Ohio residents can fish for free on June 14 and 15 without a license, thanks to the state’s annual Free Fishing Days.
The two-day event gives Ohioans of all ages a chance to enjoy public waters across the state while still following all size and daily catch limits.
“Enjoy Ohio's fishing holiday - the only weekend of the year that residents can fish public waters without purchasing a fishing license!” the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said of the event. “The free fishing days offer a unique chance to try fishing for the first time. Anglers are encouraged to introduce someone new to fishing and make lasting memories on the water.”
The initiative, held each year on the third Sunday in June and the preceding Saturday, is written into state law and aims to encourage outdoor recreation and appreciation of Ohio’s natural resources.
While licenses are waived for these two days, all fishing must comply with regulations outlined in the Ohio Fishing Regulations 2025-26 guidebook.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources notes that several groups are exempt from fishing license requirements year-round.
These include children under 16 (including those fishing for frogs and turtles), active-duty military members on leave or furlough, individuals fishing in privately owned ponds or lakes that do not connect to public waterways, and those assisting an angler with a mobility-impaired or blind fishing license, provided only one line is used.
Others exempt include residents fishing on land or water they or their parents own—unless on or bordering state-owned parks or lakes—as well as those who are tenants residing on agricultural land from which they derive most of their income. All Ohio residents may also fish without a license during Free Fishing Days on June 14 and 15, 2025.
In addition to these exemptions, certain Ohio residents may qualify for free fishing licenses yearround.
Those born on or before December 31, 1937, can obtain a free license at any license outlet or online.
Others who may be eligible with formal application include mobility-impaired individuals requiring assistance to fish, holders of veteran license plates displaying the international wheelchair symbol, veterans with permanent disabilities, residents of state or county institutions and former prisoners of war.
For more details on rules and exemptions, residents are encouraged to consult the Ohio Fishing Regulations 2025-26 guidebook or visit wildohio.gov.
