Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Program

fishing at fort trumbullThis Marine Fisheries program is part of a broader Department effort to improve the fishing experience and quality of access to our Public Trust marine fisheries resources in Connecticut, especially in urban areas (also see Bonus Striped Bass Program). Shore-based fishing is the simplest and most affordable form of saltwater fishing and a popular way to enjoy Connecticut’s coastline. At the same time, shore fishing is an opportunity to catch the evening’s meal. To that end, minimum size limits have been reduced for two abundant marine species at 41 public fishing access areas listed in the DEEP Coastal Access Guide. These sites offer good shore-based summer flounder and/or scup fishing opportunities in at least 18 different communities distributed from Stonington to Westport.

At these sites, summer flounder may be taken at 17 inches (compared to 19.5 inches otherwise) and scup may be taken at 9.5 inches (versus 10.5 inches), giving the shore angler at these sites a considerably better chance of taking home a meal or two. To aid law enforcement the sites chosen for this program are separate from any boat launches or marinas where boat caught fish may be present. It is important to the success and continuation of this program that anglers at these enhanced access sites take their catch directly home after fishing. Possession of these species under the standard minimum size at other locations is a violation and can result in significant fines.

Sign for Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Site that shows the minimum sizes for fluke and porgy. 

Multi-Lingual Enhanced Marine Recreational Fishing Regulation Sign

Enhanced Shore Fishing Access Sites are locations where smaller summer flounder - fluke (17 inch minimum length) and scup (9.5 inch minimum length) may be taken.

Find an Enhanced Shore Fishing Access Site

 

County City Coastal Access Guide Link
Fairfield Bridgeport Pleasure Beach Family Fishing Pier
Fairfield Bridgeport Saint Mary's by the Sea
Fairfield Bridgeport Seaside Park
Fairfield Fairfield Ash Creek Open Space
Fairfield Fairfield Jennings Beach
Fairfield Fairfield Penfield Beach
Fairfield Fairfield Penfield Reef
Fairfield Norwalk Calf Pasture Beach
Fairfield Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Park
Fairfield Stratford Bond's Dock
Fairfield Stratford Long Beach
Fairfield Stratford Point-No-Point
Fairfield Stratford Russian Beach
Fairfield Stratford Short Beach Park
Fairfield Westport Sherwood Island State Park
Middlesex Old Saybrook South Cove Causeway
Middlesex Old Saybrook Saybrook Point
New Haven Branford Branford Point
New Haven Guilford Chaffinch Island Park
New Haven Madison Hammonasset Beach State Park
New Haven Milford Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center
New Haven Milford Gulf Beach
New Haven Milford Silver Sands State Park
New Haven New Haven Tomlinson Bridge Fishing Pier
New Haven New Haven Fort Nathan Hale Park
New Haven New Haven Criscuolo Park
New Haven West Haven Bradley Point Park
New Haven West Haven Sandy Point
New Haven West Haven Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary
New London East Lyme Cini Memorial Park
New London East Lyme Hole-in-the-Wall Beach
New London East Lyme McCook Park
New London East Lyme Rocky Neck State Park
New London Groton Bluff Point State Park and Reserve
New London Groton Eastern Point Beach
New London Groton UCONN-Avery Point
New London New London City Pier and Waterfront Park
New London New London Fort Trumbull State Park
New London Old Lyme DEEP Marine Headquarters-Ferry Landing Park
New London Stonington Mystic River Park
New London Stonington Stonington Point
New London Stonington Stonington Town Dock Fishing Pier
New London Waterford Harkness Memorial State Park
New London Waterford Mago Point Park
New London Waterford Waterford Beach Park
 
Content last updated in May 2024.