The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) issued new or modified consumption advisories for certain fish species caught in several waterbodies in Connecticut on June 16th. DPH is taking this action in close coordination with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

View the advisory More information on PFAS can be found here



Upon evaluating perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) concentrations in fish tissue sampled in 2017-2022 from 14 waterbodies using DPH’s recently derived PFOS health risk values, DPH has updated or issued new consumption advisories in 11 waterbodies as shown in the table below. These updated consumption advisories are for the general population and are also protective of sensitive populations.

New or modified consumption advisories are issued for the following rivers: Connecticut, Upper and Lower Farmington, Housatonic (near O’Sullivan’s Island in Derby), Natchaug, Willimantic, Shetucket, Naugatuck, Pequabuck, Still (Winsted), Scantic, and Quinnipiac.

This accompanies existing statewide advisory for freshwater fish caught in Connecticut for pregnant women, women who could become pregnant and children under 6 years old (high risk groups) is to eat no more than one meal per month.

For all other groups, the advice is to eat no more than one meal per week of freshwater fish. This statewide advice is due to mercury contamination found in Connecticut freshwater fish. This statewide advisory does not apply to sunfish or trout as there are no consumption limits for these fish species, except otherwise noted.

Additional information on DPH fish consumption advisories can be found here or by calling a DPH staff person at 1-877-458-FISH (3474).

Consumption advisories:

Connecticut River

One meal per month of all species except for shad due to PFOS levels.

Lower Farmington River (below Rainbow Dam)

One meal per month of yellow perch and bass due to PFOS levels.

Hockanum and Tankerhoosen Rivers

No one should eat any species due to PFOS levels.

Housatonic River, near O’Sullivan’s Island

One meal per month for all species due to PFOS levels.

Housatonic River, upper and above Lake Lillinonah

People at high risk should not eat bass. People who are low risk should only eat one meal/2 months due to PCB Levels.

Natchaug, Willimantic and Shetucket Rivers, Willimantic and Mansfield

Do not eat bass due to PFOS levels

Natchaug, Willimantic and Shetucket Rivers, Willimantic and Mansfield

One meal per month of all species except for bass due to PFOS levels

Naugatuck River

One meal per month of bass due to PFOS levels

Pequabuck River

One meal per month of American eel due to PFOS levels

Quinnipiac River, gorge south of Meriden through Wallingford to Long Island Sound

One meal per month of all species due to PCB and PFOS levels

Scantic River (below Somersville Mill Pond)

One meal per month of American eel due to PFOS levels

Still River, Winchester

One meal per month of bass due to PFOS levels

Growing up on the Niantic River in Waterford CT, I’ve always been mesmerized by the water and what creatures it holds. My neighbor taught me how to cast a spinning rod from shore and catch snapper bluefish when I was merely 4 years old. From the very first bite on a snapper popper, I was hooked. 

Since then I do all sorts of fishing. I enjoy spearfishing yearly for Tautog, black sea bass and fluke, fly fishing in CT’s rivers and streams for trout, and freshwater bottom fishing for big channel catfish and walleye. I frequently love to shore fish at night for Striped bass and am proud to say that my personal best was just under 51” in length and safely released. 

Aside from the norm, of enjoying the pursuit and many successes of landing large fish, one of my favorite learned fishing activities has been micro-fishing. It involves targeting some of the smallest fish that are out there both in fresh and saltwater, anytime and anywhere. All you need are the smallest hooks known to man, tied on some very fine line, a tiny sinker or two and a speck of fresh bait that covers just the very tip of the hook. I typically use hand line wrapped around a piece of wood for line storage or even a small ice fishing rod. 

Micro-fishing is compact, easy to try anywhere and “on the fly” and it allows you to experience a whole new target size-class of fishes you may have never seen before. Micro-fishing even gives you the chance to catch juveniles of some of your favorite large predatory fish which may help to better understand where they grow up in areas that are more protected from predators. With this type of fishing: the smallest fish landed can be the most impressive! 

Some of my favorite micro-species that I’ve personally caught are (freshwater) juv. brook trout, juv. rainbow trout, rainbow darters (out west), (saltwater) juv. Black Sea bass (see photo), banded killifish, rock gunnels and my absolute pinnacle treasure catch of my micro-fishing career would have to be the 1 1/4” total length juvenile stargazer fish caught near Sandy point in Stonington Borough (see photo). 

My love for fishing has guided me to working seasonally for CT DEEP’s Atlantic Sturgeon and American Shad program, DEEP’s Long Island Sound Trawl Survey Program, and to achieve a Bachelors Degree in Marine Biology and now presently a Full-Time position as a Fisheries Technician for CT DEEP’s Inland Fisheries.

More From Lily....

