July 2022
2022 Fishing Licenses are Available Online
Fishing Fuels Conservation!
100% of your investment funds fish and fishing
Latest Updates from the Fisheries Division
To advance the conservation, enhancement, restoration, use, and appreciation of Connecticut’s fish, fisheries and fish habitats.
Announcing the draft "Bass Action Plan": The Fisheries Division has drafted a plan to improve one of the most popular fish in CT, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. Learn more on our Bass Action Plan web page.
Simple overview of Freshwater Fishing Regulations: This pamphlet is designed to provide a simple overview of freshwater fish in CT. It also lists waters where there are special regulations which can be found listed alphabetically at these links: Lake and Ponds or for Rivers and Streams
Learn the basics of fishing at your pace: The CT Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) program has a created a web-based Introduction to Fishing course, available in English and Spanish. Take the course and then come join us at one of our dozens of fishing events this summer.
Come Fish With CARE
The DEEP Fisheries Division's – Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) program is offering THREE opportunities per week all summer for you to learn to fish and/or fine tune your skills with our expert staff and volunteer fishing instructors!

The CARE programs Mobile Fishing Tour (MFT) registration is now open with both fresh and saltwater fishing events scheduled around the state! The CARE program supplies all bait, tackle, and instruction. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged at the DEEP Hunting and Fishing Education registration system (Filter by Event Type “FISHING FIELD TRIP”) .

Prepare yourself for a successful year and learn all the basics of fishing in the CARE program’s self-paced Let’s Go Fishing / Vamos de Pescar online course!
Making Bass Fishing Better
For such a small state, Connecticut has outstanding natural resources and our black bass populations play a vital role ecologically, recreationally, and economically.

We believe that continued collaboration between the Fisheries Division and the anglers of Connecticut will be crucial in realizing our shared goal – improved bass fishing opportunities for everyone in the years to come. Accordingly, this plan will foster ongoing efforts to reach out and connect with our anglers, fishing-related businesses, and non-traditional stakeholders.

View the Draft Plan

View our simple summary

Provide feedback on the draft plan

Register for the Webinar July 12, 2022 from 7-8:30 pm
2022 Recreational Marine Fishing Regulations
Changes from 2021 are indicated in Red Font. Please check out our digital marine fishing guide for more information.
Learn to Fly Fish!
We are pleased to offer "Learn to Fly Fish" classes this summer. Space is limited, pre-registration is required AND attending the ZOOM session is mandatory.
Recreate Responsibly on the Housatonic River
Just a reminder that several important trout refuges will close to fishing starting on June 15. These areas are found on the Housatonic River, Naugatuck River, and Shetucket River. Do your part to help trout survive the hot summer water temperatures by not disturbing the fish seeking refuge.
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.

Visit our Online Outdoor Licensing System to purchase licenses, permits, and stamps, and check hunter safety and boating certifications.

View the Digital Freshwater Fishing Guide Here

View the Digital Saltwater Fishing Guide Here
Fishing Challenge - For YOUth
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.
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.
Enter your catches online
Please use our online form to enter your youth fishing challenge catches
Video of the Month - Pier Fishing
Summer is beach time. So, while on your trip to the beach, why not head to a fishing pier and cast a line. Fishing from a pier is simple, you just need some bait, a rod and line, and a picnic lunch. Check out our tips below and save the date for our annual saltwater fishing day coming on August 6, 2022 at Fort Trumbull State Park, New London.
This Month's Mystery Fish
If you have a guess as to the type of fish pictured below, email Mike.beauchene@ct.gov
Mystery Fish Revealed
Last month's mystery fish was a Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus). This native minnow is widely distributed and common over much of the United States and Canada east of the Rockies. In Connecticut, the creek chub is found in most streams west of the Connecticut River drainage, where they are usually uncommon to common in abundance. Scattered populations also exist in the Connecticut and Thames River drainages. A similar westerly distribution is reported in Massachusetts. The Creek Chub may be slowly expanding their range into eastern Connecticut. 

"Creekers" can grow to 6-8 inches and have been known to take small baits and lures offered from anglers fishing in small to medium rivers. Creek chub are easily caught in minnow traps and serve as a excellent bait for many larger predators.
How to get your License Online
Your E-Tackle Box
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.
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