2022 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 DEEP Marine Fisheries Program is hosting an informational virtual meeting regarding "2022 Marine Recreational Fishing Regulations" on March 1, 2022 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The topic will be Whelk, Lobster, Scup, and Black Sea Bass - register now
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Trophy Fish, Youth Fishing Passport, State Record Fish are fully digital. Last year the Fisheries Division was pleased to roll out our new and fully digital "Angler Recognition Form"! This super simple, easy, and convenient form allows you to submit your catch to us in Real Time. No more needing to seek out the affidavit, print, and mail it to us - Convenience now at your finger tips. Check out the great catches on our dashboard.
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Seasonal Jobs in Fisheries |
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Love Fish? Love to be outdoors? Us too. Check out the job postings below. We are currently building our teams for spring and summer work. If you are 18+ and have a love and passion for fish, have some experience (check postings for specifics), and work hard, we want you to apply.
Freshwater Fish Management - Works out of Marlborough and assists with electrofishing, angler surveys, equipment upkeep, and data entry related to freshwater fishes.
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Inland Sportfishing Proposed Regulations -
Open for Public Comment
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The proposed amendments to the regulations will amend regulations concerning angler access in easement areas; fishing methods, creel and possession limits (culling, catch-and-release) and gear types (cast nets); closed fishing seasons, harvest regulations for certain species (trout, Kokanee Salmon), and Trout Management Lakes (one new waterbody added to list). Additionally, several minor and technical changes, corrections and updates are made.
Many of these proposals are intended to bring Inland Sport Fishing regulations into compliance with, or to facilitate, provisions of Public Act 21-12 prohibiting closed fishing seasons for trout, while also maintaining and enhancing fishing opportunities throughout the state. These proposed regulations include provisions eliminating the closed fishing season for trout and all closed seasons specific to areas with the exception of several limited closures intended to protect fish health.
Below is a summary of the proposed changes:
Section 1. Updates provisions concerning behavior in easements/leased properties and provisions concerning use of state boat launches to conform with current Boating regulations.
Section 2. Eliminates the existing definition of closed season as a closure of an area to all fishing; establishes definitions and restrictions for “culling” and “cast nets”; and clarifies that an angler in the inland district may continue to fish (catch-and-release) once they reach their creel/possession limits.
Section 3. Eliminates the current closed seasons at all lakes and ponds and for all rivers and streams (with exceptions for closures intended to protect fish health).
Section 4. Amends trout seasons to conform with provisions of PA 21-12 prohibiting closed seasons for trout; revises statewide trout and kokanee creel limits (establishing a five fish limit for trout and a five fish limit for kokanee); and establishes a catch-and-release only requirement for trout and Kokanee during the proposed open season from March 1 to 6:00 am on the second Saturday in April.
Section 5. Updates provisions of several subsections to conform with provisions of sections 2, 3 and 4 concerning seasons, closed areas and trout creel limits; amends trout regulations at East Twin Lake to reflect increases in alewife populations; adds Long Pond to the list of Trout Management Lakes; and adds a new special management area (“tidal waters and tributaries”, formerly “rivers and streams open year-round” in sec. 26-112-44).
Section 6. Eliminates the closed season at Quassapaug Lake; and establishes a prohibition on ice fishing at several lakes and ponds (Factory Pond, Lake Chamberlain, Lake Saltonstall, Maltby Lakes).
Additionally, there are several technical changes and updates.
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Provide Your Comments - For or Against |
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The regulation amendment process involves public input. We want to hear from you regarding our proposed changes. You can provide formal comment via any of the following:
Online - via the eRegulations system on the Secretary of State’s website. Go to “Open for Public comment”, select this regulation and follow instructions for submitting comments.
By mail or delivery service - to Bill Foreman at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Fisheries Division, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT, 06106-5127.
Public Hearing - One public hearing has been scheduled to obtain public comment to determine whether to adopt the proposed regulations or to adjust the measures. This hearing will be held through ZOOM, a remote online hearing platform.
Date: March 16, 2022 Time: 6:30 pm.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request an accommodation contact us at (860) 418-5910 or deep.accommodations@ct.gov
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Digital Versions of Guide Books for 2022 |
Being a responsible user of the Connecticut outdoors means staying informed of, and complying with, the current laws and regulations.
Connecticut DEEP's outdoor field guides make it easy to find and follow the laws and regulations that apply to you. And now, Connecticut's Fishing and Hunting Guides are online in an easy-to-use eBook version.
Coming in 2022, NEW digital formats will allow you to quickly check a regulation, confirm legal methods, look up best practices and more – from anywhere at anytime. Stay tuned! Printed hunting and fishing guides will be scaled back and available in limited quantities.
View the Digital Freshwater Fishing Guide Here
View the Digital Saltwater Fishing Guide Here
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Top Anglers - Youth Fishing Passport |
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"One of the best programs out there! Thank you CT DEEP for this as we have had many great fishing trips together" - Allyson
To learn more about the Youth Fishing Passport Program, see details in the sections below the "Top Anglers"
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Noah Savin claimed the top spot in 2022 by catching 17 of the Fishing Challenge species. Noah caught the following: Bluefish, Bluegill, Blue Crab, Brook Trout, Brown Bullhead, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Fluke, Largemouth Bass, Porgy, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Striped Bass, Tautog, and Yellow Perch
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Emmett Dougherty landed 16 species: Atlantic Salmon, Bluefish, Bluegill, Blue Crab, Brown Bullhead, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Largemouth Bass, Porgy, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Tautog, and Yellow Perch
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Kiera Mullen landed 14 species: Bluegill, Blue Crab, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Porgy, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Tautog, and Yellow Perch
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Zakk Wallace landed 12 species: Blue Crab, Bluefish, Brook Trout, Brown Bullhead, Brown Trout, Fluke, Largemouth Bass, Porgy, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Striped Bass, Tautog, and Yellow Perch
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Fishing Challenge - For YOUth |
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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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Enter your catches online
Please use our online form to enter your youth fishing challenge catches
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With trout stocking underway and lots of talk about the proposed changes to our sportfishing regulations to support Public Act 21-12, which removed the closed season for trout, please take a virtual tour of our Burlington State Fish Hatchery.
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This Month's Mystery Fish |
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Last month's mystery fish was a Knobfin Sculpin (Cottus immaculatus). The knobfin was our one of our mystery fish a while back. It is being repeated because this fish, unknown how it was introduced to CT, has shown it can impact native fish community structure. To learn more about this fish, watch our video or visit our web page.
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How to get your License Online |
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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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