2013 CT Anglers Guide - CT.gov

The Trophy Fish Award Program recognizes and rewards
angling skill. Successful anglers will receive a:
• Certificate of Merit
• Bronze pin for your first fish of merit.
• Silver pin for your fifth fish of merit.
• Gold pin for your tenth fish of merit or a new state record fish.
General Rules: Saltwater/Freshwater Fish
• Youth Category is defined as anyone 15 years of age and under.
• Female anglers can qualify for both youth and adult state marine
records.
• Saltwater entries must be caught by boats leaving and returning
to Connecticut ports. No overnight stays in another state prior to
day(s) of fishing.
• Entries must be filed on the Official Affidavit Form, page 54.
• Fish must be caught by legal methods, played by only one person.
• Fish must be entered within 30 days of capture.
• Fish caught in hatchery ponds are not eligible.
• Fish must be caught during Connecticut’s legal open season.
• A clear photograph of the fish must accompany the Affidavit Form.
• Fish must be weighed on scales certified in Connecticut (tackle shops,
local markets or delis) or other state certified scales.
• Please note: for all potential State Record Fish, a print out of weight
from a certified scale must accompany affidavit.
Marine Qualifying Area Categories
• Nearshore: Inside Long Island/Fisher’s Island Sound
• Offshore: Outside Long Island/Fisher’s Island Sound
• Exotic: Rare strays to Connecticut caught inside Long
Island/Fisher’s Island Sound & Offshore Waters.
• Freshwater: Caught in freshwater
Catch and Release Category Rules
• All of the General Rules apply except that the fish does not need to
be weighed. A witness must be present.
• A clear photo must accompany the affidavit. This photo must include the
angler holding the fish and also include the fish next to a measuring (yardstick,
ruler, or tape measure) device to clearly show the length of the fish.
• The accompanying photo must be taken at the location where the
fish was caught and released.
• Fish can’t be taken from the site and then transported back.
• BLE = best length estimate for highly migratory species.
• Minimum Length = Tip of snout to end of tail.
• Marlin & swordfish—measure from lower jaw to fork in tail.
• Shark species—minimum length is fork length.
• Fish must be released alive!
To qualify for a Trophy Fish Award, please see
table at right for minimum measurements required.
Connecticut’s License Plate
Program is working for you…
Since 1992, the Long Island Sound Fund has:
J.H. Torrance Downes
• provided grants for the construction of 7 fishways to restore
populations of alewife, blueback herring and other anadromous
fish in Connecticut’s rivers.
• provided funding for fishing piers, platforms, and educational
signs at public fishing areas across the Nutmeg State that
enhance access and promote greater awareness.
Do your part to continue funding for these
important projects! Purchase a Preserve the
Sound license plate for your car, truck, combination
vehicle or boat trailer.
For more information, call 1-800-CT-SOUND.
Trophy Fish Award Minimum Weights
Note: Minimum Lengths apply to the catch-and-release category only! The
minimum lengths listed below do not apply to the traditional weighed category.
Category
Freshwater
Species
Minimum
Weight
Minimum
Length
American Eel 3 lbs 35"
American Shad 5 lbs 25"
Atlantic Salmon 1 15 lbs 31"
Bluegill 12 oz 10"
Brook Trout 2 lbs 17"
Brown Bullhead 2 lbs 15"
Brown Trout 5 lbs 22"
Calico Bass (Black Crappie) 2 lbs 15"
Common Carp 20 lbs 34"
Chain Pickerel 5 lbs 27"
Channel Catfish 4 lbs 22"
Fallfish 1.5 lbs 14"
Kokanee 1.75 lbs 16"
Largemouth Bass 6 lbs 22"
Northern Pike 10 lbs 35"
Pumpkinseed 8 oz 9"
Rainbow Trout 4 lbs 21"
Redbreast Sunfish 3 8 oz 9"
Rock Bass 12 oz 11"
Smallmouth Bass 4 lbs 21"
Sunfish Hybrids 4 12 oz 10"
Tiger Trout 2 lbs 17"
Walleye 5 lbs 23"
White Catfish 4 lbs 20"
White Perch 2 lbs 15"
White Sucker 3 lbs 15"
Yellow Bullhead 2 2 lbs 15"
Yellow Perch 1.5 lbs 15"
Albacore 30 lbs 40"
American Eel 3 lbs 35"
Atlantic Bonito 4 lbs 20"
Atlantic Cod 20 lbs 40"
Atlantic Mackerel 2 lbs 14"
Black Sea Bass 3 lbs 18"
Blackfish (Tautog) 8 lbs 22"
Blue Marlin 100 lbs BLE (99")
Blue Shark 175 lbs BLE (54")
Bluefin Tuna 400 lbs 60"
Bluefish 14 lbs 34"
Cunner 1.5 lbs 12"
Dolphin Fish (Dorado) 45 lbs 48”
Hickory Shad 1.75 lbs 20"
Little Tunny (False Albacore) 5 lbs 24"
Mako Shark 175 lbs BLE (54")
Oyster Toadfish 1 lb 10"
Pollock 15 lbs 34"
Scup (Porgy) 2 lbs 17"
Squid —
10" Mantle Length;
18" Total Length
Striped Bass 40 lbs 45"
Striped Searobin 3 lbs 18"
Summer Flounder (Fluke) 6 lbs 25"
Swordfish 100 lbs BLE (47")
Thresher Shark 200 lbs BLE (54")
Weakfish 7 lbs 30"
White Marlin 80 lbs BLE (66")
White Perch 1.5 lbs 14"
Winter Flounder 2.5 lbs 17"
Yellowfin Tuna 150 lbs 60"
Blue Crab 8" 8"
1 Includes only hatchery-reared broodstock salmon released into the Broodstock
Atlantic Salmon waters and supplemental lakes. Wild Atlantic salmon from the
Connecticut River and Long Island Sound are illegal to possess and not covered
under this Trophy Fish Award program.
2 Good photos (both lateral and ventral shots) will have to be required for identifications.
3 Redbreast Sunfish will require only a good lateral photo.
4 Most sunfish over 10" are probably hybrids.
Saltwater
www.ct.gov/deep/fishing Marine Fisheries Division....Fishing represents some of the Best Moments with Family and Friends 55