NATIONAL FISHING AND BOATING WEEK EVENTS 2018

This week marked the kick-off of National Fishing and Boating Week – (June 2 – 10). 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.

Several organizations and businesses are also helping to promote National Fishing and Boating Week. Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) has partnered with Walmart and The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) in conjunction with RBFF’s Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns to further promote fishing and boating, Well-known companies also involved in supporting this celebration include Pringles, Jack Links and Zip Firestarters.

FLW will host events in over 2000 Walmart stores across the nation assisting families preparing to fish, with expert tips for local fisheries and guidance in tackle and gear selection.

The Take Me Fishing website (takemefishing.org) 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.

The TakeMeFishing.org website also provides a list of Free Fishing Days in 2018 by state:

• Alabama – Second Saturday in June. June 9, 2018
• Arkansas – Second full weekend in June. June 8-10, 2018
• Arizona – First Saturday in June. June 2, 2018
• California – First Saturday in July and September 1, 2018
• Colorado – First full weekend of June. June 2-3, 2018
• Connecticut – Saturday, May 12. CT offers 2 free fishing license days Sunday June 12 and Saturday Aug 11 (must get the free one day license)
• DC – First full week of June. From Saturday, June 2 to Sunday, June 10.
• Delaware – First full weekend of June. June 2-3, 2018
• Florida -First Saturday and Sunday in April (freshwater), Second Saturday and Sunday in June (freshwater), First Saturday and Sunday in June (saltwater), First Saturday in September (saltwater), Saturday following Thanksgiving (saltwater)
• Georgia – June 2, June 9, September 22
• Hawaii – 365 days a year (marine)
• Iowa – First full weekend of June. June 1-3, 2018
• Idaho – Second Saturday every June. June 9, 2018.
• Illinois – Father’s Day weekend in June. June 16-17, 2018.
• Indiana – April 21, May 19, June 2-3, 2018.
• Kansas – First full weekend in June. June 2-3, 2018
• Kentucky – First full weekend in June. June 2-3, 2018
• Louisiana – Second Saturday and Sunday in June.
• Maine – Feb 17 and 18 and first Saturday and Sunday in June.
• Maryland – June 2, June 9, July 4 Independence Day
• Massachusetts – First Saturday and Sunday in June. June 2 & 3, 2018 (Freshwater Fishing). Fathers Day weekend June 16-17 (Saltwater fishing)
• Michigan – Feb 17-18, June 9-10, 2018
• Minnesota –  May 12-13  MN residents moms fish free. June 8-10  MN residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16. Jan 19-21, 2019 MN residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16.
• Missouri – Second Saturday and Sunday in June.
• Mississippi – June 2-3. July 4 Independence Day.
• Montana – Father’s Day weekend.
• North Carolina – July 4 Independence Day
• North Dakota – First weekend in June June 2-3. Dec 29-30 (free ice fishing days)
• Nebraska – Free Fishing/Free Park Entry day on Saturday, May 19, 2018.
• New Hampshire – Third Saturday in January, (Jan 20, 2018) and first Saturday in June (June 2, 2018.)
• New Jersey – Second Saturday in June.
• New Mexico – First Saturday in June. Sep date TBD
• New York – February 17-18 2018 June 23-24, 2018 September 22, 2018 November 11, 2018
• Nevada – Second Saturday in June.
• Ohio – First Saturday and Sunday in May.
• Oklahoma – First Weekend in June.
• Oregon – Feb 17-18, June 2-3, Sept 1-2, Nov 23-24
• Pennsylvania – May 27, July 4 Independence Day
• Rhode Island – First Weekend in May (Freshwater Fishing only)
• South Carolina – Memorial Day. May 28, 2018.
• Independence Day. July 4, 2018.
• South Dakota – Typically the third weekend in May. May 18-20, 2018
• Tennessee – Second Saturday in June.
• Texas – First Saturday in June.
• Utah – Second Saturday in June.
• Virginia – First full weekend in June. June 1-3, 2018
• Vermont – Fourth Saturday in January and Second Saturday in June.
• Washington – Second Saturday and Sunday in June.
• Wisconsin – Summer Free Fishing weekend. First Saturday and Sunday in June. June 2-3, 2018. Winter Free Fishing weekend. Third weekend in Jan. Jan 19-20, 2019.
• West Virginia – Second Saturday and Sunday in June.
• Wyoming – First Saturday in June.