Free Fishing Clinics
Free Sport Fishing Events are family fishing clinics where participants can fish for free; no freshwater fishing license or enrollment in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry is required. In addition to fishing, participants can learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics and aquatic ecology. In addition to the Free Sport Fishing Events, June 23-24, 2018 is Free Fishing Weekend in NY. February 17-18, 2018, September 22, 2018 and November 11, 2018 have also been newly designated as Free Fishing Days. During these days, anyone can fish the fresh waters of NY and no license is required!
| Region/County | Name of Event | Location | Date/Rain Date | Time | Contact | Contact Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Queens |
Free Fishing Clinics | Gantry Plaza State Park (East River), Long Island City | Fridays (July 6 - August 24) | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Devin Gorsen, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation | 212-866-2529 |
| 5 Saratoga |
#momsfishny (Pre-registration required) |
Moreau Lake State Park, Gansevoort | July 9, 2018 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Joelle Ernst, NYS DEC | 518-402-8891 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Summer Family Fishing Clinic | Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Park (Lake Ronkonkoma), Ronkonkoma | July 11, 2018 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop In Hudson! | Nutten Hook (Hudson River), Stuyvesant | July 11, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 4 Rensselaer |
#momsfishny (Pre-registration required) |
Grafton Lakes State Park, Cropseyville | July 11, 2018 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Joelle Ernst, NYS DEC | 518-402-8891 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Town of Islip Fishing Clinics | Brookwood Hall Park (Knapp's Lake), East Islip | July 19, 2018 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 4 Schenectady |
Steinmetz Park Family Fun Day | Steinmetz Park, Schenectady | July 21, 2018 (Rain Date- July 22) | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Richard Ruzzo, Goosehill Neighborhood Association | 315-745-0092 |
| 9 Erie |
Tacklin' the Basics: Free Fishing Clinic | Chestnut Ridge Park, Orchard Park | July 21, 2018 (Rain Date: July 28) | 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Megan McCulloch, EMPact America of New York | 716-435-7873 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop In Hudson! | Ernest L. Lasher Memorial Park (Hudson River), Germantown | July 25, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 4 Albany |
#momsfishny (Pre-registration required) |
Six Mile Waterworks, Colonie | July 31, 2018 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Joelle Ernst, NYS DEC | 518-402-8891 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop In Hudson! | Henry Hudson Riverfront Park (Hudson River), Hudson | August 1, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 6 Jefferson |
Family Fishing Day *Free Recreational Access Pass Required |
Fort Drum Military Installation (Remington Pond), Fort Drum | August 3, 2018 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Raymond Rainbolt, Environmental Division- Fort Drum Army Community Services | 315-772-9636 |
| 1 Nassau |
Hempstead Summer Fishing Clinic | Hempstead Lake State Park (McDonald Pond), West Hempstead | August 4, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Town of Islip Fishing Clinics | Brookwood Hall Park (Knapp's Lake), East Islip | August 9, 2018 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 5 Essex |
Family Fishing Clinic | Putnam Pond Campground, Ticonderoga | August 11, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Joelle Ernst, NYS DEC | 518-402-8891 |
| 7 Onondaga |
Webster Pond Free Fishing Weekend | Webster Pond, Syracuse | August 11, 2018 (Rain Date- Aug. 18) | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Chad Norton, Anglers Association of Onondaga | 315-727-2922 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Corey Beach Crabbing and Fishing Clinic | Corey Beach (Curtis Road), Blue Point | August 15, 2018 | 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop In Hudson! | Nutten Hook (Hudson River), Stuyvesant | August 15, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop In Hudson! | Ernest L. Lasher Memorial Park (Hudson River), Germantown | August 17, 2018 | 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 4 Rensselaer |
Learn to Fish | Schodack Island State Park (Hudson River), Schodack Landing | August 18, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Ashley Drum, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation | 518-732-0187 |
| 7 Onondaga |
NYS Fair Free Fishing Day | NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse | August 23, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Joelle Ernst, NYS DEC | 518-402-8891 |
| 7 Onondaga |
NYS Fair Free Fishing Day | NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse | August 26, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Joelle Ernst, NYS DEC | 518-402-8891 |
| 4 Rensselaer |
Learn to Fish | Schodack Island State Park (Hudson River), Schodack Landing | September 1, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Ashley Drum, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation | 518-732-0187 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Peconic River Snapper Fishing Clinic | Peconic Riverfront Park (Peconic River), Riverhead | September 6, 2018 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Fire Island Surfcasting Fishing Clinic | Fire Island Wilderness Center (Atlantic Ocean), Smith Point | September 15, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 1:30PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 1 Nassau |
Fall Family Fishing Festival | Hempstead Lake State Park (McDonald Pond), West Hempstead | October 20, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |