Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Burbot (Lota lota) - Native?

Burbot.

A 10-inch adult burbot from Hollenbeck River, Canaan.

Identification. Long, slender body. Very small scales. Two dorsal fins (first short, second very long). Single long anal fin. No spines. Filamentous extensions on pelvic fins. Brown to olive on back, fading on sides, white on belly. Dark mottled markings cover entire head, body and fins.

Size. Commonly 8 to 11 inches. State survey max. size 12.2 inches. Max. reported size 4.9 feet. World Record 18.7 pounds.

Burbot swimming in a tank.

The burbot is the only member of the cod family that lives entirely in freshwater.

Distribution. Burbot have a circumpolar distribution. In North America, they are distributed throughout Alaska and Canada south into the Northern United States. Connecticut is the southern extreme of the burbot’s range in Eastern North America. They have been found in only a few locations in the state, two tributaries of the northern Housatonic drainage and, more rarely, in the mainstem and one tributary of the Connecticut River. They are typically uncommon to rare where found.

Burbot distribution map.

All maps created in 2009. See CT DEEP Fish Community Data for updated distributions.

Habits. A nocturnal fish that mostly inhabits deep coldwater lakes and large rivers. Stream populations spend the day in deep holes or under rocks, ledges or tree roots. They typically breed in aggregate, forming a large, writhing ball of spawning fish. Can be caught by angling with bait on the bottom. Burbot are not easy to keep in home aquariums because they require cold, good-quality water, low-light conditions and live or fresh food.

Comments. The burbot is the only completely freshwater member of the cod family. Little is known of its life history in Connecticut. The Housatonic drainage population appears to be locally restricted and small. The only thing known of the Connecticut River population is that a few have been taken by electrofishing and that anglers occasionally catch them, especially around Hartford. They may spawn somewhere north in the river and occasionally drift down into Connecticut. It is uncertain whether burbot are native to the state. They may represent a remnant population or they may have been introduced. The burbot is listed as a Connecticut State Endangered Species.

 

Text and images adapted from Jacobs, R. P., O'Donnell, E. B., and Connecticut DEEP. (2009). A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut. Hartford, CT. Available for purchase at the DEEP Store.