How to Catch Fish
Connecticut
Fishing
Contact your local bait and tackle shop for updated fishing information. See Connecticut Bait & Tackle Shops for a list of bait and tackle shops or go to www.ct.gov/deep/baitandtackle.
Striped Bass

Habitat
- Large rivers in spring and fall
- Estuaries and bays in summer
Fishing Method
- Drifting with live bait
- Jigging and trolling
- Bottom fishing with bait
- Casting to fish
Baits & Lures
- Live bait, menhaden, eels, shad and sand worms
- All types of swimming lures, plastic and rubber baits
Black Sea Bass
Habitat
- Estuaries and Sound
- Rock piles/reefs
- Oyster and mussel beds
- Pilings and jetties
Fishing Method
- Anchored over structure, reefs
- Bottom fishing
- Fishing with bait
Baits & Lures
- Sand worms, conch, shrimp, mummichogs, silversides, mussels/clams and baited jigs or jigs with plastic/rubber bodies or trailer
Fluke
Habitat
- Estuaries and bays
- Lower sections of rivers
- Hard bottom and channels preferred
Fishing Method
- Drifting with bait
- Jigging up and down
- Casting and slowly moving jig with bait
Baits & Lures
- Live/dead bait (bunker, mummichogs, shiners & silversides), cut squid strips, baited jigs and plastic baits
Scup
Habitat
- Estuaries and bays
- Rock piles/reefs
- Oyster and mussel beds
- Pilings and jetties
Fishing Method
- Anchored over structure/reefs
- Bottom fishing
- Live or dead bait
Baits & Lures
- Squid or conch strips, sand worms, shrimp, and mussels/clams
Looking for a place to fish, launch a boat, a bait and tackle shop or a party/charter vessel to go fishing on?
Check out the Saltwater Fishing Resource Map at www.ct.gov/deep/saltwaterfishingresourcemap