Section 26-159a-2 - Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)(a) The minimum legal length and daily creel limit for striped bass shall be as specified in sections 26-159a-4 and 26-159a-7, respectively, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.(b) No person shall sell, exchange, or offer for sale or exchange any striped bass taken from the waters of this state. Striped bass taken from the waters of a state in which commercial striped bass fishing is allowed may only be possessed for commercial purposes in Connecticut provided they meet the minimum length specified in section 26-159a-4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and each fish is affixed with that state's valid, current commercial striped bass tag.(c) No person shall possess, sell, exchange, or offer for sale or exchange any striped bass, regardless where taken, less than the minimum length, except that artificially reared hybrid striped bass (one parent Morone saxatilis) which are less than the minimum length, may be possessed and sold under the following conditions: (1) such fish, when offered for sale, shall be accompanied by documentation showing that such fish were propagated in a licensed commercial fish hatchery; and(2) such documentation shall include the name and address of the owner of the hatchery of origin, the number and description of fish received in the current shipment, and the shipping date and date of receipt of the current shipment.(d) Striped bass shall not be taken except by angling and the use of a gaff in the taking of striped bass is prohibited.(e) Any striped bass taken contrary to the provisions of this section shall, without avoidable injury, be returned immediately to the waters from which taken, provided that notwithstanding the provisions of sections 26-159a-4 and 26-159a-7 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, anglers participating in a tagging program approved by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may apply tags to and release striped bass sixteen inches or greater in total length.(f) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to restrict the number of legally acquired fish that may be kept in storage in the home or other storage facilities.(g) No person shall land or possess on the waters of this state or on any parcel of land, structure, or portion of a roadway abutting tidal waters of this state any striped bass from which the head or tail has been removed or which has otherwise been rendered unidentifiable as a striped bass or unable to be measured.(h) Notwithstanding any provision of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, no person shall engage in angling for striped bass with natural bait unless such person uses an inline circle hook. Any striped bass taken incidentally by use of natural bait on a hook other than an inline circle hook shall be returned immediately to the waters from which taken. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any artificial lure with bait attached, or to the use of a fly, as defined in section 26-112-43 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. For purposes of this subsection, "natural bait" means any organism, in whole or in part, that is live or dead, and "inline circle hook" means a fishing hook on which the point and barb are not offset from the plane of the shank and bend of such hook and such point is perpendicular to such shank.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 26-159a-2
Effective July 26, 1996; Amended March 8, 2001; Amended February 26, 2004; Amended December 27, 2006; amended 5/11/2022