01/01/2026
The CT DEEP Fisheries Division wishes you all the best in your pursuit of your favorite fish. CT fishing licenses are valid for a calendar year. Don't miss one day of fishing, get your license today online.
The 2026 Fishing Guides will be available shortly - the regulations are always available online at https://portal.ct.gov/deep/fishing/regulations/fishing-regulations
Heads up - some new fishing regulations are now in effect.
Definition Changes- Established a definition for “Artificial Lure/Lure” and for “Catch and Release Fishing.”
Modified the definitions for “Bait,” “Fish Hook/Hook,” “Fly,” “Fly Fishing,” “Daily Creel Limit,” and “Possession Limit.”
Removed the definition of “Bobbing.”
Trout Regulations-
9-inch statewide default minimum length limit for harvest (not applicable to areas subject to catch-and-release-only regulations or a more restrictive harvest length limit).
Establishment of three new Trout Parks: Mashamoquet Brook in Pomfret, Macedonia Brook in Kent, and Kettletown Brook in Southbury.
Special regulations removed from the following waterbodies, which now will be subject to default statewide regulations:
East Branch Naugatuck River in Torrington (previously Wild Trout Management Area-Class 3)
Shunock Brook in North Stonington (previously Wild Trout Management Area-Class 3)
Eightmile River in East Haddam & Lyme (previously Sea-Run Stream)
Whitford Brook in North Stonington (previously Sea-Run Stream)
Mianus River-outside of the Trout Management Area in Greenwich & Stamford (previously Sea-Run Stream)
Crystal Lake in Ellington (previously Trout Management Lake)
Establishment of 22 new Class 1 Wild Trout Management Areas (entirety or portions of the following):
Beaver Brook in Barkhamsted
Belden Brook in Granby
Bonemill Brook in Tolland & Ellington
Cold Brook and tributaries in Glastonbury
Green Falls River in North Stonington
Gulf Stream and tributaries in Somers
Hall Meadow Brook in Norfolk
Thorne Brook and tributaries in Hartland
Hurricane Brook in Hartland
Indian Hole Brook in Shelton
Jericho Brook in Thomaston
Lowden Brook in Voluntown
Mohawk Pond Outflow in Goshen
Morgan Brook in Barkhamsted
Pease Brook in Bozrah
Railroad Brook in Vernon
Sages Ravine Brook in Salisbury
Spruce Brook and tributaries in Litchfield
Stony Brook in Montville
Stratton Brook in Simsbury
West Branch Salmon Brook and tributaries in Hartland
Willow Brook and tributaries in Hamden & Cheshire
Establishment of a protective thermal refuge in Highland Lake in Wi******er, at the mouth of Taylor Brook (no fishing allowed July 1 to October 15).
Regulation Changes for Other Species-
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass: catch-and-release year-round in the Housatonic River from the CT-MA state boundary to the Bleachery Dam in New Milford.
Establishment of three Chain Pickerel Management Lakes: Lake Wononskopomuc, East Twin Lake, and West Twin Lake in Salisbury. New chain pickerel regulations on these lakes: 22-inch harvest minimum length limit, and 1 chain pickerel per day bag limit.
Channel Catfish: Daily limit of 3 catfish in Wharton Brook Park Pond (Allen Pond) in Wallingford & North Haven.
