February 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.
Ice Fishing Classes: Check out our Learn to Fish web page for more information.
Coming Soon! The Fisheries Division will be opening Public Comment to proposed changes to inland sportfishing regulations. These changes are largely to bring regulations in line with recently passed Public Act 21-12, which included the removal of the the closed season for trout. Stay Tuned!
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 at your finger tips. Check out the great catches on our dashboard.
Winter Festival - February 5, 2022!
Seasonal Jobs in Fisheries
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.

Diadromous Fisheries (Migratory Fish) - Works out of Old Lyme to assist with a variety of tasks related to migratory fish, alewife, sea lamprey, eels, Atlantic salmon, and shad.

Burlington State Fish Hatchery- assists with all facets of hatchery operations to grow trout and salmon for CT's sport fisheries.

Quinebaug Valley Trout Hatchery- assists with all facets of hatchery operations to grow trout and salmon for CT's sport fisheries.

Job postings coming in the near future

  • Marine Fisheries
  • Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education Program (CARE)

Stay up to date with all state jobs here.

Inland Fishing Regulations -
Clarification During Transition
Fishing Regulations for 2022: The passage of Public Act 21-12 by the legislature eliminated the closed season for trout. Since that time, the Fisheries Division has been working to revise inland fishing regulations to support the new law. We are close, but are not there yet. A public hearing to comment on the proposed changes should be forthcoming in early 2022.

During this transition period, we encourage anglers to carefully review regulations for the waterbody you are fishing in the DIGITAL FISHING GUIDE - Lake and Pond Regulations Page

Of Note: the waters listed in this document are closed to all fishing (on the date listed) except for trout.

The 2021 fishing regulations including daily creel limits, methods, gear, and size limits remain in effect.
 
Questions may be directed to Mike.Beauchene@ct.gov or by calling the main Fisheries Phone line at 860-424-3474.

View the Digital Freshwater Guide Here

View the Digital Saltwater Guide Here
Wild Trout Plan - Published
Connecticut is fortunate to have such outstanding natural resources, including wild trout, for all to enjoy. The presence of wild trout provides tangible evidence that a set of physical, chemical, and biological parameters are in perfect alignment. An alignment is manifested in the sounds of water cascading over moss-covered rocks crisscrossing a forested landscape absent of modern-day conveniences. In order to thrive, wild trout require a particular set of specific conditions, which are easily influenced by humans and environmental change. The goals and objectives set forth in this plan are designed to take action and to make change where possible so future generations may enjoy the same tangible proof of a system in perfect alignment. View the plan.
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 Guide Here

View the Digital Saltwater Guide Here
Print Your Custom Certificate
As part of improving service to our dedicated anglers, the Fisheries Division has implemented two convenient features related to acknowledging your catch. First, enter your information right at the time of catch (or any time) with the online Angler Recognition Form, then download, fill in the appropriate information, and print your custom certificate. A link to a certificate template for each species can be found in the Trophy Fish Award criteria table on the Trophy Fish Award Page (Saltwater Species Coming Soon!)
Video of the Month
This Month's Mystery Fish
If you have a guess as to the type of fish pictured below, email Mike.beauchene@ct.gov
Fishing Challenge - For YOUth
NEW- Enter your catches online
Please use our online form to enter your youth fishing challenge catches
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 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.
Mystery Fish Revealed
Last month's mystery fish was a sturgeon. Tough to ID the species from this photo, however other photos sent to the Fisheries Division swayed our sturgeon biologists to lean towards an Atlantic Sturgeon (based on the total size). We are very interested in hearing about your sturgeon interactions and observations. Please use our new mobile friendly app to submit any sightings. Report a Sturgeon Sighting. Learn more about DEEP's Sturgeon program.
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