Louisiana ‘Free Fishing Weekend’ Takes Place June 6-7

BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced its annual Free Fishing Weekend will take place on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7, 2026.

What Does Louisiana's Free Fishing Weekend Entail?

During Free Fishing Weekend, residents and visitors can fish Louisiana waters without purchasing a fishing license. While a fishing license is not required, all fishing regulations, including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions, will be in effect for the Free Fishing Weekend.

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“This weekend there is no need to purchase a fishing license, so please bring your families and friends to enjoy one of our state's most beloved pastimes,” says LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth. “Please take this opportunity to make memories with your loved ones and introduce them to the great sport of fishing.”

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Free Fishing Weekend Events and Classes

Additionally, LDWF will hold some special events that weekend to teach the skills necessary to give the best opportunity to catch fish. These events will feature everything from lessons on bait choice, tackle setup, casting, and knot tying to fishing techniques, landing, handling and taking the fish off the hook, and more.

Here is the schedule of events:

• Introduction to Fishing - Parent-Child
  Waddill Wildlife Refuge
  4142 N. Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70814
  June 6, 2026: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  Register: https://louisianaoutdoors.com/events/196027
• Introduction to Fishing - Parent-Child
  Waddill Wildlife Refuge
  4142 N. Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70814
  June 6, 2026: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
  Register: https://louisianaoutdoors.com/events/196028

Free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit During Free Fishing Weekend

LDWF would also like to remind anglers that a free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) is still needed during the Free Fishing Weekend when possessing tunas, billfish, swordfish, amberjacks, groupers, snappers, hinds, cobia, wahoo, dolphinfish, and gray triggerfish. Anglers need to choose the "Free Fishing Weekend" option for the license type. Anglers can skip the "LDWF Fishing License Number" field.

A Free Fishing Weekend ROLP will be valid only on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7. An annual ROLP is still needed if possessing offshore species outside of Free Fishing Weekend.

To register for a ROLP, go to https://ldwf.wlf.la.gov/rolp/login.

Fishing Licenses Needed in Louisiana All Other Times of the Year

LDWF reminds the public that outside of the Free Fishing Weekend, anglers 18 and older must possess a Louisiana fishing license to fish any Louisiana public waters. Anglers can purchase a state fishing license at https://louisianaoutdoors.com/.