Atlantic Salmon Management Areas

Adult Atlantic salmon are stocked each fall (at various times starting in September, pending river conditions) into three river sections designated as “Atlantic Salmon Management Areas” and into select lakes.

The Atlantic Salmon Management Areas are defined in regulation 26-112-46 (h) but the legal methods and daily creel limits are set annually through the Commissioner's Declaration.

• Naugatuck River
  • Upper Section:  From RT 118 (Harwinton-Litchfield) downstream to the Thomaston Dam
  • Lower Section:  From Prospect Street (Naugatuck) downstream to Pines Bridge Road (Beacon Falls)
• Shetucket River
  • From the Scotland Dam (Scotland) downstream to the Occum Dam (Norwich)

Also per regulation 26-112-46 (h) from September 1 to March 31 anglers fishing in these areas (for any species) must use the methods defined through the Commissioner's Declaration.

Atlantic salmon fishing opportunity outside of the Atlantic Salmon Management Areas:

The taking of Atlantic salmon is prohibited in all waters marine and inland, except in Atlantic Salmon Management Areas and other waters as per the annual Commissioner's Declaration. Fishing for Atlantic Salmon requires the use of legal methods as defined by the Commissioners Declaration.

These include:

Naugatuck River: From the confluence of the East Branch and West Branch Naugatuck River to the Route 118 crossing and from the Thomaston Dam to the Housatonic River.

Housatonic River: From the Derby Dam to the Sikorsky Memorial Bridge (Milford/Stratford)

Shetucket River: From the Occum Dam to the Water Street Bridge in Norwich.

Mount Tom Pond (Litchfield) and Crystal Lake (Ellington) are stocked each fall at various times, starting in September. Seasons and methods for Atlantic salmon fishing in lakes are same as for trout in that waterbody, except that the daily creel limit is 1 salmon per day.

Beginning in 1991, Connecticut stocked large soon to be retired Atlantic salmon “broodstock” into sections of the Naugatuck River and Shetucket River. The fishery became very popular. The Fisheries Division continues to raise Atlantic salmon specifically to support this unique recreational fishing opportunity. These fish (average 2-5 pounds) continue to be stocked into special “Atlantic Salmon Management Areas” river sections as well as into Mount Tom Pond and Crystal Lake (Ellington). 

To support the unique Atlantic salmon recreational fishery that has been established in the state, the Fisheries Division is specifically producing about 1,000 to 1,200, 2- to 3-year-old fish (average weight of 2-5 pounds) annually. These fish are stocked before they ever produce eggs. An additional 200 to 250 large (average weight of 10-15 pounds) broodstock Atlantic salmon are stocked for recreational fishing after being spawned.

Background 

The Atlantic salmon is an anadromous fish that, for thousands of years, flourished in large rivers of Connecticut and up the New England coast and Canada. Pollution, unregulated overfishing, and dams built during the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s blocked upstream migration to spawning habitat caused the Atlantic salmon to disappear from Connecticut waters. Leaders of the time realized action was needed to restore, manage, and conserve our natural resources. In 1866, the Connecticut State Legislature took action and created the Fisheries Commission (the origin of the current Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) who was tasked with restoring runs of Atlantic salmon, manage American shad, and restocking game fish to inland waters. Read more about the early Atlantic salmon history and management in this article in Connecticut Wildlife Magazine.

In 1967, a century after the initiation of the first restoration efforts, a second restoration program was initiated to restore the Atlantic salmon by the four Connecticut River states (CT, VT, MA, NH) and the federal government. Tens of millions of fry (1-2 inch fish) and smolts (6-inch young salmon ready to migrate to sea) were stocked annually into streams in all four states.

The Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission (CRASC) was established by Congress in 1983, and reauthorized in 2002 for another 20 years through the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Compact (Public Law 98-138). Ten Commissioners, representing four State agencies, the public and two Federal agencies, evaluate methods and provide guidance on restoring migratory fish species in the Connecticut River and its tributaries.The return rates of adult salmon varied from year to year, hundreds on some years and only dozens in others. After 1993, returns of adult Atlantic salmon become fewer and fewer. In 2011, Tropical Storm Irene caused historic flooding in VT and extreme damage to the federal salmon hatchery in Bethel, VT. Budget cuts, millions of dollars needed for hatchery repair, and decreasing returns of adult salmon prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service to withdraw the program.

Although the federal effort has ended, Connecticut DEEP Fisheries Division maintains a “Legacy Program” which utilizes hatchery-supported population with the intent of maintaining enough Atlantic salmon at the Kensington State Fish Hatchery to preserve genetic integrity of the Connecticut River strain. As a result, the Fisheries Division will continue to stock, in reduced numbers, fry and adult Atlantic salmon each year into tributary streams of the Farmington River and Salmon River watersheds. Atlantic salmon eggs are also used to support the Connecticut River Salmon Association’s Salmon-In-Schools program which is a joint effort to promote education about Atlantic salmon and aquatic resources.   

Recently, capture of returning Atlantic salmon has ended at the Rainbow Dam Fishway. This means any returning adults have free passage up the fishway and into the Farmington River watershed. The first year following free access, redds (spawning nests) were observed in key spawning habitat. While exciting to see that nature never gives up, it is in no way possible for this level of spawning to restore and support a population once again. CT DEEP's Atlantic salmon expert Steve Gephard provides a concise summary in Connecticut Wildlife Magazine.

Please contact the Fisheries Division with any questions. 

Phone: 860-424-FISH (3474)
E-mail: deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov

Content last updated March 2024