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Connecticut

Fishing

Fishing

Inland District Statewide Species Regulations

Species

Notes

Legal methods

Area

Open Season*

Minimum Length

Daily Creel Limit

Alewife/ Blueback Herring

Daily creel limit is for both species in aggregate.

Taking of anadromous alewife & blueback herring from all Connecticut waters is prohibited. Emergency closure is in effect. See Atlantic Salmon & River Herring for more information.

Exception: Landlocked alewife only may be taken from specific lakes. See Atlantic Salmon & River Herring for list of lakes. Methods, seasons & creel limits for these lakes are as follows:

Angling

Lakes & Ponds

Open year-round*

No minimum length

25

Scoop Net

Lakes & Ponds

April 1 – June 15

No minimum length

25

American Eel

Spearing and bow and arrow use prohibited in streams or stream sections stocked with trout. Spearing prohibited in all lakes & ponds. The taking of elver eel, glass eel and silver eel is prohibited.

Angling, Icefishing, Bobbing, Bow and Arrow, Spearing

All areas

Open year-round*

9"

25

American Shad

Harvest of American Shad allowed only in the Connecticut River system.

Angling

Connecticut River (including tributaries open year-round)

Open year-round

No minimum length

6

Atlantic Salmon

Taking of Atlantic Salmon is prohibited. Exception: Atlantic Salmon Fisheries (see Atlantic Salmon & River Herring)

Largemouth Bass & Smallmouth Bass

Daily creel limit is for both species in aggregate.

Angling, Icefishing

Lakes & Ponds

Open year-round*

12"

6

Rivers & Streams

Open year-round*

No minimum length

6

Connecticut River

Open year-round

12"

6

Catfish (Channel Catfish & White Catfish) & bullheads

Daily creel limit is for both catfish (Channel Catfish & White Catfish) species in aggregate. No creel limit for bullheads.

Angling, Icefishing, Bobbing

All areas

Open year round*

No minimum length

Catfish - 6

Bullheads - No limit

Common Carp

Spearing and bow and arrow use prohibited in streams or stream sections stocked with trout. Spearing prohibited in all lakes & ponds.

Angling, Icefishing, Bobbing, Bow and Arrow, Spearing

All areas

Open year round*

No minimum length, only 1 fish >30”

5

Bowfin, Tench, Suckers & Lampreys

Spearing and bow and arrow use prohibited in streams or stream sections stocked with trout. Spearing prohibited in all lakes & ponds.

Angling, Icefishing, Bobbing, Bow and Arrow, Spearing

All areas

Open year-round*

No minimum length

No limit

Chain Pickerel

Angling, Icefishing

Lakes & Ponds

Open year-round*

15"

6

Rivers & Streams

Open year-round*

No minimum length

No limit

Hickory Shad

Daily creel limit is in aggregate with American Shad.

Angling, Icefishing, Scoop Net

All areas

Open year-round*

No minimum length

6

Kokanee

Trout & salmon stamp may be needed.

Angling, Icefishing

All areas

2nd Saturday in April – last day in February

No minimum length

5***

Northern Pike Change expected in June, 2021 (see Guide to Inland Regulations): Tiger Muskie are included as Northern Pike.

Both pike & Tiger Muskie in the aggregate.

Angling, Icefishing

All areas

Open year-round*

26"

2

Panfish**

Except White Perch, see below.

Angling, Icefishing, Bobbing

All areas

Open year-round*

No minimum length

No limit

Smelt

Taking of smelt in rivers & streams is prohibited.

Angling & Icefishing

Lakes & Ponds

Open year-round*

No minimum length

50

Striped Bass

See Notes on Marine Recreational Fishing Regulations

Angling

All areas

Open year-round*

28"-35”

1

Sturgeon, Burbot

Taking of sturgeon and Burbot prohibited.

Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Tiger & other hybrids)

Trout & salmon stamp may be needed.

Angling, Icefishing

Lakes & Ponds, Rivers & Streams

2nd Saturday in April – last day in February

No minimum length

5***

Lower Rivers/ Tidal Waters

Open year-round*

15"

2***

White Perch

Angling, Icefishing, Bobbing

Connecticut River (including Coves & Tributaries)

Tidally influenced Rivers & Streams

Open year-round*

7"

30

Lakes & Ponds

All other Rivers & Streams

Open year-round*

No minimum length

No limit

Walleye

Angling, Icefishing

All areas

Open year-round*

18"

2