I am pleased to announce CT Fishin' Tips, our new and informative e-newsletter covering fish and fishing related content for novices and experts alike.  Anglers will find a tremendous diversity of outstanding fishing opportunities on the inland and marine waters of our state. I hope this newsletter helps you find these fish and enjoy your time on our waters.  As the father of two young boys who are just learning to fish, I know that my family is going to make good use of the information found in CT Fishin' Tips.

 

Great fishing,

 

Commissioner- Rob Klee

Channel catfish were stocked on May 27 in over 20 waterbodys.  Fish averaging 14-16 inches were stocked in our Community Fishing Waters and several other Catfish Lakes.

Great saltwater fishing opportunities can be found at any one of our Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Sites. There is a reduced size limit, 16 inches for Summer Flounder (fluke) and 9 inches for Scup (porgy) at these locations. 

Bonus Vouchers for Striped Bass are now available from DEEP offices and Coastal State Parks.  This program allows the harvest of 1 striped bass between 22 and 27 inches.

Geo-Catch your way through summer 2014.  No boredom allowed as you and your family try to successfully catch the target fish species at over two dozen locations around CT.  Our activity guide provides all of the details.  More about the Youth Fishing Passport 

Half-day classes are offered to day camps and youth groups from late June to mid-August. Environmental activities are followed by a fishing experience. We travel to your camp. Fishable water is required. 

August 16, 2014:  Saltwater fishing day at Fort Trumbull State Park.  Join us on the fishing pier for some great saltwater shoreline based angling.  No experience or equipment necessary.  We have it all. Please note, a saltwater or all waters fishing license is necessary for anglers age 16 or older.

Leslie A. shared this photo on our CT fish and wildlife facebook page, saying, "A day on the water always beats a day at work!"  How true. Congrats on a great catch.  

Brandon A. sent in this photo of his son, Michael, who caught a nice Brown Trout on June 1, 2014 at Candlewood Lake. Michael wanted to share his catch, noting, he released it right after and is a proud Catch and Release fisherman.   

Lake and Pond Fish Community Monitoring:  Fish populations of lakes and ponds are monitored by fisheries biologists, sometimes at night via electrofishing, to gain important information about fish species distribution, growth rates, abundance, spawning success, and mortality rates. These data are used to help protect aquatic environments and to provide the best fishing possible to CT anglers.  Check out the May/June 2014 edition of CT Wildlife Magazine for "Electrofishing:  A shocking way to sample fish populations", by Bob Jacobs, Supervising Fisheries Biologist.

Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), are a very popular warmwater fish species. CT anglers often will cast and retrieve a variety of lures, plastic worms, spinner baits, or use a popper on a fly rod to catch them. Largemouth bass are present in almost every lake, pond and larger slow-moving waterbody across CT.  The CT DEEP Inland Fisheries Division manages bass populations in bass management lakes in order to provide high-quality catching of big bass. Learn more about CT's largemouth bass.    

By purchasing a fishing license, you help to support conservation and improvement of Connecticut's fisheries.  Thank you!