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Connecticut

Fishing

Fishing

Inland District Statewide Species Regulations

Statewide Inland Fisheries Regulations

From March 1 until 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April, trout fishing is catch and release only statewide. There are exceptions, so please refer to the river/stream or lake/pond pages for regulations on a specific waterbody.

For more information on Legal Methods and Gear, Length Limits, Creel and Possession Limits, and Species, refer to the "definitions" option on the left menu. Note: Regulations for several marine species found in the Inland District are subject to change. Quick Species Look Up (select the species to jump to the statewide regulation)

Alewife or Blueback Herring

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

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

Legal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
AnglingLakes and PondsOpen year-roundNo minimum length25
Scoop NetLakes and PondsApril 1 – June 15No minimum length25

American Eel

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

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Illustration of an American eel with an elongated, snake-like body, smooth olive-brown skin, and small pectoral fins near the head.Angling, Ice fishing, Bobbing, Bow and Arrow, SpearingAll areasOpen year-round9"25

American Shad (about shad assessments)

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

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Illustration of an American Shad, a large silver fish with a greenish-blue back and deeply forked tail, native to Atlantic coastal rivers.AnglingConnecticut River (including tributaries open year-round)Open year-roundNo minimum length6

Atlantic Salmon (about Atlantic Salmon Management Areas)

Taking of Atlantic Salmon is prohibited. Exception: Naugatuck River, Shetucket River, Housatonic River and lakes stocked by CT DEEP. (For current season and daily limits, please see the Commissioner's Declaration.)

Atlantic salmon management areas. From September first through March thirty-first, angling for all species in the following areas is restricted to those methods specified by the commissioner for the taking of Atlantic salmon in accordance with section 26-112-45(c) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies:

(1) The Upper Naugatuck River Atlantic salmon management area is that portion of the Naugatuck River from Route 118, Harwinton and Litchfield, downstream to Thomaston Dam, Thomaston.

(2) The Lower Naugatuck River Atlantic salmon management area is that portion of the Naugatuck River from Prospect Street, Naugatuck, downstream to Pines Bridge Road, Beacon Falls.

(3) The Shetucket River Atlantic salmon management area is that portion of the Shetucket River from the Scotland Dam, Windham, downstream to the Occum Dam, Norwich and Sprague.

Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass (about bass management) (about bass tournaments)

Daily creel limit is for both species in aggregate.

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Illustration of a largemouth bass with a greenish body, horizontal stripe, and a large mouth that extends past the eye—popular freshwater game fish.
Illustration of a smallmouth bass with a bronze-green body and vertical banding—recognized by its smaller mouth that does not extend past the eye.

Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass

Angling, Ice FishingLakes and PondsOpen year-round12"6
Angling, Ice FishingRivers and StreamsOpen year-roundNo minimum length6
Angling, Ice Fishing
Connecticut RiverOpen year-round
12"6
Bass Management lakes have different regulations that listed here. Please check the Lake and Pond regulation page by waterbody (link on left menu).

Burbot Taking of burbot prohibited.

Catfish (Channel Catfish and White Catfish) and bullheads (brown and yellow) (about catfish fisheries)

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

Legal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Angling, Ice fishing, BobbingLakes/Ponds/Rivers/StreamsOpen year-roundNo minimum lengthCatfish – 6
Bullheads – No limit
Community Fishing WatersOpen year-roundNo minimum length

Catfish – 3
Bullheads – No limit


Channel Catfish

White CatfishBrown BullheadYellow Bullhead
Channel catfish with whisker-like barbels and a forked tail, displayed on a light blue background.
White catfish resting on a light blue surface, featuring a broad head and short, rounded tail.
Brown bullhead catfish with mottled brown coloration and prominent whisker-like barbels, displayed on a light blue background.
Yellow bullhead catfish with smooth yellowish-brown body and pale chin barbels, displayed on a blue background.

Common Carp (about Trophy Carp Management Areas)

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

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Common carp with a thick, golden-bronze body and large scales, shown against a light blue background.
Angling, Ice Fishing, Bobbing, Bow and Arrow, SpearingAll AreasOpen year-roundNo minimum length, only 1 fish >30"5
Bow and Arrow Bonus: The daily creel limit for common carp taken by bow and arrow fishing shall be twelve (12), not more than three (3) of which may exceed thirty inches in length, in the following areas: West Thompson Lake, the Thames River and its coves, including the Shetucket River downstream from Greenville Dam and the Yantic River downstream of the falls at Indian Leap in Norwich, the Connecticut River and its coves downstream of the Arrigoni Bridge, the Mattabesset River (Sebethe River) downstream of Route 3, including the Cromwell Meadows Wildlife Management Area, the Coginchaug River downstream of Route 3, the Quinnipiac River downstream of Route 40 and the Housatonic River downstream of the Derby Dam.

Bowfin, Tench, Suckers and Lampreys

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

Legal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Angling, Ice Fishing, Bobbing, Bow and Arrow, Spearing
All AreasOpen year-round
No minimum length
No Limit


BowfinTenchWhite SuckerLamprey
Bowfin with elongated body and mottled green-brown pattern, shown against a dark blue background.
Tench fish with an olive-gold body and rounded fins, displayed against a light blue background.
White sucker fish with a long, slender body and downward-facing mouth, shown on a light blue background.
Lamprey with elongated, eel-like body and circular mouth, displayed on a light blue background.

Chain Pickerel

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Chain pickerel with greenish body, slender shape, and chain-like markings, shown on a light blue background.

