Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

DEEP headquarters at 79 Elm Street in Hartford has partially re-opened to staff and members of the public as of Tuesday, February 3. The DEEP records room has re-opened. The DEEP Central Permit Processing Unit (CPPU) will be open to the public starting on Wednesday, Feb. 4. For updates, click here

How to Catch Saltwater Fish

Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Habitat: Large rivers in spring and fall. Estuaries and bays in summer.

Fishing Method: Drifting with live bait. Jigging and trolling. Bottom fishing with live or dead bait. Casting to fish.

Baits and Lures: Live Bait: Menhaden, eels, shiners and sand worms. All types of swimming and diving lures, bucktail jigs, swimming baits.

 

Hickory Shad

Hickory Shad

Habitat: Estuaries, bays and lower sections of rivers and coves.

Fishing Method: Casting to fish. Drifting with the tide. Anchored over structure and channels.

Baits and Lures: Willowleaf, shard dart, kastmaster and small jigs with plastic bodies.

 

Fluke

Summer Flounder (Fluke)

Habitat: Estuaries, bays and lower sections of rivers. Hard bottom and channels preferred.

Fishing Method: Bottom fishing. Drifting with bait. Jigging up and down. Casting to fish and slowly retrieving bait/lure.

Baits and Lures: Live/dead bait (bunker, herring, mummichogs, shiners and silversides), cut squid, baited jigs, rubber worms and plastic baits.

 

Scup

Scup (porgy)

Habitat: Estuaries and bays. Rock piles/reefs. Oyster and mussel beds. Pilings and jetties.

Fishing Method: Anchored over structure. Bottom fishing. Fishing with live or dead bait.

Baits and Lures: Squid, conch, sand worms, shrimp, night crawlers. Mussels and clams.

 

Content last updated March 2020