, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days MI - Minnesota – June 9-11, 2023 – Take a Kid Fishing Weekend (Minnesota residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16) More info about Free Fishing Days MN
- Mississippi – On June 3 and 4, 2023, during National Fishing and Boating Week, a sport fishing license is not required for Mississippi residents for all public waters, and fishing permits for all anglers at State Lakes and State Park Lakes are free! Mississippi residents can fish without a fishing license on July 4th in all waters of the state. State Fishing Lake and State Park Permits are required to fish in State Fishing Lakes and State Park Lakes on July 4. More info about Free Fishing Days MS
- Missouri – Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June. June 10-11, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days MO
- Montana – Father’s Day weekend. June 17-18, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days MT
- Nebraska – Free Fishing/Free Park Entry Day on Saturday, May 20, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days NE
- Nevada – Second Saturday in June. June 10, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days NV - New Hampshire – First Saturday in June. June 3, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days NH - New Jersey – June 3 and October 21, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days NJ - New Mexico – First Saturday in June. June 3, 2023
Last Saturday in September. September 30, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days NM - New York – June 24 & 25, 2023 September 23, 2023 (National Hunting & Fishing Day) November 11, 2023 (Veterans Day) More info about Free Fishing Days NY
- North Carolina – July 4 Independence Day More info about Free Fishing Days NC
- North Dakota – First weekend in June. June 3-4, 2023. Last weekend in Dec. December 30-31, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days ND
- Ohio – Father’s Day weekend. June 18-19, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days OH - Oklahoma – First Weekend in June. June 3-4, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days OK - Oregon – First Weekend in June. June 3-4, 2023
Thanksgiving Weekend. November 25-26, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days OR - South Dakota – Mother & Father’s Day, More info about Free Fishing Days SD
- Tennessee – Saturday of the first full week in June. June 10, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days TN
- Texas – First Saturday in June. June 3, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days TX - Utah – June 10, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days UT
- Vermont – Second Saturday in June. June 10, 2023. More info about Free Fishing Days VT
- Virginia – First full weekend in June. June 2-4, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days VA - Washington – “Free Fishing Weekend” is June 10-11, 2023
More info about Free Fishing Days WA - West Virginia – Second Saturday and Sunday in June. June 10-11, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days WV
- Wisconsin – Summer Free Fishing weekend – First Saturday and Sunday in June. June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days WI
- Wyoming – First Saturday in June. June 3, 2023
It’s important to note that while the overall theme is nationwide, the specific events and opportunities can vary widely from state to state, and even community to community. So, it’s always a good idea to check with local resources for details about what’s happening in a specific area during National Boating and Fishing Week.
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