Conn. Agencies Regs. § 26-112-45

Current through December 4, 2024

Section 26-112-45 - Species limitations

(a) Alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis).

(1) Alewives and blueback herring may be taken only by angling or scoop net, except that in tidal waters and tributaries, as provided in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, alewives and blueback herring may also be taken by snagging or snatching.

(2) The taking of alewives and blueback herring by scoop net from June sixteenth through March thirty-first, both dates inclusive, is prohibited.

(3) In rivers and streams, the taking of alewives and blueback herring by angling and snagging or snatching from June sixteenth through 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday in April is prohibited.

(4) The taking of alewives and blueback herring from the section of Brides Brook, East Lyme, extending from the dam at Brides Pond downstream to Brides Brook Road is prohibited.

(5) Alewives and blueback herring shall not be taken from Saturday 12:00 midnight to Tuesday 12:00 midnight except in lakes and ponds, the main body of the Connecticut River, the main body of the Housatonic River, and the main body of the Thames River including the Shetucket River to the base of the Greenville Dam.

(6) The daily creel limit for alewives and blueback herring shall be twenty-five in the aggregate.

(b) American shad (Alosa sapidissima) and hickory shad (Alosa mediocris).

(1) American shad and hickory shad may be taken only by angling.

(2) The daily creel limit for American shad and hickory shad shall be six fish of both species in the aggregate, except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection.

(3) In all areas of the inland district except for the Connecticut River and those portions of its tributaries designated as tidal waters and tributaries as provided in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the daily creel limit for American shad shall be zero, and all American shad caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken.

Possession of American shad on the waters or on the shores of the inland district, except for the waters and shores of the Connecticut River and those portions of its tributaries designated as tidal waters and tributaries as provided in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, is prohibited.

(4) The open season for taking American shad from the Pawcatuck River, North Stonington-Stonington-Rhode Island, shall be as provided by Rhode Island regulations authorized by section 20-1-12 of the General Laws of Rhode Island.

(c) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

(1) The taking of Atlantic salmon is prohibited, except that the Commissioner may, by an annual declaration, allow the taking of Atlantic salmon during a specified period in specified waters as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall inform the public of open seasons and angling regulations for Atlantic salmon by annually posting notice on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's website and social media accounts, posting signs, and by printing notice in the fishing guide.

(2) During any period during which the taking of Atlantic salmon is allowed, the Commissioner may, by declaration, specify the angling methods allowed for the taking of Atlantic salmon.

(3) During any period during which the taking of Atlantic salmon is allowed, the Commissioner may, by declaration, specify the daily creel limit and the minimum length for Atlantic salmon.

(4) The taking of Atlantic salmon in the main stem Connecticut River shall be as provided by regulations of the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission, as authorized by Chapter 494 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(d) Bait species. Bait species include the following species of fish, amphibians, aquatic insects and crustaceans to the exclusion of all other species: golden shiner or "pond shiner" (Notemigonus crysoleucas), common shiner (Luxilus cornutus), fallfish (Semotilus corporalis), creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), spottail shiner or "river bait" (Notropis hudsonius), blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus), longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae), pearl dace (Semotilus margarita), bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), cutlips minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua), chub sucker (Erimyzon oblongus), white sucker (Catostomus commersonii), banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus), mummichug (Fundulus heteroclitus), striped killifish (Fundulus majalis), tidewater silverside (Menidia beryllina), Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), sand lance or "sand eels" (Ammodytes spp.), frogs (except the northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens), crayfish (except rusty crayfish, Faxonius rusticus), perch bugs, helgramites, and mayfly nymphs. Bait species may be taken only for personal use as bait and food, except as provided in section 26-55-5 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, and shall not be sold or offered for sale, except as provided in sections 26-142a-1 to 26-142a-6 inclusive, 26-142a- 12 and 26-142a-15 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(1) Bait species may be taken by bait seine, bait trap, umbrella net, by hand, by scoop net, by angling and by cast net, as provided below:

(A) In all inland waters, except those lakes and ponds where the use of fish (dead or alive) as bait is prohibited, bait species may be taken at any time by bait traps not to exceed twenty inches in length and fifteen inches in diameter and by umbrella nets not to exceed four feet in length by four feet in width.

(B) In all streams bait species may be taken at any time with bait seines not to exceed fifteen feet in length and four feet in depth. Bait seines shall not be used in lakes and ponds, except in those lakes and ponds designated by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as open to the commercial taking of bait. In such lakes and ponds bait seines not exceeding fifteen feet in length and four feet in width may be used to take bait species at any time of year.

(C) In inland waters, where open to fishing, bait species may also be taken by hand, by scoop net and by angling.

(D) In tidal waters and tributaries, as provided in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, bait species may be taken by cast net.

(e) Black bass. Black bass include largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu).

(1) Black bass may be taken only by angling and ice fishing.

