2013 CT Anglers Guide - CT.gov
2013 CT Anglers Guide - CT.gov
2013 CT Anglers Guide - CT.gov
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The Trophy Fish Award Program recognizes and rewards<br />
angling skill. Successful anglers will receive a:<br />
• Certificate of Merit<br />
• Bronze pin for your first fish of merit.<br />
• Silver pin for your fifth fish of merit.<br />
• Gold pin for your tenth fish of merit or a new state record fish.<br />
General Rules: Saltwater/Freshwater Fish<br />
• Youth Category is defined as anyone 15 years of age and under.<br />
• Female anglers can qualify for both youth and adult state marine<br />
records.<br />
• Saltwater entries must be caught by boats leaving and returning<br />
to Connecticut ports. No overnight stays in another state prior to<br />
day(s) of fishing.<br />
• Entries must be filed on the Official Affidavit Form, page 54.<br />
• Fish must be caught by legal methods, played by only one person.<br />
• Fish must be entered within 30 days of capture.<br />
• Fish caught in hatchery ponds are not eligible.<br />
• Fish must be caught during Connecticut’s legal open season.<br />
• A clear photograph of the fish must accompany the Affidavit Form.<br />
• Fish must be weighed on scales certified in Connecticut (tackle shops,<br />
local markets or delis) or other state certified scales.<br />
• Please note: for all potential State Record Fish, a print out of weight<br />
from a certified scale must accompany affidavit.<br />
Marine Qualifying Area Categories<br />
• Nearshore: Inside Long Island/Fisher’s Island Sound<br />
• Offshore: Outside Long Island/Fisher’s Island Sound<br />
• Exotic: Rare strays to Connecticut caught inside Long<br />
Island/Fisher’s Island Sound & Offshore Waters.<br />
• Freshwater: Caught in freshwater<br />
Catch and Release Category Rules<br />
• All of the General Rules apply except that the fish does not need to<br />
be weighed. A witness must be present.<br />
• A clear photo must accompany the affidavit. This photo must include the<br />
angler holding the fish and also include the fish next to a measuring (yardstick,<br />
ruler, or tape measure) device to clearly show the length of the fish.<br />
• The accompanying photo must be taken at the location where the<br />
fish was caught and released.<br />
• Fish can’t be taken from the site and then transported back.<br />
• BLE = best length estimate for highly migratory species.<br />
• Minimum Length = Tip of snout to end of tail.<br />
• Marlin & swordfish—measure from lower jaw to fork in tail.<br />
• Shark species—minimum length is fork length.<br />
• Fish must be released alive!<br />
To qualify for a Trophy Fish Award, please see<br />
table at right for minimum measurements required.<br />
Connecticut’s License Plate<br />
Program is working for you…<br />
Since 1992, the Long Island Sound Fund has:<br />
J.H. Torrance Downes<br />
• provided grants for the construction of 7 fishways to restore<br />
populations of alewife, blueback herring and other anadromous<br />
fish in Connecticut’s rivers.<br />
• provided funding for fishing piers, platforms, and educational<br />
signs at public fishing areas across the Nutmeg State that<br />
enhance access and promote greater awareness.<br />
Do your part to continue funding for these<br />
important projects! Purchase a Preserve the<br />
Sound license plate for your car, truck, combination<br />
vehicle or boat trailer.<br />
For more information, call 1-800-<strong>CT</strong>-SOUND.<br />
Trophy Fish Award Minimum Weights<br />
Note: Minimum Lengths apply to the catch-and-release category only! The<br />
minimum lengths listed below do not apply to the traditional weighed category.<br />
Category<br />
Freshwater<br />
Species<br />
Minimum<br />
Weight<br />
Minimum<br />
Length<br />
American Eel 3 lbs 35"<br />
American Shad 5 lbs 25"<br />
Atlantic Salmon 1 15 lbs 31"<br />
Bluegill 12 oz 10"<br />
Brook Trout 2 lbs 17"<br />
Brown Bullhead 2 lbs 15"<br />
Brown Trout 5 lbs 22"<br />
Calico Bass (Black Crappie) 2 lbs 15"<br />
Common Carp 20 lbs 34"<br />
Chain Pickerel 5 lbs 27"<br />
Channel Catfish 4 lbs 22"<br />
Fallfish 1.5 lbs 14"<br />
Kokanee 1.75 lbs 16"<br />
Largemouth Bass 6 lbs 22"<br />
Northern Pike 10 lbs 35"<br />
Pumpkinseed 8 oz 9"<br />
Rainbow Trout 4 lbs 21"<br />
Redbreast Sunfish 3 8 oz 9"<br />
Rock Bass 12 oz 11"<br />
Smallmouth Bass 4 lbs 21"<br />
Sunfish Hybrids 4 12 oz 10"<br />
Tiger Trout 2 lbs 17"<br />
Walleye 5 lbs 23"<br />
White Catfish 4 lbs 20"<br />
White Perch 2 lbs 15"<br />
White Sucker 3 lbs 15"<br />
Yellow Bullhead 2 2 lbs 15"<br />
Yellow Perch 1.5 lbs 15"<br />
Albacore 30 lbs 40"<br />
American Eel 3 lbs 35"<br />
Atlantic Bonito 4 lbs 20"<br />
Atlantic Cod 20 lbs 40"<br />
Atlantic Mackerel 2 lbs 14"<br />
Black Sea Bass 3 lbs 18"<br />
Blackfish (Tautog) 8 lbs 22"<br />
Blue Marlin 100 lbs BLE (99")<br />
Blue Shark 175 lbs BLE (54")<br />
Bluefin Tuna 400 lbs 60"<br />
Bluefish 14 lbs 34"<br />
Cunner 1.5 lbs 12"<br />
Dolphin Fish (Dorado) 45 lbs 48”<br />
Hickory Shad 1.75 lbs 20"<br />
Little Tunny (False Albacore) 5 lbs 24"<br />
Mako Shark 175 lbs BLE (54")<br />
Oyster Toadfish 1 lb 10"<br />
Pollock 15 lbs 34"<br />
Scup (Porgy) 2 lbs 17"<br />
Squid —<br />
10" Mantle Length;<br />
18" Total Length<br />
Striped Bass 40 lbs 45"<br />
Striped Searobin 3 lbs 18"<br />
Summer Flounder (Fluke) 6 lbs 25"<br />
Swordfish 100 lbs BLE (47")<br />
Thresher Shark 200 lbs BLE (54")<br />
Weakfish 7 lbs 30"<br />
White Marlin 80 lbs BLE (66")<br />
White Perch 1.5 lbs 14"<br />
Winter Flounder 2.5 lbs 17"<br />
Yellowfin Tuna 150 lbs 60"<br />
Blue Crab 8" 8"<br />
1 Includes only hatchery-reared broodstock salmon released into the Broodstock<br />
Atlantic Salmon waters and supplemental lakes. Wild Atlantic salmon from the<br />
Connecticut River and Long Island Sound are illegal to possess and not covered<br />
under this Trophy Fish Award program.<br />
2 Good photos (both lateral and ventral shots) will have to be required for identifications.<br />
3 Redbreast Sunfish will require only a good lateral photo.<br />
4 Most sunfish over 10" are probably hybrids.<br />
Saltwater<br />
www.ct.<strong>gov</strong>/deep/fishing Marine Fisheries Division....Fishing represents some of the Best Moments with Family and Friends 55