New Yorkers will be able to cast a line without a license on six days next year, as part of a long-running state effort to draw more residents outdoors and introduce newcomers to fishing.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced that the freshwater fishing license requirement will be waived on Feb. 14–15, June 27–28, Sept. 26 — which coincides with National Hunting and Fishing Day — and Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
The program, established in 1991, is intended to lower the barrier for people who have never fished before, while encouraging long-term participation through license purchases that support conservation. New York’s waters include thousands of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams that support a wide range of sport fish.
To support first-timers, the DEC offers instructional materials, including a beginners’ guide to freshwater fishing, online videos and location-specific planning tools. The agency’s HuntFishNY mobile app consolidates regulations, access points and stocking information into a map-based format.
The free fishing days are part of the state’s broader “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which promotes physical and mental health by encouraging children and families to step away from screens and spend time outdoors. The DEC also runs youth-focused challenges and free fishing clinics throughout the year.
Additional efforts include a fishing rod lending program in partnership with more than 80 public libraries statewide, allowing patrons to borrow equipment before investing in their own gear.
State officials emphasized that while licenses are waived on free fishing days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect. Outside those dates, anglers 16 and older are required to carry a valid New York State fishing license.
For more information visit https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/learn-to-fish/free-clinics
