July 2020
Fishing Licenses are Available Online!
100% of your investment funds fishing!
Have a Happy and Safe July 4th
CT DEEP Fisheries Division Covid-19 update web page
SOCIAL DISTANCING WHILE FISHING IS A MUST!
 Fishing is a great way to spend time outdoors, reduce stress, and possibly catch a tasty meal. The Fisheries Division along with the CDC, State of CT DPH, and the DEEP strongly encourage social distancing and not fishing with anyone other than people living in the same space.
Connecticut Fishing COVID-19 Updates

Latest Updates from the Fisheries Division
NEW Let's Go Fishing YouTube playlist : To enhance our very popular "Let's Go Fishing" workbook, we have created a short series of instructional fishing videos on DEEP's YouTube channel . These videos are a DIY way to get the instruction delivered during our Introduction to Fishing classes, which have been suspended indefinitely due to the Corona Virus Pandemic.
NEW Freshwater Fishes of CT online : We have brought our very popular book "A Pictorial Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut" online. Please enjoy learning about the many species of fish found in Connecticut's waters.
Depth Contour Maps for Select Lakes and Ponds : A reminder you can find depth contour maps (bathymetric maps) for many lakes and ponds with public access on the DEEP Fishing web page.
2020 Fishing Guide in Spanish : The Fishing Guide is now available in Spanish via digital book format,
2020 Fishing Regulations : There will not be any changes to the Freshwater (Inland) Regulations for 2020. Marine Regulations have been finalized and are as indicated below.
New for 2020!
Fishing Guide Cover Shots Needed!
The Fisheries Division is looking for your best fishing photo! Please send us colorful, exciting, eye catching, shots that represent Connecticut's awesome fishing. Details on how to enter the annual Fishing Guide cover shot contest, including the photo release form, can be found on our website . Entries can be emailed to the Fisheries Division.
Blue Crab Time!
Blue crabs are making their way to your favorite tidal creek near you! Check out our Blue Crab fact sheet for tips and pointers.

These tasty, but very feisty crabs are easy to catch. Simply tie a chicken leg to a piece of line, toss it out into a tidal creak or river and wait for you line to start moving. A short round of tug of war will ensue, but the crab is usually so committed to the meal that you can bring it right up to shore and net it. No fishing license is required to crab, however, there are a few rules: hard shell crabs must be 5 inches spike tip to spike tip, soft shell crab have to be 3.5 inches, and all females with eggs must be released immediately.
blue crab
Tautog Summer Season Is Open
The summer tautog (blackfish) season runs from July 1 to August 31. Each angler may keep 2 fish per day providing they are at least 16 inches in length. 'Tog have a firm white meat, delicious with many recipes. To catch use crabs, one of their favorite eats, while fishing in and around rocky areas.
Learn to Fish Videos on YouTube
The Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education ( CARE ) Program is pleased to post a series of learn to fish videos on DEEP's YouTube Channel . These short video demonstrations and lessons follow our " Learn to Fish " workbook.
Panfishing is HOT!
Waters are warming and big sunfish are in shallow water! They are a blast to catch and all that is required is a worm rigged on a #6 hook fished under a bobber. Bonus is they make an absolutely delicious fish fry. Here are some tips for “ panfishing ” and our Panfish Primer video .
Panfish are a tasty, locally sourced, renewable natural resource
Panfish are a group of fish species that remain fairly small, very prolific, are a sustainable renewable natural resource, and are delicious and safe to eat. Panfish include bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie, and bullheads. Many of our small to medium sized lakes and ponds have robust populations of these species. Fishing is simple as is described above. A fun family adventure will provide you with both memories and a healthy locally sourced meal.

Learn how to fillet your catch with our DIY video .
Marine Regulations for 2020
Striped Bass: Connecticut along with almost all other coastal states has implemented a 28-35" slot limit for striped bass in 2020. This regulation was adopted in response to the overfished condition of the stock, and is intended to protect older, larger female fish from harvest. This means that 1 Striped Bass that is 28.0 to 34.9 inches may be kept per day. Any fish less than 28 inches must be released. Any fish 35 inches or larger must be released. This regulation applies in the marine and inland districts.

Note there was a typo on page 21 of the print version of the 2020 fishing guide. It should read slot limit of 28-35 inches, not 28 inches as printed .

Bluefish: Connecticut along with all other coastal states has implemented a reduced bag limit for bluefish in 2020: 3-fish for private anglers, 5-fish for party/charter boat anglers. The reduced bag limit was adopted in response to the overfished condition of the stock (no size limit or closed season).

Sea Bass, Summer Flounder (Fluke), Scup (Porgy), Tautog (Blackfish) and all other marine recreational fisheries, no changes from 2019 to 2020.
This Month's Mystery Fish
Fishing Challenge - For YOUth
Youth Fishing Passport
Fishing is the perfect family activity during this time of "distance learning" and being "socially distant". 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 .
Fishing Challenge Scorecard
The Youth Fishing Passport Fishing Challenge is a year long fishing scavenger hunt. To have your catch count, simple snap a photo of your fish (from our scorecard ) and email it to us . The top four anglers (who catch the most different types on our list) receive a prize pack full of fishing swag.
2020 Warmwater Fisheries Public Discussions
The CT DEEP Fisheries Division began hosting five public discussions to seek angler input on Connecticut's warmwater fisheries (Bass, Pike, Walleye, Catfish, Panfish, Carp). Similar to the trout and salmon discussions held in October of 2019, these face-to-face discussions will help us to shape the future of warmwater fishing. Unfortunately we have paused these face-to-face discussions. We plan on hosting a webinar in the near future, but in the meantime, we have two online tools so you can contribute to this discussion:

A preference questionnaire (takes about 5 minutes)

and

Four key open-ended discussion questions (take as much time as you need to offer input).
2020 Fishing Guide - Access Online Anytime
The 2020 Fishing Guide is available in English and Spanish. The best and fastest way to get your copy is online. We have a couple of options for you:
  1. The DEEP Webpage as a pdf
  2. In digital book format at the e-regulations page

The Fisheries Division is currently seeking photos for the 2021 cover! Send us your high quality shot to deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov
Mystery Fish Revealed
This month's mystery fish was the Tomcod ( Microgadus tomcod ) also known as the "frostfish". This relatively small fish, maximum size of 10-12 inches, prefers estuaries and the associated feeder river. Tomcod were fairly abundant around the turn of the century, but for unknown reasons, the overall distribution and abundance has decreased significantly. A tasty fish, as it is related to cod and pollock, anglers used to seek this fish during the colder months. Tomcod feed on a variety of foods including, worms, shrimp, smaller fish, and other benthic organisms.
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