New Yorkers will be able to fish the state’s freshwater lakes, rivers and streams without a license on a set of designated days in 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul and the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced February 5. The agency set six free fishing days for the year: February 14-15, June 27-28, September 26 (National Hunting and Fishing Day), and November 11 (Veterans Day).
On the free fishing days, anglers do not need to register or hold a New York freshwater fishing license, the DEC said, though all other fishing regulations — including size limits, catch limits and seasons — remain in effect. The agency frames the dates as a low-barrier way for first-time and lapsed anglers to try the activity before deciding whether to buy a license.
The DEC said the free days are tied to Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which the administration has promoted as a push to get New York’s children and families away from screens and into the state’s parks and waterways. The agency presented the fishing days as part of that broader effort to expand outdoor recreation.
Alongside the announcement, the DEC pointed to its Fishing Rod Lending Program, under which the agency partners with more than 80 participating libraries across the state to let patrons borrow fishing rods, the department said. The program is meant to remove equipment costs as an obstacle for residents who want to fish on the free days or at other times.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton was named among the officials promoting the 2026 dates.
