2024 Fishing Licenses are Available Online | | |
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Fishing Fuels Conservation!
100% of your investment funds fish and fishing
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Latest Updates from the Fisheries Division
To advance the conservation, enhancement, restoration, use, and appreciation of Connecticut’s fish, fisheries and fish habitats.
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The CT Fisheries Division has partnered with FishBrain, the world's largest fishing APP to provide CT's fishing regulations right to your smart device. These regulations are available in the FREE version of the APP. As with any APP if you would like to have access to premium features there is a subscription fee. | |
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May 11, 2024 - CT's Free Fishing Day | |
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Saturday May 11, 2024 is Connecticut's annual FREE fishing day, where anyone can fish without needing to have a fishing license. All other rules and regulations remain in effect (minimum size, daily limit, gear, etc.,)
As a reminder 100% of the revenue from the sale of fishing licenses comes to the DEEP's Bureau of Natural Resources. Your purchase of a fishing license does so much more than allow you to fish. License fees fuel programs related to water quality, land acquisition, fish culture and stocking, habitat enhancement and conservation, and much more. So please consider purchasing a license even if you may only get to fish a few times per year.
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April Showers bring May Opening Days for Several Saltwater Species | |
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May brings the opening day for several favorite saltwater species:
May 1: Scup (Porgy)
May 4: Summer Flounder (Fluke)
May 18: Black Sea Bass
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New Marine Regulations for 2024 -
Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Fluke
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Saltwater recreational fishing regulations for 2024 have been finalized. There are changes to regulations for summer flounder (fluke), scup (porgy), and black sea bass for this year – please see the website for all other marine species.
Scup:
Minimum length: 11 inches for boat anglers / 9.5 inches for shore anglers (including Enhanced Opportunity Fishing Sites)
Daily creel limit: 30 fish per angler
Open Season: May 1 - December 31
Party/Charter Vessel Bonus Season:
For paying passengers only: 30 fish per angler from May 1 - August 31 and November 1 - December 31; 40 fish per angler from September 1 - October 31
Black Sea Bass:
Minimum length:16 inches**
Daily creel limit: 5 fish per angler
Open Season: May 18 - June 23; July 8 - November 28;
Closed Season June 24 - July 7
**Excluding tail fin filament (tendril).
Fluke:
Daily creel limit: 3 fish per angler
Open Season: May 4 - August 1; 19 inch minimum length*
Open Season: August 2 - October 15; 19.5 inch minimum length*
*Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Sites the minimum length is 17 inches
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Join the Team - Share Your Marine Catch Data with DEEP | |
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The Marine Fisheries Division is seeking marine recreational anglers who will volunteer to participate in the Connecticut Volunteer Angler Survey (VAS) Program. Sign up here.
The VAS Program is designed to collect fishing trip and catch information from marine recreational (hook and line) anglers who volunteer to record their angling activities via a logbook. VAS anglers contribute valuable fisheries-specific information concerning striped bass, fluke, bluefish, scup, tautog, and other important finfish species used in monitoring and assessing fish populations inhabiting Connecticut marine waters.
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Proposed Changes to the Freshwater Fishing Regulations | |
The Commissioner of the DEEP and the Fisheries Division are proposing changes to the regulations for sportfishing in the inland district. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2025. Get all of the details here.
The Fisheries Division will present the proposed changes and answer any questions during a webinar on May 1, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Please register here.
The formal public hearing where the DEEP will accept comment (for or against) will be held via ZOOM on Wednesday May 8, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Participate in the hearing via this link.
Formal Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm on May 31, 2024 via one of these methods:
- Via the CT EREGS system – Preferred
- At the Public Hearing on May 8, 2024
- By email to William.foreman@ct.gov
- By mail to
William Foreman, Fisheries Division
CT DEEP
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
The proposal includes:
Section 1. Amends sec. 26-112-43 RCSA (“Definitions”). Updates definitions of “Bait”, “Fly”, “Fly Fishing” (to define center pin fishing), “Hook,” and “Possession Limit”; and establishes definitions for “Artificial Lure/Lure,” and “Catch and Release”, and removes a definition for “Bobbing”.
