June 2020
2020 Fishing Licenses are Available Now!
100% of your investment funds fishing!
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 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.
2020 Weekly Fishing Reports : We are suspending publishing our very popular weekly fishing reports. As we strongly encourage and support social distancing, publicizing areas with good fishing may be counter to public health objectives. We will commence our reports as soon as possible. We will still publish our list of stocked waters each Wednesday and Friday afternoon.
2020 Fishing Guide in Spanish : The Fishing Guide is now available in Spanish via digital book format and printed copies will be arriving soon.
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!
Connect With Us On Instagram!
We are very pleased to invite you to follow us on Instagram (@ctfishandwildlife) . Be sure to share your best stories of CT Fish and Wildlife with us and most importantly - with your social network. We may be apart by at least 6 feet, but we are only a quick swipe away! See you soon.

Recent Posts detailed in our BIO included the following:

Thank You Hatchery Staff!
Despite the many challenges related to COVID-19, our fish hatchery staff - ESSENTIAL FRONT LINE WORKERS - have worked tirelessly, in challenging conditions, since late February to stock 587,500 trout. This is an increase over the past two springs, primarily attributed to increasing production of Cortland Browns at our Kensington Hatchery, stocking Tiger Trout again, an increased efficiency gained from structural improvements made at our facilities, and a bit of help from mother nature (a very warm winter allowing for above average growth).

Tiger Trout on TV

Some of our Tiger Trout are famous! Join Heidi Voight of NBC News 30 as she introduces everyone to Connecticut's special trout, the Tigers! Watch Now.
We Are Hiring!
The Bureau of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, is pleased to invite highly motivated and enthusiastic people to apply for the opportunity to join our team as an EP Fisheries Biologist 2 within our Coldwater Fisheries Program. This position will be responsible for many complex duties related to the stocking of trout and salmon to support recreational fishing and the conservation and preservation of wild populations.

The candidate will largely work with limited supervision and be tasked with working cooperatively with remaining coldwater staff and the Fisheries Division’ Fish Culture staff as they implement action items in the forthcoming 5-year Statewide Salmonid Action Plan. Some of the key traits of this candidate will be organization, ability to multi-task, strong communication and leadership, and the ability to perform robust statistical and temporal analysis using the latest statistical and Geographic Information System software.

Deadline to apply is 11:59 pm on June 10, 2020.

Wild Trout - Deja Vous?
New wild trout report available now. Way back in 1988 the Fisheries Division under took a massive statewide survey of Connecticut's rivers and streams. The intent of the sampling survey was to obtain data on our resident fish species, and specifically the distribution and abundance of wild trout. The results of this seven year project were used to implement a trout management plan for many of today's trout regulations and management programs. Over the past two summers, a random re-sample of 107 of these locations gives us insight as to what has changed over the past few decades. Statewide, we found a decrease in the number of locations (about 33% ) as well as an overall decrease in the number of fish. This newly obtained data will help us to compile a management plan for Connecticut's wild trout in order to conserve and preserve this valuable renewable natural resource. Learn a bit more about trout through the fishes of CT online .
First FREE Fishing License Day of 2020
The first of two FREE fishing license days for 2020 will be Father's Day, Sunday June 21, 2020. Anyone can fish for free after getting the FREE 1-day fishing license through our online licensing system . A perfect way to take the whole family to enjoy time outdoors.
Black Sea Bass Season is Open in CT
Black Sea Bass fishing is open in CT waters! The daily limit for sea bass is 5 fish and the minimum size is 15 inches (excluding tail fin filament). Sea bass are arguably one of, if not the most beautiful and delicious fish that swim in the ocean. They are excellent no matter how you cook them, and make for amazing ceviche.

Black sea bass are most often found in deep water (30' - 100") and around structure such as reefs, rock piles, boulder fields, and mussel beds. Bottom fishing with enough weight to hold tight to the sea floor is a must. Plastic squid rigs tipped with squid strips, hi-lo rigs with squid strips or clams, or bucktail style jigs tipped with squid strips or Berkley Gulp (4" swimming mullet) are all great options for sea bass. A boat is necessary to get to where sea bass live, if you don't have a boat there are many CT charter and party boats that specialize in sea bass and other bottom fishing.

DID YOU KNOW that black sea bass are “protogynous hermaphrodites,” meaning they begin life as females and can switch gender to male as needed within the population.
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 you 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. 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 Common Carp ( Cyprinus carpio ). The Common Carp was first introduced to Connecticut by the United States Fisheries Commission in 1871. Carp were imported by this national agency to bring an easy to grow source of protein to help feed a rapidly growing nation. Carp are a favorite table fare in Europe often being part of the Christmas feast in Poland. Carp never really achieved the same level of acceptance and traditionally have been thought of as a "trash fish" here in the United States. Common Carp are not the same fish as the very invasive types of "Asian Carp" seen in many videos leaping by the hundreds in some Midwestern rivers.

The Common Carp is a member of the minnow family and is by far the largest minnow in CT. Routinely reaching weights into the 30 pound range, the Common Carp is highly prized by many die-hard and passionate carp anglers. The Connecticut River is home to the current state record 43 lb 12 oz Common Carp, with anglers traveling world wide to participate in a tournament hosted in October. Fishing for carp can be very rewarding if you are up for the challenge!
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