2021 Fishing Licenses are Available Online Starting December 1st |
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Fishing Fuels Conservation!
100% of your investment funds fish and fishing
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CT DEEP Fisheries Division Covid-19 update web page
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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.
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Connecticut Fishing COVID-19 Updates
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Latest Updates from the Fisheries Division |
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Public Comment is open for NEW Fishing Regulations: The Fisheries Division has proposed several changes to the Fishing Regulations. View them and provide comment until December 15, at 4:30 here. Get additional details in the section below. Please take the opportunity to offer your opinion (pro and con) for these changes, which are scheduled to take effect in 2021.
A Public Hearing will be held on December 1, 2020 at 6:30 pm via ZOOM.
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SURPRISE!! We stocked 490 Lake Trout!! If you go fishing for these fish, please complete this short survey https://arcg.is/CzOHr. |
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Walleye Sharpies Needed! see below for details - you can help us to improve Walleye fishing.
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New State Record White Perch (Marine) |
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The Fisheries Division would like to congratulate Harry B. Sheffield for setting a new bar for the state record White Perch in the marine district. Harry's White Perch weighed in at 2 lbs 3.2 oz and was 14 1/2" in length. The fish was caught at Short Beach. Congrats Harry!
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Connecticut's Fisheries Division is pleased to announce a SURPRISE stocking of LAKE TROUT! Lakers have not been stocked in CT for well over 75 years.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) reached out to the Connecticut Fisheries Division to see if we would want to make 490 Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) available to our anglers as a bonus fishery this fall.
We have said "yes" - So, we want to let you know that there was a one-time stocking of 490 Lake Trout (5.3 average lbs.) into select waters here in CT! There is no expectation that these fish will holdover for an extended period of time (years) or that they will reproduce. The intent of stocking them into Connecticut waters is to strictly provide a specialty fishery. The following waterbodies were stocked earlier this week to enhance late season and winter recreational fisheries: Winchester Lake, Coventry Lake, Tyler Lake, Squantz Pond, and Bigelow Pond.
From the completed surveys, we will select five people at random on March 1, 2021 who will receive their choice of the Pictorial Guide to CT's Freshwater Fish or the Guide to Lakes and Ponds. There is no limit to the number of times you can complete the survey, we want to know each time you go fishing for Lake Trout.
As residents take to the water for this unique fishing opportunity, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding boaters of the perils of cold water immersion and the importance of heeding safe boating tips. Please wear your life jacket! Also, follow the law, don’t paddle alone, dress for the water temperature and not the air temperature, share your Float Plan, and maintain a proper lookout.
These fish arrived from the USFWS Berkshire National Fish Hatchery out of New Marlborough, Massachusetts where they raise Lake Trout for restoration efforts in the Lower Great Lakes.
Historically, Lake Trout used to be reared by the state of Connecticut and stocked into a handful of lakes around the state; stocking ceased in the 1967 and was likely attributed to poor survival in the wild. The current harvest state record hails back to WW I (1918), was caught out of Lake Wononskopomuc, and weighed a whopping 29 lbs. 13 oz.!
While these recently stocked fish won’t break the state record in the harvest category (the largest fish by weight), they should provide for the catch of a lifetime to many, and for the possibility of filling the state record in the “Catch & Release” (the largest fish by length) category created just this year. For more information on state record fish and the trophy fish award program.
As Lake Trout are considered trout along with brooks, browns, rainbows, and tigers, there will be no special rules or regulations applied with this specialty stocking; therefore, the standard statewide regulation of 5 trout per day applies to all stocked Lake Trout as well. EXCEPT, in Squantz Pond during the month of March when there is a 16” minimum length daily creel limit of 1 trout.
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From December 16, 2020, through March 31, 2021, the daily creel limit for Atlantic salmon will be one. During the open season in the rivers, the legal method for taking Atlantic salmon is limited to angling using a single fly, or an artificial lure with a single free swinging hook and no additional weight can be added to the line above the fly or lure. Also, from September 1st through March 31st, fishing for other species in the designated Atlantic Salmon “Broodstock Areas” is restricted to the gear legal for Atlantic salmon.
On the Shetucket River, anglers can fish for salmon downstream from the Scotland Dam (Windham) to the Water Street Bridge in Norwich (the first bridge upstream of Norwich Harbor). The salmon are stocked into one designated Atlantic Salmon “Broodstock Area”, from the Scotland Dam to the Occum Dam.
For more on this program please visit our Atlantic Salmon Management Area webpage.
It is important to understand that these fish are not part of any restoration effort, they are produced specifically to provide a unique recreational fishery. The Fisheries Division can only stock these fish in waters outside of the Connecticut River Watershed (it is illegal to fish for Atlantic salmon within the CT River Watershed).
For the lakes, the daily limit is one salmon per person per day. A trout and salmon stamp is needed to keep these fish.
Anglers are allowed to fish for salmon in the Naugatuck River from the confluence of the East and West Branches (Torrington) downstream to the Housatonic River (Derby). Anglers may also fish for Atlantic salmon in the Housatonic River downstream of Derby Dam. The salmon are typically stocked into two designated Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Areas on the Naugatuck River, the “Campville Section” of the upper Naugatuck River from Route 118 downstream to the Thomaston Flood Control Dam (Litchfield-Thomaston) and the “Beacon Falls Section” of the lower Naugatuck, from Prospect Street (Naugatuck) downstream to Pines Bridge Road (Route 42 bridge, Beacon Falls). From September 1st through March 31st, fishing for other species in these designated Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Areas is restricted to the gear legal for Atlantic salmon.
