Fishing

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• Sunfishes and Freshwater Basses

  There are eleven sunfish species in Connecticut, only three of which are native.

• Temperate Basses

  All North American members of the family are important gamefish, and some support significant commercial fisheries.

• Common Carp

  Learn all about common carp, one of Connecticut's biggest and hardest fighting fish!

• American Shad Assessment

  Learn all about our American Shad Assessment - Connecticut's State Fish!

• Bass Management

  Information on black bass management in Connecticut.

• Creek Chubsucker

  Creek chubsucker populations have reportedly declined in streams that are subject to siltation.

• Alewife

  Anadromous alewives are important forage fish for large gamefish such as striped bass and bluefish as well as many other animals, including osprey and marine mammals.

• Redfin Pickerel

  Connecticut’s smallest pike species. They are typically mistaken for small chain pickerel by anglers.

• Catfishes and Bullheads

  Catfish and bullheads have eight barbels around the mouth: two off the snout, two off the corners of the mouth, and four under the chin. These long barbels give the impression of whiskers, hence the name “catfishes.”

• Channel Catfish

  The channel catfish is the state’s largest catfish species.

• Warmouth

  Warmouths can be distinguished from other sunfishes by feeling for the patch of small teeth on the tongue.

• Hogchoker

  Apparently during Colonial times, “hogchokers” fed to pigs proved difficult to swallow.

• Striped Mullet

  Striped mullet support important commercial fisheries in Southern states. Smaller fish are sold as bait.

• Sticklebacks

  Four native stickleback species are found predominantly in marine and sometimes fresh waters of Connecticut. The males build and guard nests made out of aquatic vegetation, and they become darker and/or more brightly colored during the spawning season.

• Kokanee Salmon Program

  Learn about Connecticut's unique Kokanee salmon program and fishery!