(2) The daily creel limit for black bass shall be six, except in Boundary Waters and Bass Management Areas as specified in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and except as specified in section 26-112-48 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(3) There shall be no minimum length for black bass taken in streams, except in the Connecticut River, and its coves, where the minimum length shall be twelve inches. The minimum length for black bass taken in lakes and ponds shall be twelve inches, except in Boundary Waters and Bass Management Areas as specified in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and except as specified in section 26-112-48 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(f) Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), bowfin (Amia calva), tench (Tinca tinca), white suckers (Catostomus commersonii), American eels (Anguilla rostrata), and sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus).

(1) Common carp, bowfin, tench, suckers, eels and sea lampreys may be taken by angling, bobbing, ice fishing, bow and arrow fishing and spearing, except that, in streams or sections of streams stocked with trout and/or salmon, these species may be taken only by angling or ice fishing. Spearing is prohibited in all lakes and ponds.

(2) The daily creel limit for American eel shall be twenty-five.

(3) The minimum length for American eel shall be nine inches.

(4) The daily creel limit for common carp shall be five, not more than one of which may exceed thirty inches in length, except as provided in subdivision (5) of this subsection or in

Trophy Carp Waters as specified in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. The commissioner may grant an exemption from the daily creel limit or length requirements specified for common carp in this subsection to any person issued a permit under section 26-112-42 to conduct a fishing tournament or derby provided that all fish caught shall be released, without avoidable injury, to the waters where taken.

(5) The daily creel limit for common carp taken by bow and arrow fishing shall be twelve, not more than three 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.

(g) Chain pickerel (Esox niger).

(1) Chain pickerel may be taken only by angling or ice fishing.

(2) There shall be no daily creel limit for chain pickerel taken in streams and the daily creel limit for chain pickerel taken in lakes and ponds shall be six, except in Boundary Waters as specified in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(3) There shall be no minimum length for chain pickerel taken in streams and the minimum length for chain pickerel taken in lakes and ponds shall be fifteen inches, except in Boundary Waters as specified in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(h) Northern pike (Esox lucius). Northern pike includes tiger muskie, the hybrid of a northern pike and muskellunge (Esox masquinongy).

(1) Northern pike may be taken only by angling and ice fishing.

(2) The taking of northern pike from March first through April thirtieth, both dates inclusive, is prohibited in Bantam Lake, Little Pond (Little Bantam Lake), and their tributaries, Litchfield-Morris.

(3) The daily creel limit for northern pike shall be two, except that in Lake Lillinonah the daily creel limit shall be one, and, during the period December first through the last day of February, the daily creel limit for northern pike in Bantam Lake, Little Pond (Little Bantam Lake), and their tributaries, Litchfield-Morris, shall be one.

(4) The minimum length for northern pike shall be twenty-six inches, except that in Lake Lillinonah the minimum length for northern pike shall be thirty-eight inches, in the Connecticut River and its coves the minimum length for northern pike shall be twenty four inches and, during the period December first through the last day of February, the minimum length for northern pike in Bantam Lake, Little Pond (Little Bantam Lake), and their tributaries, Litchfield-Morris, shall be thirty-six inches.

(i) Panfish. Panfish include yellow perch (Perca flavescens), white perch (Morone americana), calico bass (Pomoxis spp.), rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), and all species of sunfish (Lepomis spp.) except banded sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus). Panfish may be taken only by angling, bobbing and ice fishing.

(j) Smelt (Osmerus mordax)

(1) Smelt may be taken in lakes and ponds only by angling and ice fishing.

(2) The taking of smelt in rivers and streams is prohibited.

(3) The daily creel limit for smelt taken in lakes and ponds shall be fifty fish.

(k) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) regulations governing the taking and possession of striped bass in the inland district shall be as specified in sections 26-159a-2, 26-159a-4, 26-159a-7, and 26-159a- 20 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(l) Sturgeon (Acipenser spp.). The taking of sturgeon is prohibited.

(m) Trout and kokanee. Trout and kokanee include brown trout (Salmo trutta), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), lake trout (Savelinus namaycush), kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka), and their hybrids.

(1) Trout and kokanee may be taken only by angling and ice fishing.

(2) The daily creel limits for trout and kokanee, except in boundary waters,

Trout Management Areas, Wild Trout Management Areas, Trout Parks, Sea-Run Trout Streams, Trophy Trout Streams and Trout Management Lakes as listed in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies as specified therein; in tidal waters and tributaries as listed in section 26-112-46 and as specified in section 26-112-48 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, shall be as follows:

(A) During the time period from 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday in April through the last day in February, inclusive, the daily creel limit for trout shall be five and the daily creel limit for kokanee shall be five.

(B) During the time period from March first through 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday in April, inclusive, the daily creel limit for trout is zero, the daily creel limit for kokanee is zero, and all trout and kokanee caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. During said time period from March first through 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday in April, possession of trout or kokanee in the waters or on the shores of the waters from which taken is prohibited.

(3) The minimum length for lake trout shall be twenty inches.

(4) There shall be no minimum length for trout (except lake trout) and kokanee except:

(A) In Trout Management Lakes, Wild Trout Management Areas, Trophy Trout Streams, Sea-Run Trout Streams and Trout Management Areas listed in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies as specified therein.

(B) In tidal waters and tributaries, as provided in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, where the minimum length shall be fifteen inches.