Section 2. Amends sec. 26-112-45 RCSA (“Species limitations”). Establishes a statewide minimum length of nine (9) inches for trout, adds Wharton Brook Pond (Allen Pond), Wallingford, to the list of lakes and ponds with a reduced creel limit (3 fish per day) for Channel Catfish, and removes “Bobbing” as a method of take.
Section 3. Amends sec. 26-112-46 RCSA (“Special management areas”). Amends multiple Special Management Areas. Most notably, Crystal Lake is removed from the list of Trout Management Lakes, a thermal refuge is designated at Highland Lake, a new Bass Management Area is established on the entire Housatonic River from the Massachusetts border to the Bleachery Dam (New Milford) with catch and release only regulations for black bass, nineteen new Class 1 Wild Trout Management Areas (WTMAs) are designated, three Class 3 WTMAs are redesignated as Class 1 WMTAs, three Class 3 WTMAs are eliminated, three new Trout Parks (Macedonia Brook, Mashamoquet Brook and Kettletown Brook) are established, three streams are removed from the list of Sea-Run Trout Streams, and three lakes (East Twin Lake, West Twin Lake, and Wononskopomuc Lake) are designated as Chain Pickerel Management Lakes.
Section 4. Amends sec. 26-112-48 RCSA (“Miscellaneous restrictions”). Establishes a daily creel limit of zero (“Catch and Release” only fishing) for all fish species at Plymouth Reservoir (Plymouth) as requested by the Town of Plymouth.
Additionally, there are several technical changes and updates.
Please reach out to mike.beauchene@ct.gov for questions about the proposed regulations, participation in the online sessions, or for how to provide comment.
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The Channel Catfish are Back | |
The Fisheries Division is pleased to announce the return of Channel Catfish stocking to our Community Fishing Waters. These fish are purchased from a vendor in Arkansas and make the 20+ hour drive to Connecticut where Fisheries Division staff divvy them up and get them to a Community Water near you. Follow us on Facebook where we will announce the stocking once they are out and about. Need some tips? Check out our video below. | |
Spawning is SOOOO Stressful | |
Spawning can be stressful! Each spring sunfish and bass enter the shallows to make their nests and spawn. For some it is too much to take and results in death. If you happen to come across a fish kill we would like to know deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov but in many cases it is likely natural, a consequence of the spawning stress. Learn more with our fact sheet | |
Improvements to Chatfield Hollow State Park | |
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Heads up Chatfield Hollow State Park (Killingworth) anglers, the DEEP is currently in the midst of massive improvements for the park including enhanced parking and new roads. Please be advised that there may be portions of the park or the entire park may be temporarily closed or fully closed on various days to allow for the work to be completed safely and efficiently.
Please note that the dates below are dependent on favorable weather and field conditions and could change in an instant. The best contacts for updates on park closures and openings are Joseph Buyonje (Project Manager – 860 978 0834) and Martin Torresquintero (Park Supervisor – 203 915 9614).
April 29th – May 3rd – Park will be closed to enable the paving of the surface course (top course) to be carried out in a safe and efficient manner.
May 4th -5th Park open on the weekend.
May 6th – May 10th – Park will be closed to enable continuation of the paving of the surface course (top course) and install of necessary curbs and speed bumps to be carried out in a safe and efficient manner.
Thank you for your understanding during our renovations.
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Easy as 1-2-Fly
FREE Classes
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NEW for '24: CARE Fishing Slam | |
Fishing is always better with a buddy - Come and join the "Fish with CARE" program at each of our four types of fishing events; Trout Parks, Freshwater Ponds (Sunfish/Bass/Channel Catfish), Saltwater Species, and Ice Fishing. We guarantee you will have fun, reduce your stress, and create memories. See our spring/summer schedule here. | |
2024 Freshwater Fishing Regulations | |
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The 2024 Freshwater Fishing Regulations are now available online. Download your version here in English or Spanish.
There are no regulation changes for freshwater fishing from 2023 to 2024.
However, starting this year the Freshwater and Saltwater Regulations will no longer be combined in one booklet. Marine regulations are set through a process involving many stakeholders and are not usually completed until late February. As many of you are hitting the inland waters well before March, the Fisheries Division has opted to split the two and publish the inland regulations at the start of the calendar year. Hard copies will be distributed to many town clerks and bait and tackle shops in the coming weeks.
