Skip to main content

Connecticut

Fishing

Connecticut › Fishing › Permits

Permits

Submit your permit applications online — A convenient on-line system is now available for the submittal of fisheries related permits. The ezFile system offers a safe, secure, and convenient process to submit your permit applications. After DEEP review, you will receive the appropriate documentation via email, no more paper to fax, scan or mail. Questions about ezFile or need help? Call us at 860-424-FISH (3474).
  1. Get started with ezFile:
  2. Download Google Chrome (recommended browser)
  3. Selecting the ezFile icon on https://portal.ct.gov/deepfishing
  4. Select “create an account”
  5. Follow the instructions (should take about 5 minutes).

Fisheries Related Permits And Registrations Served By Ezfile:

Inland Fishing Tournament/Derby Permit

Required to conduct a fishing tournament or derby on inland waters open to public fishing involving anglers 16 years or older. Organized events, like fishing tournaments, are usually limited to 50% of the parking capacity at a state-owned launch. Open water catch-and-release-only tournaments can be granted an exemption from Bass Management Area special regulations (exemptions available for all Bass Management lakes from September 1 through June 30, exemptions granted only for Gardner Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir from July 1 to August 31). Additional guidelines and restrictions may apply for open-water trout tournaments/derbies conducted on waters managed by the state for trout.

Liberation (Stock) of Live Fish

Required each time any live fish or live fish eggs are released into any pond, lake, or stream in Connecticut (it is illegal to introduce any aquarium fish into any waters of Connecticut).

Importation of Live Fish or Fish Eggs

Required each time live fish or live fish eggs are brought into Connecticut from outside the State (no permit is required to import common aquarium species). Note: Possession or importation of a number of species including piranha, walking catfish, black, silver and bighead carp, gizzard shad, and all species of snakehead (family Channidae) is prohibited.

Special Regulations on Association Controlled Waters

Any association owning or controlling the fishing rights in a stream or pond may request a temporary change in fishing regulations at their water body.

Private Waters Registration

Can be acquired by individuals or a corporation that meet the eligibility criteria. There is a non-refundable $70.00 application fee. As each situation is unique, please call 860-424-3474 to discuss options.

Marine Fish Tournament/Derby Registration

Required to conduct a marine fishing tournament or derby in Connecticut that is open to persons 16 years of age and older as described under section 26-159a-26 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. There is no charge for the registration.

National Saltwater Angler Registry

Congress, through the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, called on NOAA Fisheries to create a national registry of saltwater anglers. Required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Marine Recreational Angler Program (MRIP) is a partnership working to improve saltwater recreational fishing data collection and provide more informed fisheries conservation. The angler registry will improve data collection by creating a universe of saltwater anglers, essentially a phonebook of fishermen. This resource will help reduce bias and improve the efficiency of catch and effort surveys. Instead of asking a random sample of coastal U.S. residents if they’ve gone fishing (what is currently done), an angler registry through a phone or mail survey would allow surveyors to call upon those who have already identified themselves as saltwater fishermen.

Anglers please note:

New York, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire also have marine license or registration requirements. Connecticut has reciprocity (your CT Marine Waters, or an All-Waters fishing license will be accepted) with all these states except for New Hampshire where a CT resident will need to obtain a New Hampshire saltwater license. Note that residents of Connecticut are required to have a CT resident Marine Waters sport fishing license to fish in Connecticut’s Marine District. Connecticut anglers holding valid marine waters fishing license are exempt from National Saltwater Angler Registry. For more information, please see www.countmyfish.noaa.gov or https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/nnri/

Permits are required for these activities:

  • Stock fish or import live fish into the state
  • Conduct a fishing tournament or derby
  • Use grass carp to manage aquatic plants

Notice To Sportsmen

A judgement or a plea of guilty, forfeiture of a bond, or payment of a fine for a fishing, hunting, or trapping violation may result in the suspension of your fishing, hunting, or trapping license.

Importation and/or liberation permit for triploid grass carp

Authorizes the importation, possession and liberation of triploid grass carp into inspected/approved ponds. Possession of diploid grass carp is prohibited. Triploid grass carp represent one method of controlling nuisance aquatic vegetation. The Fisheries Division inspects all ponds to determine regulatory compliance, particularly to verify that the fish can not escape from the waters in which they were stocked, thereby preventing off-site damage to aquatic habitats. Grass carp information packets and application forms can be obtained by contacting the Fisheries Division at 860-424-3474.

Connecticut