CT Fishin' Tips
August 2016

Your source for Connecticut fishing news, pointers, and tips!
FREE Learn to Fish SALTWATER!
Join CARE and we will help you catch something new

Saturday, August 13, 2016 - FREE! Saltwater Fishing Event
Come down to Fort Trumbull State Park on Saturday, August 13, 2016 from 10 am to 3 pm.  The Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) program will be providing rods, bait, and expert instruction.  Each year the fishing is fabulous with catches of snapper bluefish, butterfish, fluke, blackfish, and many spider crabs!
Latest Bites

Saturday, August 13, 2016 - second Free Fishing License Day
Dust off your fishing rod and favorite fishing hat.  The second (and final) free fishing license day of 2016 will be on Saturday, August 13, 2016.  Anyone can participate by getting their FREE 1-day license through DEEP's mobile friendly license system.

NEW! The Weekend Fishing Forecast is being posted on our CT Fish and Wildlife
Facebook page each Friday.

NEW!   Youth fishing passport scorecard to keep track of your catches during the " Fishing Challenge."


Our DEEP weekly fishing report has your detailed fishing information 
Save the Date (or 2)
Connecticut Hunting and Fishing Day

Connecticut Hunting and Fishing Day will be held at  two great locations  this year:

Saturday, September 10
Franklin Swamp Wildlife Management Area in North Franklin.

Saturday, September 24
Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington. 

Both events will be from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM with shuttle parking available

These  FREE  events feature activities for all ages, including live birds of prey, target shooting, hunting dog demonstrations, archery, children's crafts and activities, fishing demonstrations, and more! Equipment vendors, sporting clubs, fish & wildlife exhibits, and conservation organizations will also be present.

Visit the  Hunting and Fishing Day webpage often for updates on events, participants, parking info, and more!
Celebrate 150 Years of Natural Resource
Conservation  in Connecticut!

The DEEP's Bureau of Natural Resources is celebrating its 150th Anniversary in 2016.  Joining in the celebration are the Divisions of Wildlife, Inland Fisheries, Marine Fisheries, Forestry, and the Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police, as well as many partners.

Throughout 2016, we will look back at our history and also look ahead to the future of natural resources in our state. 
Follow along with the celebration an participate in special events to be held year-long. Learn more on our  Facebook Page and the  DEEP Website.
"Snapper" Blues
Snappers are actually juvenile Bluefish.  Despite their small size they are a voracious predator, just like the larger-sized Bluefish (watch the teeth) that are constantly pursuing small bait fish. Snappers are fun to catch as they school together providing non-stop action.  

Snappers are a great fish for novice anglers and children as they are very eager to bite small shiny lures (like Kastmasters) or special "snapper popper rigs" (available at most locations that sell fishing gear).  

August is the time for "Snapper" fishing, so the next time you are near the shoreline find a jetty, pier, or dock and cast a line for some exciting fishing action.   

Snappers are also very tasty! To prepare simply clean the fish, coat in flour and pan fry in butter until crisp on the outside (2-3 minutes per side).  The meat will flake off of the bone.

Rules and Regulations:  A fishing license is required.  There is no size limit, however as these are small bluefish the daily limit is 10 fish per person.
This Month's Mystery Fish
If you think you can correctly name the fish in this photo then, email DEEP.Inland.fisheries@ct.gov with your guess.  Good luck!
Mystery Fish Revealed
The June Mystery Fish was the Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus ).  A member of the sunfish family (centrarchidae) Green Sunfish are native to central North America.  It is unknown when (and by whom) this species was introduced to Connecticut.   

Some key features are a purple fringe around the black "earspot", a white margin on the dorsal and anal fins, and purple flecks on the side.  They are a very attractively colored fish.

Green Sunfish tend to be a bit more aggressive than our native sunfish, the redbreast and pumpkinseed.  Greens are most often found in the upper Quinebaug River and have been slowly expanding westward.  They do not appear to be an issue with our existing fish communities.
The Green Sunfish
For your tackle box

Topwater action can't be beat.
Poppers and "chuggers' are two types of lures fished by casting and then "snapping" the rod sharply while reeling in the slack line. The lures are designed to mimic something swimming at or near the surface.  A splash and popping sound made as the lure is retrieved makes predator fish take notice there is something struggling near the surface.  Hold on tight because when a fish decides to "hit" one of these lures you will know it.

Use either lure to catch a variety of fish including pickerel, bass, pike, or use larger versions for saltwater species like bluefish and striped bass. 
Have you fished here?

Fort Trumbull State Park, New London
The fishing pier at Fort Trumbull State park provides an excellent opportunity to fish for many of the popular saltwater fish species CT has to offer.  Regulars to the pier catch Bluefish, Blackfish (Tautog), Scup (Porgy), Summer Flounder (Fluke), Blue Crabs, Hickory Shad, and Striped Bass!  An added bonus is the pier is one of the many "Enhanced Shoreline Opportunity" fishing locations meaning the size limit for Porgy is reduced from 10" to 9" and the size for fluke reduced from 18" to 16".

The pier is lighted in the dark, has built in rod holders, and several benches. Complement your fishing trip with a visit to the historic fort, scenic old Mystic, a hike at Bluff Point State Park, or camp at Rocky Neck State Park.

The ultimate fish story! You can be on our next cover! We are looking for that special photo to capture the essence of the great fishing here in Connecticut. Be sure to keep your cell phone, Go-Pro, or camera handy!  Get all of the contest details on our web page and email your submissions to: deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov (subject:  Angler's Guide Cover Contest).  

Good Luck!
License Fees Fund Hunting and Fishing Programs

100%  of the fees collected from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, tags, permits, and stamps goes to support fish and wildlife conservation, preservation, and recreation programs administered by the Bureau of Natural Resources. 

Each time you purchase a license your contribution goes to support hunting, fishing, and open space right here in CT. 

So, the next time you see a bald eagle, harvest a white-tail, pheasant, or turkey, or catch a brown trout or striped bass, give yourself and your fellow sportsmen a pat on the back!



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