Enhanced Fishing Opportunities

Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Program

This Marine Fisheries program is part of a broader Department effort to improve the fishing experience and quality of access to our Public Trust marine fisheries resources in CT, especially in urban areas. Shore-based fishing is the simplest and most affordable form of salt water fishing and a popular way to enjoy Connecticut’s coastline. At the same time, shore fishing is an opportunity to catch the evening’s meal. To that end, minimum size limits have been reduced for two abundant marine species at forty-one public fishing access areas listed in the DEEP Coastal Access Guide. These sites offer good shore based summer flounder and/or scup fishing opportunities in at least 18 different communities distributed from Stonington to Westport.At these sites, summer flounder may be taken at 17 inches (compared to 19 inches otherwise) and scup may be taken at 8 inches (versus 9 inches), giving the shore angler at these sites a considerably better chance of taking home a meal or two. To aid law enforcement the sites chosen for this program are separate from any boat launches or marinas where boat caught fish may be present. It is important to the success and continuation of this program that anglers at these enhanced access sites take their catch directly home after fishing. Possession of these species under the standard minimum size at other locations is a violation and can result in significant fines.

Multi-Lingual Enhanced Marine Recreational Fishing Regulation Sign

Enhanced Shore Fishing Access Sites are locations where smaller summer flounder - fluke (17 inch minimum length) and scup (8 inch minimum length) may be taken.

Find an Enhanced Shore Fishing Access Site

Fishing in State Parks

Locations to Fish

During regular hours, a vehicle parking fee is required for out-of-state vehicles to enter most of the state parks. There is no parking fee for Connecticut registered vehicles. Parking fees are collected from 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m. during the week, except at state parks marked with an asterisk. Late day fees (4 p.m.–6:30 p.m. any day) for Harkness, Hammonasset, Rocky Neck, and Sherwood Island are $7 for non-residents. For more information please see the coastal state parks website.

* Parking fees subject to change.

Night Fishing Rules

Anglers entering a park by vehicle must obtain a vehicle permit in order to park and fish. Between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., no vehicle will be allowed into the day-use area of the park. Individuals entering the park without a vehicle do not require a permit, but must possess fishing tackle (rod and reel, bait, light, etc.) and engage in fishing.