Angling, Ice FishingLakes and PondsOpen year-round
15"6
Angling, Ice Fishing
Rivers and StreamsOpen year-round
No minimum length
No Limit

Hickory Shad

Daily creel limit is in aggregate with American shad.

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Hickory shad with silver body and dark back, shown on a blue background.
Angling, Ice Fishing, Scoop NetAll AreasOpen year-roundNo minimum length
6

Kokanee (about Kokanee fishery)

Trout and Salmon Stamp may be needed.

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Kokanee salmon with vibrant red body and green head, displayed on a light blue background.
Angling, Ice Fishing
All Areas

6:00 am second Saturday of April until the last day of Febuary

No minimum length
5***
Angling, Ice FishingAll AreasMarch 1 until 6:00 am second Saturday of AprilNo minimum length0 (catch and release only)

Northern Pike (about Pike Management) and Tiger Muskie

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Northern pike with elongated body and light spots on greenish skin, displayed on a pale background.
Angling, Ice Fishing
All Areas
Open year-round
26"2
CT River, Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake and Little Pond (Litchfield) each have regulations for Pike that differ than those listed here. Please check the Lake and Pond regulation page by waterbody (link on left menu).

Panfish** Calico Bass/Black Crappie, All Sunfish Species, Yellow Perch

Except White Perch, see below.

Legal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Angling, Ice Fishing, Bobbing
All AreasOpen year-round
No minimum length
No Limit


Calico Bass/Black CrappieBluegillPumpkinseedRock BassYellow Perch
Black crappie (calico bass) with a speckled pattern of dark spots on a silver body, displayed on a light blue background.
Bluegill sunfish with vibrant orange and yellow coloring on its belly and a dark spot on the gill cover, shown on a light blue background.

Pumpkinseed sunfish with bright orange and yellow body, green and blue speckled patterns, and a dark spot on the gill flap.
Rock bass with a stocky body, red eyes, and mottled gold and dark brown pattern, commonly found in rocky lake and stream habitats.
Yellow perch with golden-yellow body and dark vertical stripes, commonly found in freshwater lakes and rivers across North America.

Smelt

Taking of smelt in rivers and streams is prohibited.

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Silvery smelt fish with slender body and forked tail, commonly found in cold freshwater and coastal habitats.
Angling, Ice Fishing
Lakes and PondsOpen year-round
No minimum length
50

Striped Bass

Effective at 12:00 am on May 26, 2023, CT's Striped Bass regulations change to become a slot of 28 inches to 31 inches. Any striped bass that is less than 28 inches or greater than or equal to 31 inches must be released without avoidable injury. This change was the result of emergency action by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission on May 2, 2023. This action set a maximum size of 31 inches for striped bass coast-wide. As a result Connecticut's previous slot of 28 inches to 35 inches is now reduced to 28-31 inches.

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonSlot LengthDaily Creel Limit
Striped bass with silver body and dark horizontal stripes, a prized game fish in both freshwater and saltwater environments.
Angling; Circle Hooks required when using bait - get details.All AreasOpen year-round
28"-31"1

Sturgeon Taking of sturgeon prohibited.

Trout (Brook, Brown, Lake, Rainbow, Tiger and other hybrids)

Lake Trout: Same season and daily limits below; Minimum length is 20 inches. Occasionally the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service donates Lake Trout they no longer need to CT. These fish are stocked into select lakes in order to create an immediate unique fishery. The CT Fisheries Division does not have a program to manage lake trout. Please enjoy when a stocking opportunity arises.

Trout and Salmon Stamp may be needed.

Legal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Angling, Ice FishingLakes and Ponds, Rivers and Streams6:00 am second Saturday of April until last day of FebruaryNo minimum length5***
March 1 until 6:00 am second Saturday of AprilNo minimum length0 (catch and release only)
Angling, Ice Fishing
Tidal Waters and TributariesOpen year-round15"2***
Many waters have different regulations for trout than are listed here. Please check the regulations for the specific lake/pond or river/stream you are fishing (link in left menu)


Brook TroutBrown TroutRainbow TroutTiger Trout
Brook trout with vibrant orange belly, white-edged fins, and marbled olive back, native to cold, clear freshwater streams and lakes.
Brown trout with golden-brown body, dark spots, and pale belly—commonly found in cool rivers, lakes, and streams.
Rainbow trout with a pink lateral stripe, silvery body, and small black spots—commonly found in cold freshwater streams and lakes.
Tiger trout with distinct maze-like patterns and a golden-olive body—hybrid of brook and brown trout found in select Connecticut waters.

White Perch

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
White perch with silver-gray scales and spiny dorsal fin, commonly found in Connecticut’s freshwater and estuarine waters.
Angling, Ice Fishing, Bobbing
Connecticut River (including coves and tributaries)
Tidally influenced Rivers and Streams
Open year-round
7"30
Angling, Ice Fishing, Bobbing
Lakes and Ponds
All other Rivers and Streams
Open year-round
No minimum lengthNone

Walleye (about Walleye Management)

PhotoLegal MethodsAreaOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Creel Limit
Walleye fish with olive-green back, white belly, and sharp dorsal fin, known for its excellent vision and popularity among sport anglers.
Angling, Ice FishingAll AreasOpen year-round18"2

** Yellow Perch, Calico Bass (Black Crappie), Rock Bass, and all species of sunfish.

*** Trout and Salmon Stamp required to keep fish.