The regulations for Atlantic salmon released into lakes and ponds are different from the regulations for salmon on the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers. In each lake, the regulations for methods, seasons and minimum lengths for salmon will be the same as for trout in that specific water body but the daily creel limit will be one salmon per day. (Please refer to the 2020 CT Angler’s Guide for trout regulations).
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Public Comment for Proposed Inland Fishing Regulations |
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Connecticut's Fisheries Division has posted proposed changes to the inland fishing regulations and is seeking public comment until 4:30 pm on December 15, 2020. A public hearing will be held via the ZOOM virtual conference platform on December 1, 2020 at 6:30 pm.
Register for the public hearing HERE.
View the changes on our web page or online via the eRegulations system on the Secretary of State’s website. The case number is PR2020-015.
Written comments should be submitted no later than 4:30 PM on December 15, 2020. Based on public comment, the proposed regulations may be adjusted to meet the objective of the proposal. Comments may be submitted using one of the following methods:
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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.
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By email to william.foreman@ct.gov.
- 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.
Simple Summary of the Proposed Changes for additional documentation and detail please visit the eRegulations system on the Secretary of State’s website
2020 INLAND FISHERIES REGULATION PROPOSALS (as of 11-9-2020)
Sec. 1. Amends Section 26-112-43. Definitions and restrictions.
- Updates bow & arrow fishing regulations.
- Makes clarifying change to creel limit definition (change “angler” to “individual”).
Sec. 2. Amends Section 26-112-44. Closed seasons.
- Adds a closed season to Black Rock Pond and Walkers Reservoir.
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To conform with section 5, Black Pond (Woodstock) and Mohawk Pond are removed from the list of lakes & ponds with a closed season from the last day of February to Opening Day
Sec. 3. Amends Section 26-112-45. Species limitations.
- Revise Carp regulations as per legislative intent (see CGS sec. 26-128).
- Include tiger muskie with Northern Pike.
- Add Colony Pond (Ansonia), Crescent Lake (Southington) and Rogers Park Pond (Danbury) to the list of 3 catfish per day creel limit lakes & ponds.
Sec. 4. Amends Section 26-112-46. Special Management Areas.
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Under subsection (c). Trout Management Areas (TMA). Corrects spelling of Merriebrook Lane (currently spelled “Merrybrook”) in the Mianus River TMA listing.
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Under subsection (d). Trout Management Lakes. Black Pond (Woodstock) and Mohawk Pond are added to the list of Trout Management Lakes and managed for Brook Trout.
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Under subsection (g). Wild Trout Management Areas. The designation of the Session Woods Wild Trout Management Area (WTMA) is changed from class 3 to class 1 and the name of the stream in this WTMA is updated.
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Under subsection (h). Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Areas. Changes designation to “Atlantic Salmon Management Areas” to better reflect current management goals.
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Under subsection (l). Trophy Carp Waters. Revise per legislative intent.
Sec. 5. Repeals Sections 26-112-24 (Closed seasons) and 26-112-47 (State-controlled fishing areas).
- 26-112-24: Eliminates outdated provisions concerning a statewide closed season.
- 26-112-47: Eliminates outdated provisions concerning the now defunct Quinebaug Valley Trout Hatchery Public Fishing Ponds.
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Connecticut's Fisheries Division is looking for Walleye anglers to help us get data on catches from our Walleye waters. To participate all you have to do is fill out a short electronic form each time you fish for Walleye. Your information both what you catch and times you were "skunked" will help us to refine our management of this popular recreational fishery. Please email mike.beauchene@ct.gov if you would like to participate.
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Take A Friend Fishing - Second Round Winners
Braeden and Dave Giller
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The Fisheries Division is pleased to announce the second round winners of our Take A Friend Fishing Contest. Please join us in congratulating Dave and Braeden Giller! Here is their story, "My son Braeden turned sixteen on April 28,2020. For this occasion I bought his first Connecticut fishing license and took him on his first ever shad fishing trip. We launched our boat in the Farmington River and trolled willow leaf lures. Braeden hooked his first shad ever. The battle was epic! The shad went crazy, jumping and peeling drag never wanting to give up. What a fight, what a fish. The experience was amazing and will be in our memories forever. Imagine a simple thing of teaching someone the love and beauty of fishing and the lifetime of rewards."
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Take A Friend Fishing - Win Great Prizes |
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This is a great time to enter our Take A Friend Fishing contest. All you need to do is find a friend who has not been fishing (or has not for a very long time), take them out, and send us a short blurb on your fishing experience. You could be our next winning pair. Here are the official rules and good luck!!!
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Learn to Fish Videos on YouTube |
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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.
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This Month's Mystery Fish |
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Fishing Challenge - For YOUth |
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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.
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Fishing Challenge Scorecard |
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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.
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2020 Fishing Guide - Access Online Anytime |
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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:
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The DEEP Webpage as a pdf
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In digital book format at the e-regulations page
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2020 Fishing Guide in Spanish: The Fishing Guide is now available in Spanish via digital book format, |
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The black crappie is common and found in many freshwater systems throughout Connecticut. The white crappie is a rarity in our state and has only been found in the CT River from Wethersfield upstream. The fish pictured was captured during routine fish sampling in the CT River, Hartford area and is the offspring of a white crappie spawning and "hybridizing" with a black crappie. To the untrained eye, this might appear as just another "crappie" but upon closer inspection this hybrid fish has the characteristics of both species!
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Información disponible en español
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