Fishing

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• 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.

• American Eel

  The American eel is commonly used for bait and food, but is declining throughout much of its range.

• American Brook Lamprey

  Learn more about this endangered, maybe native, and definitely not parasitic fish!

• Atlantic Salmon

  Atlantic salmon were extirpated from the Connecticut River and, despite extensive restoration efforts, self-sustaining runs do not occur.

• American Shad

  In 2003, the American shad was designated Connecticut’s “State Fish.”

• Atlantic Menhaden

  Also known as “mossbunker” or simply “bunker.” Menhaden are important forage fish for large predatory fishes such as striped bass and bluefish.

• American Soles

  A small family limited to marine waters of the Western Hemisphere.

• Banded Killifish

  Prefer shallow, still areas of lakes and ponds and slow-flow areas of larger rivers and streams.

• Atlantic Tomcod

  Sometimes known as “frostfish.” For unclear reasons, Atlantic tomcod have recently experienced a precipitous decline in Connecticut and throughout much of their range.

• Banded Sunfish

  The banded sunfish is listed as a Connecticut State Threatened Species. Their small size makes them vulnerable to predation by bass and other large gamefish, so they thrive only in protected, backwater areas.

• Atlantic Sturgeon

  Damn building, overfishing and pollution all likely contributed to the demise of Atlantic sturgeon in Connecticut.

• Black Bullhead

  Black bullheads are very difficult to distinguish from brown bullheads. It is unclear whether the few individuals reported in Connecticut represent self-sustaining populations.

• Atlantic Silverside

  Their abundance makes them very important forage fish for many marine predators such as striped bass, fluke and seabirds.

• Black Crappie

  Also called “calico bass,” crappie grow quickly and are a popular food and sport fish.

• Blacknose Dace

  Blacknose dace are a native minnow that prefer the pools and rocky riffles of small headwater streams.