Bait Species, Crab, Lobster, Shellfish Regulations

For additional information, refer to the Marine Fisheries Information Circular or call the Marine Fisheries Program at: 860-434-6043.

Recreational Fishing for Bait Species, Lobster, Crab, and Shellfish

Bait Species

• Recreational marine fishing license required to take bait within the marine district.
• Species that may be taken:
  • Menhaden (see Menhaden below)
  • Striped Killifish and Banded Killifish
  • Atlantic Silverside
  • Tidewater Silverside
  • Mummichogs
  • Sea Herring (Atlantic Herring)
  • Sand Lances (Sand Eels)
  • American Eel
  • Sea Lamprey
  • Bay Anchovy
  • Mullet Species
  • Sheepshead Minnow
  • Shrimp Species
  • Green, Fiddler, Asian Shore and Hermit Crabs
• Net and traps which may be used in the marine district to catch bait species:
  • Cast Nets.
  • Minnow Traps: no larger than 20″ long by 15″ in diameter.
  • Umbrella Nets: not more than 4 ft. in length by 4 ft. in width.
  • Scoop or Scap Nets: no larger than 36″ in diameter.
  • Seines: no longer than 30 feet in length.
  • Up to two eel pots.
  • Hook and line.
  • By hand.

Menhaden (Bunker)

• Personal Use Gillnet License required ($100.00)
• Annual Report of Catch
  • See Personal Use Gillnet License Guidelines for a complete list of requirements.
• Legal Menhaden Capture Methods
  • Use of a single gillnet, not more than 60 feet in length and 3 inch minimum mesh size.
• Prohibited
  • The taking of any species other than menhaden.

Lobster

• Personal Use Lobster License required ($60.00).
• Annual Report of Catch required.
• See Guidelines for Personal Use Lobster for a list of requirements.
• Legal Lobster Capture Methods:
  • Ten pots or less (pot tags required)
  • Skin Diving
  • SCUBA Diving
  • Hand Capturing

Blue Crab

• Blue Crab Fact Sheet
• No license required.
• All devices must be attended at all times.
• Legal Blue Crab Capture Methods:
  • Scoop Net, Hand Line, Dip Net, Trot Line.
  • Star Crab Trap (or similar device).
  • Circular Topless Trap (not exceeding 26″ in diameter).
  • Semi-Circular Cylindrical Trap (12″ or less in diameter)
• Open Season
  • May 1 – November 30.
• Minimum Shell Width: (spike tip to spike tip)
  • 5″ hard shell crabs
  • 3½” soft shell crabs
• Prohibited
  • Possession of uncooked blue crab meat without the body shell attached.
  • Possession of more than 2 claws per body.
  • Possession of egg bearing females.
  • Chesapeake-style crabs traps.

Jonah Crab

• No license required.
• For personal use only; not for sale.
• 50 crabs per day.
• Possession of egg bearing females prohibited.

Squid

• No license required if taken using a squid jig.
• For personal use only.
• Not for sale.

Shellfish

• DEEP does not issue shellfish licenses.
• Town Shellfishing License required.
• Contact the town where you plan to harvest shellfish for permit information.
• Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture Shellfishing information at 203-874-0696. email: ctdeptag@ct.gov.
• Species Include:
  • Mussels
  • Oysters
  • Clams
  • Scallops

Please contact the Fisheries Division with any questions. 

Phone: 860-434-6043
E-mail: deep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov

Content last updated June 2025