New York State will hold its seventh and final Free Fishing Day of the year on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11. Anglers can fish in the state's fresh waters that day without a fishing license.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday, Nov. 6, that Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, will be the year's seventh and final Free Fishing Day. On that day, people can fish in New York's fresh waters without a fishing license, and the offer applies to residents of other states as well as New Yorkers.
Only the license requirement is waived; all other fishing regulations still apply. On regular days, anyone 16 or older must hold a valid New York State fishing license, which is good for 365 days from the date of purchase. Even in late fall, anglers can fish for steelhead and brown trout in Great Lakes tributaries, practice catch-and-release trout fishing in inland streams, and fish for muskellunge and pike. The muskellunge season ends Nov. 30 in inland waters and Dec. 15 in Great Lakes waters.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) offers the beginner's guide "I FISH NY," a YouTube video series, the fishing-spot website "Places to Fish," and the fishing map feature of its mobile app, "HuntFishNY." DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton encouraged people to go fishing with veterans on the day and thank them.