(C) In the following streams, or portions of the streams, where the minimum length of trout shall be nine inches:

Belden Brook, Hartland, Granby- that portion downstream from Fuller Road in Hartland.

Blackledge River, Glastonbury, Marlborough- that portion downstream from Route 94.

Burlington Brook, Burlington- that portion downstream from Covey Road.

Center Brook, Colebrook- that portion downstream from Route 183.

Cherry Brook, Canton- that portion downstream from Route 179.

Colebrook Brook, Winchester, Colebrook.

Dickinson Creek, Colchester, Marlborough- that portion downstream from Route 66.

East Branch Salmon Brook, Granby- that portion downstream from the Connecticut-Massachusetts state line.

East Branch Eightmile River, Salem, East Haddam, Lyme- that portion downstream from Witch Meadow Road in Salem.

East Branch Farmington River, Barkhamsted, New Hartford- that portion downstream from the dam at Lake McDonough.

Eightmile River, East Haddam, Lyme- that portion from Foxtown Road downstream to the dam at Mt. Archer Road.

Farmington River, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, East Granby, Bloomfield, Windsor- that portion downstream from Route 177.

Fawn Brook, Marlborough, Hebron- that portion downstream from Slocum Road.

Indian Meadow Brook, Winchester.

Jeremy River, Colchester- that portion downstream from Greyville Road.

Judd Brook, Colchester, Hebron- that portion downstream from Old Colchester Road.

Mad River, Norfolk, Winchester- that portion downstream from Grantville Road in Norfolk.

Meadow Brook, Colchester- that portion downstream from Route 16.

Mill Brook, Winchester- that portion downstream from Hannifin Road.

Morgan Brook, Barkhamsted- that portion downstream from the dam on West Hill Pond.

Mountain Brook, Granby- that portion downstream from the Route 20 bridge located between the

Route 20 intersections with Case Street and Enders Road.

Pequabuck River, Plymouth, Bristol, Plainville, Farmington - that portion downstream from Canal Street in Plymouth.

Pine Brook, East Hampton, Haddam- that section downstream from Sexton Road in East Hampton.

Ratlum Brook, Canton, New Hartford- that portion downstream from the confluence with Spruce Brook.

Raymond Brook, Hebron- that portion downstream from Old Colchester Road.

Safstrom Brook, East Hampton- that portion downstream from Tartia Road.

Salmon River, Colchester, East Hampton, East Haddam, Haddam- that portion from the confluence of the Blackledge and Jeremy rivers downstream to Route 151.

Salmon Brook, East Granby, Granby.

Sandy Brook, Colebrook, Norfolk- that portion downstream from the Connecticut-Massachusetts state line.

Still River, Barkhamsted, Colebrook- that portion downstream from the confluence with the Mad River.

West Branch of Fawn Brook, Marlborough, Hebron- that portion downstream from Slocum Road.

West Branch of Salmon Brook, Granby- that portion downstream from Route 179.

(n) Any fish or bait species taken contrary to this section shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken.

(o) Marine finfish. Unless otherwise specified by this section, the species limitations for marine finfish taken by sport fishing from the waters of this state shall be as specified in regulations adopted under authority of section 26-159a of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(p) Walleye (Sander vitreus).

(1) Walleye may be taken only by angling and ice fishing.

(2) The daily creel limit for walleye shall be two.

(3) The minimum length for walleye shall be eighteen inches except that in Lake Pocotopaug, East Hampton, the minimum length for walleye shall be twenty inches.

(q) Banded sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus). The taking of banded sunfish is prohibited.

(r) American brook lamprey (Lethenteron appendix). The taking of American brook lamprey is prohibited.

(s) Catfish and bullheads.

(1) All species of catfish (Ameiurus spp. and Ictalurus spp.), including bullheads, may be taken by hand, angling, bobbing and ice fishing.

(2) The daily creel limit for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and white catfish (Ameiurus catus) shall be six fish of both species in the aggregate, except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection.

(3) The daily creel limit for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and white catfish (Ameiurus catus) shall be three fish in the following lakes and ponds:

Beaver Park Lagoon, New Haven

Birge Pond, Bristol

Bunnells Pond (Beardsley Park Pond), Bridgeport

Center Springs Park Pond, Manchester

Colony Pond (Abe Stone Park Pond), Ansonia, Shelton

Crescent Lake, Southington

Freshwater Pond, Enfield

Keney Park Pond, Hartford

Lake Wintergreen, Hamden

Lakewood Lake, Waterbury

Mirror Lake (Hubbard Park Pond), Meriden

Picketts Pond, Derby

Rogers Park Pond, Danbury

Rowans Pond (Butternut Park Pond), Middletown

Mohegan Park Pond (Spaulding Pond), Norwich

Stanley Quarter Pond, New Britain.

Conn. Agencies Regs. § 26-112-45

Effective January 1, 1997; Amended January 30, 1998; Amended September 29, 1999; Amended March 8, 2001; Amended October 9, 2001; Amended December 11, 2001; Amended April 4, 2005; Amended January 30, 2007; Amended October 4, 2011; Amended March 6, 2015; Amended March 9, 2018; amended 6/30/2021; amended 12/27/2022