At what age did you start fishing? 4 1/2

Who introduced you to fishing?

Growing up in an apartment one house in from the Niantic River in Waterford CT, my late neighbor Mark McDowell set me up with a light weight spinning rod (none of this button pushing business) and a classic snapper popper rig in early October, during the constant flurry blitzes of snapper blues in the harbor.

Casting and reeling a spinning rod came relatively quickly to me, I think, because of how much fun I was having. As soon as the foam popper hit the water, the splash would activate the feeding frenzy and I would instantly have a fish on! Snappers were between 7-12" this time of year and very active, offering a fun, memorable fight for someone of my size. I certainly learned how to cast farther and farther because I was chasing the visible fish school not far from the surface.

I remember feeling so proud (again as an almost 5-year-old) catching a whole bag of snapper blues that Mark then cooked up on the grill for us to enjoy later. I was HOOKED! Nearly every morning, I would wake up before my parents and impatiently wait for them to wake up so I could walk back down to the beach and catch more snappers!

What is your favorite fish to try to catch?

If spearfishing counts, then I would say Blackfish (Tautog). Snorkeling has been something I've loved since I was a kid. When I learned that spearfishing was legal in CT and it was basically hunting, fishing and snorkeling combined, it quickly became something I looked forward to doing every year.

If spearfishing doesn't count, then I would have to say that my favorite fish to angle using a fishing rod would have to be striped bass. They are not always easy to target. Sometimes they like a bright white top water rig splashing the surface, and sometimes the only way you'll get one all day is with a big live eel on a circle hook close to the bottom. They are both challenging and beautiful fish to catch, with a pair of delicious fillets as a reward if lucky enough to catch one within the slot limit. They can grow very large and, personally, it is a pleasure to release the big females I've been lucky enough to fight to the surface safely back to the water to breed more healthy fish into our ecosystem.

Why do you like to fish?

I like to fish because it is a great excuse to, not only, get outside to explore somewhere new or get to know a familiar area better, but to also, try to outsmart a creature you will only get to see up close if you successfully are able to catch it!

To me, not knowing what fish inhabit a body of water can be exciting. You never know what might go for a bite at the end of your line, species and size wise. And other times you can refine your skills from previous experience, get to know a body of water well enough to successfully target a particular species you are after.

Fishing is rewarding to me for the fun and exciting fight, or for a therapeutic and calming time out in nature, or feeling that sense of accomplishment when I catch a fish worthy of a delicious dish to share at the dinner table. I have a great time fishing even if I don't catch anything because I love just being outside in general, catching fish, large or small, is a bonus.

What were some barriers that you had to overcome? (and maybe still battle)

Dressing appropriately and being comfortable is the most important thing to me. Learning by trial and error, being too cold, too hot, got wet because I forgot my rain jacket, didn't wear appropriate footwear, forgot to bring my plyers, forgot drinking water or snacks can make being out in nature less enjoyable for sure.

Before going out into nature, especially to go fishing, I set up a grab and go bag with all the things I know will make for a fun adventure as easy as grabbing it and tossing it into my car: with water, snacks, layers, extra socks, phone charger pack and anything else that will make my adventure care free. Planning ahead.

Another barrier is other people. I like to trout fish especially in seclusion and without noisy humans. Unless I have a friend who I know will make for a good team on the river or stream, I usually prefer to go alone and will seek out locations where others will usually not be. Not always easy.

Much if not all of the clothing and gear is male focused and does not fit women. What advice could you give to a new female angler about this problem?

Interesting thought. I feel like I haven't had much trouble finding gear that fits me... But I suppose I don't necessarily target specifically fishing brands for my fishing attire. For warmer weather trout fishing or lake and pond fishing, I have a few pairs of women's synthetic long and short pants that are light weight, quick drying and preferably stretchy. Same with a synthetic long-sleeved shirt or even t-shirt depending on the sun exposure for the day.

For winter gear it's important to know how to layer up properly. If you get cold you need to have a layer you can throw on to warm up and de-layer if you get too hot (sweating is the enemy during the cold winter months). The typical layering system I go with is such: thin wicking layer, fleece layer (or two) exterior comfort layer for blocking wind and weather. The wicking layer is to literally ""wick"" any perspiration/sweat away from the skin to keep you dry and warm (synthetic long sleeve), then some sort of fleece layer or two depending on how cold it is outside and what you have available (cuddl duds makes excellent fleece and doesn't break the bank, also fleece layers are cheaply available at Goodwill).

Some other brands I've noticed make particularly excellent outdoor women's wear include Eddie Bauer, Kuhl, Columbia, Patagonia and Fjallraven. Some of these brands can be expensive but there are many outlets to finding nice women's outdoor clothing for a bargain at sites like www.theclymb.com and www.backcountry.com