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Latest Bites - May 2019
FREE FISHING DAY ON MAY 11:   Our annual FREE Fishing Day, where anyone can fish without needing a fishing license, is Saturday, May 11, 2019.  Please use this opportunity to take your friends and family fishing!  No Fishing License is required but all other rules and regulations remain in effect.
 
Improving the Interactive Trout Stocking Map:  Our very popular interactive trout stocking map is back up and running! We have added a "State Property" layer to the map.  So now you can see where we stock trout, when the location was last stocked (updated daily), and what places are on state owned property.  Just select the state property layer from the list of available options.

2019 Summer Flounder Season Opening Day is May 4, 2019.  For 2019, each fisherman can keep 4 fish per day (19 inch minimum length).  At enhanced shore opportunity locations, the minimum size is 17 inches.
 
2019 Fishing Licenses are on sale now.  100% of your investment in licenses, tags, permits, and stamps comes to the Bureau of Natural Resources in support of Fisheries and Wildlife programs. 

2018 Fish Stocking Summary Report is now available for you to view or download.  Check out all of the places we stock fish (and how many) not just trout!
BEWARE of LICENSE SCAM SITES
Please be sure that you are on the " Official" CT DEEP Sportsmen Licensing Page.  There are some offers on the internet that may lead someone to believe they are getting their fishing license, but instead are paying for a "guide" on how to get the fishing license. 
Catfish are Coming!
The Channel Catfish are coming in just a couple of weeks! Break out your bottom fishing rigs and headlamps. Stay tuned to the CT Fish and Wildlife Facebook Page for our stocking announcement.  

This year we will be stocking all waters with adult catfish (we are no longer stocking yearling fish).  The adult catfish range from 12-18 inches and average about 2 pounds.  
2019 Fishing Guide in Espanol
The Fishing Guide for 2019 has been printed in Spanish and is now available at many locations around the state or online.
Free Fishing on May 11, 2019
Saturday, May 11, 2019 is our annual FREE Fishing Day.  On May 11, 2019, anyone can fish without the requirement of a fishing license.  We encourage all anglers to share their passion for fishing and hit the water with family and friends.  DEEP will also offer two additional days where anyone can fish for free but must obtain a 1-day free fishing license (June 16 and August 10). Stay tuned for more details!
Family Fishing Event on May 11, 2019
Saturday, May 11, 2019 is also our annual Family Fishing Day in partnership with the State Parks No Child Left Inside program. This year our celebration will be held from 9 am to 3 pm at Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth, CT.  Lots of fun for the whole family all day!  See you there!
No Fluke - Opening Day is May 4 
Fluke (Summer Flounder) season opens on May 4, 2019.  The daily limit is 4 fish per person with a minimum length of 19 inches.  Take advantage of the 17 inch minimum size limit at our Enhanced Shore Opportunity Fishing Locations.  

Tip:   Look for squid on the fish finder as they are coming into our area and the fluke are keyed in on them this time of year. Early hotspots are south side of Fishers Island.
FREE Learn to Fish Classes
Over a dozen FREE learn to fish classes are being offered across the state.  Please check the schedule to find a FREE introductory class near you. 
This Month's Mystery Fish 
Email your guess to DEEP.inland.fisheries@ct.gov 
The Trout and Salmon Stamp
With approval by the Legislative Regulations Review Committee on February 27, 2018, Connecticut has a Trout and Salmon Stamp.  100% of the money invested in this stamp is guaranteed to support fisheries programs.  Please visit our FAQ page or email deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov with questions.  A summary is provided below.

Anyone age 16 or older including everyone who is age 65 or older who chooses to do one or both of the following must purchase a trout and salmon stamp:

1. FISH in one of the following areas:  Trout Park, Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area, or a Broodstock Atlantic Salmon Area.

2. HARVEST (keep) trout, Kokanee Salmon, or Atlantic Salmon anywhere in the state (except for waters stocked at no expense to the state).

The fee is $5.00 for age 18 and older and $3.00 for those 16-17.  The stamp is good for the calendar year (expires on December 31).

The Trout and Salmon Stamp will print on your fishing license as an additional privilege.
Mystery Fish Revealed
Last month's  Mystery Fish  was the Central Mudminnow (Umbra limi).  Mudminnows are not native to Connecticut, but are to the Great Lakes Region.  These small fish are very interesting in that they are one of a few species of fish that can actually breathe air.  Their modified air bladder can act as a lung.  This feature, as well as the ability to burrow into the mud, enables this fish to survive drought conditions where many other fish cannot.

The mudminnow is often called a "pygmy pike" as their closest fish relatives are the Pike and Pickerel.  Central mudminnows are found in swamps, marshes, bogs, and slow moving streams. These areas must have an abundance of aquatic vegetation and a soft bottom composed of dark, organic muck and debris free of yellow clay and silt. In these areas central mudminnows burrow into the bottom tail first. They lie in wait, watching for insect larvae or other small aquatic invertebrates to swim past, then with a burst of speed, they shoot out and grab their prey (Ohio DNR).
License Fees Fund Hunting & Fishing Programs

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!

You are making a difference and we thank you for your support!
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