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Connecticut Saltwater Fishing Regulations (2026)

Recreational size limits, bag limits and seasons for 24 saltwater species in Connecticut, from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Marine Fisheries Program. Last checked November 7, 2026. Where a species has several rules (by area or water), the table shows the first; open the species for all of them.

Check what's open at your harbor today

Official Connecticut regulations · Saltwater fishing license

Inshore

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
American EelMinimum length: 9 inchesDaily creel limit: 25 fish per anglerOpen Season: Open Year Round
American ShadMinimum length: None6 per personOpen Season: Open Year Round
Hickory ShadMinimum length: None6 per personOpen Season: Open Year Round
Red Drum (Redfish)Maximum length: 27 inchesDaily creel limit: 1 fish per anglerOpen Season: Open Year Round
River Herring: Alewife / Blueback Herring———
Striped Bass28–31 inDaily creel limit: 1 fish per anglerOpen Season: Open Year Round
Weakfish (Sea Trout)Minimum length: 16 inchesDaily creel limit: 1 fish per anglerOpen Season: Open Year Round
White PerchMinimum length: 7 inchesDaily creel limit: 30 fish per anglerOpen Season: Open Year Round

Reef fish

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
Black Sea Bass (3 rules)15.5 in minimumDaily creel limit: 4 fish per angler (New for 2026)Open Season: May 16 - November 25 (no mid-season closure) (New for…
Scup (Porgy) (4 rules)11 in minimumDaily creel limit: 30 fish per anglerOpen Season: May 1 - December 31
Tautog (Blackfish) (3 rules)Minimum length: 16 inchesOpen Season: April 1 - April 30, 2 fish per anglerOpen Season: April 1 - April 30, 2 fish per angler

Offshore & pelagic

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
Atlantic Menhaden (Bunker)Minimum length: NoneDaily creel limit: 50 fish per angler or 5 gallons (whichever is the…Open Season: Open Year Round
Bluefish (2 rules)Minimum length: None5 per personOpen Season: Open Year Round
Coastal Shark Species———

Groundfish & flatfish

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
Atlantic Cod———
Haddock———
Pollock———
Summer Flounder (Fluke) (3 rules)Open Season:May 4 - August 1; 19 inch minimum lengthDaily creel limit: 3 fish per anglerOpen Season:May 4 - August 1; 19 inch minimum length
Winter FlounderMinimum length: 12 inchesDaily creel limit: 2 fish per anglerOpen Season: Open April 1 - December 31

Crabs, lobster & shrimp

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
Blue Crab (2 rules)Minimum shell width (spike tip to spike tip): 5 inches - Hard shellDaily creel limit: NoneOpen Season: May 1 - November 30
Jonah Crab—Daily creel limit: 50 Crabs per Day—
Lobster———

Other species

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
Smooth and Spiny DogfishMinimum length: NoneDaily creel limit: NoneOpen Season: Open Year
Squid———