Fishing

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• 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.

• Blackspotted Stickleback

  Rarity and difficulty with identification cause the blackspotted stickleback’s whereabouts in Connecticut to be unclear.

• Brown Trout

  Brown trout can grow to large sizes and are generally harder to catch than brook or rainbow trout.

• Brook Trout

  Brook trout prefer small, cold streams with gravel or cobble bottoms and adequate cover.

• Brown Bullhead

  The brown bullhead is Connecticut’s most widely distributed and only native catfish species. They are good to eat, but are typically underutilized by anglers.

• Bridle Shiner

  This easily overlooked minnow, the bridle shiner, is apparently declining throughout much of its range.