Section 26-159a-7 - Creel limits(a) Unless otherwise specified in section 26-112-45 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the daily creel limit for species taken by sport fishing methods, including spears of any kind, shall be as set forth in this subsection. No person, other than a person authorized to take finfish under a license or registration issued pursuant to section 26-142a of the Connecticut General Statutes, while on the waters of this state or on any parcel of land, structure, or portion of a roadway abutting tidal waters of this state shall possess or land any of the following species, regardless of where taken, in excess of the identified number. (1) Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua): the creel limit shall be the number specified in 50 CFR 648.89;(2) Black sea bass (Centropristis striata): 25 fish;(3) Summer flounder (fluke) (Paralichthys dentatus): 5 fish;(4) American shad (Alosa sapidissima) and hickory shad (Alosa mediocris): 6 fish of both species in the aggregate;(5) Scup (porgy) (Stenotomus chrysops): 10 fish, except that paying passengers on a vessel operating under the authority of a party/charter vessel registration issued under section 26-142a of the Connecticut General Statutes may possess 45 fish per angler from September 1 to October 15, inclusive;(6) American eel (Anguilla rostrata): 50 fish;(7) Winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus): 10 fish;(8) Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix): 10 fish;(9) Alewives and river herring (Alosa pseudoharengus and Alosa aestivalis): 25 fish of both species in the aggregate;(10) Tautog (blackfish) (Tautoga onitis): 4 fish from January 1 to April 30, 2 fish from July 1 to August 31, and 4 fish from October 1 to December 6, all dates inclusive;(11) White perch (Morone mericana): 30 fish;(12) Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis):6 fish; and(13) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis): 2 fish.(b) 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, or in a commercial storage facility where seafood is handled, stored, processed or marketed.(c) Any of said species taken contrary to subsection (a) of this section shall, without avoidable injury, be returned immediately to the water from which taken. Culling or high-grading, as defined in section 26-142a-16 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, is prohibited, except in fishing tournaments granted an exemption by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26-159a-26 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. This subsection shall not be construed to prevent tagging and release of fish, other than striped bass, under a tagging program consistent with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's standards for scientific tagging programs.(d) No person fishing under the provisions of this section or section 26-159a-2 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies shall also, during the same trip for which the creel limit applies, possess any fish taken under commercial fishery trip limits specified in the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 26-159a-7
Adopted effective October 23, 1997; Amended October 30, 1998; Amended September 29, 1999; Amended December 27, 2000; Amended January 28, 2002; Amended March 31, 2003; Amended February 26, 2004; Amended April 26, 2005; Amended December 27, 2006; Amended January 25, 2007; Amended September 27, 2007; Amended December 22, 2008