Marine regulations will be printed in a brochure and have been updated on the DEEP webpage.
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Spring trout stocking continues! Since 2/21, our State Fish Hatchery stocking trucks have been on the move. The Fisheries Division plans to stock roughly 500,000 trout between February and May. Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Tiger Trout are all scheduled. The majority of the trout will range between 10-12”, and close to 20% will be >12”, some much larger! Please get out and enjoy. These fish are for you!
Follow the 2024 trout stocking with
Facebook Posts (Wednesday and Friday)
Interactive Map
Daily Report
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CARE to Teach Fishing? We do!
We Need You!
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The Fisheries Division – Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education Program (CARE) is seeking volunteers to join our team of certified Fishing Coaches! FISH with CARE program hosts classes and events all over the state where we teach basic fishing skills to adults, families, and youth. FISH with CARE coaches work with Fisheries staff to educate and engage the public in the outdoors through the sport of fishing. If you are interested in sharing your love and knowledge of fishing while creating the next generation of environmental stewards, consider joining our Fishing Coach team! Our next certification training will be offered in spring of 2024, information to get involved can be found HERE!
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Fishing Buddy Bulletin Board:
Announcements and More from the Angling Community
to Feed Your Passion
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If you have classes, events, or meetings you would like us to share as a "Fishing Buddy" please email information to mike.beauchene@ct.gov. | |
Fishing Challenge - For YOUth | |
The Youth Fishing Passport Fishing Challenge is a year long fishing scavenger hunt. To have your catch count, simply snap a photo of your fish (from our scorecard) and use our online submission form. The top four anglers (who catch the most different types on our list) receive a prize pack full of fishing swag.
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CT's FREE Youth Fishing Passport is your child's ticket to all of the amazing outdoor discoveries fishing has to offer. Fishing involves knowing about habitat, environmental quality, food webs, life history of species, and so much more. You can get a Youth Fishing Passport, for those 15 or younger, using our online licensing system. Register your child as a new user. If you have questions please contact us.
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How to get the Youth Fishing Passport | |
This Month's Mystery Fish(es) | |
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Last month's mystery fish was the Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum).
Sturgeons are an ancient family characterized by slender bodies, lack of scales, and five rows of bony plates running the length of the body, giving them an armored appearance. Their tails are asymmetrical, with the upper fin lobe being much longer than the lower lobe. Their mouths are ventral (on the underside of the head) and toothless. They have long snouts with four barbels on the underside in front of the mouth. They have a single dorsal fin set well back toward the tail, and their fins are shark-like with no spines. Sturgeons are dark brown to gray on the back fading to whitish on the belly.
There are two native species of sturgeon in Connecticut, but only the shortnose sturgeon is thought to currently spawn in the state. Both species spawn in the spring in high-velocity waters, typically beneath the first major change in elevation of their home river. The second species is the Atlantic sturgeon.
With increased boating and fishing activity comes the increased chance of encountering a Sturgeon, so CT DEEP biologists would like to remind folks to use the online Report-a-Sturgeon app to let us know if you see one.
Tracking these observations is an important part of research into the Shortnose and Atlantic Sturgeon populations in Connecticut waters being conducted by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Any sturgeon sighting information, past or present, whether the sturgeon was healthy, injured, or dead, is important to CT DEEP researchers. One easy way to help is to use CT DEEP’s online app, Report-a-Sturgeon, whenever you see a Sturgeon!
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How to get your License Online | |
Back Editions of CT Fishin' Tips | |
If you happened to miss one a month or two, feel free to get caught up! | |
Información disponible en español
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The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are seeking a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English, wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint, or require some other accommodation, including equipment to facilitate virtual participation, please contact the DEEP Office of Diversity and Equity at 860-418-5910 or by email at deep.accommodations@ct.gov. Any person needing an accommodation for hearing impairment may call the State of Connecticut relay number - 711. In order to facilitate efforts to provide an accommodation, please request all accommodations as soon as possible following notice of any agency hearing, meeting, program or event.
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This program receives Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability.
If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you need more information, please write to:
Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights
U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20240
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