NY has free fishing day today with no license required

File photo by Tom Rivers: Lucas Bodinez of Pittsburgh stands in the fast-moving current of the Oak Orchard River on Oct. 20, 2023, trying to catch a Chinook salmon or a steelhead (rainbow trout). Many out-of-state anglers come to Orleans County in the fall for tributary fishing.

Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Today is the one of six designated free fishing days in New York State, where the fishing license requirement is waived.

“Fishing in New York is better than ever,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “Whether it’s chasing salmon on a Great Lakes tributary, pursuing bass on a scenic lake, or casting a line in a local stream, there’s something here for everyone. I encourage anglers to take advantage of New York’s Free Fishing Days and introduce someone new to the sport.”

This Free Fishing Day coincides with National Hunting and Fishing Day, which was designated by Congress in 1972 to encourage people to experience, understand, and appreciate traditional outdoor sports and recreation and our abundant natural resources, and to recognize hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation.

The final Free Fishing Day for 2026 will take place on November 11 (Veterans Day). On Free Fishing Days, New York residents and non-residents may fish for free without a fishing license. Free Fishing Day participants are reminded that, although the requirement for a fishing license is waived during Free Fishing Days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect. When not participating in Free Fishing Days, anyone 16 years of age and older must have a current New York State fishing license to fish. Fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.