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Latest Bites - September 2019
Get your 2019 Fishing Licenses  online anytime .  100% of your investment in licenses, tags, permits, and stamps comes to the Bureau of Natural Resources in support of Fisheries and Wildlife programs. 

Fall Trout Stocking to Begin Soon.  The Fisheries Division has about 60,000 trout to stock this fall.  Lots of great fishing to come- stay tuned to our Facebook Page, Interactive Trout Stocking Map, and our website for details.

Discover Outdoor Connecticut Day:  Sunday, September 15, 2019.  Details below or online.

Striped Bass Regulations Public Hearing:  Two public hearings will be held in September to obtain public comment regarding potential changes to Striped Bass Regulations for 2020. Details below or online.
Discover Outdoor Connecticut Day

Get details  about "Discover Outdoor Connecticut Day" being held at Hammonassett State Park on Sunday, September 15.  Spend a FREE, fun-filled day exploring Connecticut's fish and wildlife resources and legacy of outdoor traditions, with live animals, demonstrations, fish casting, fly tying, archery, kid's activities, outdoor skills, a photo contest, and more. Bring a picnic lunch (concessionaire also on site) and stay for a few hours or the whole day!
Fall Trout Stocking

The Fisheries Division is just about ready to start our fall trout stocking. With about 55,000-60,000 trout available to stock, we plan on hitting our most popular locations including the Trout Management Areas (Rivers), Trout Management Lakes, Trophy Trout Streams, Trout Parks, and a handful of other waters that do not have special management designation.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook page (@ctfishandwildlife) for daily stocking updates, monitor our interactive trout stocking map, opt-in to our Weekly Fishing Report, or check the current stocking status on our web page.
TIPs of the Month!
Common Carp  fishing is popular (and growing) here in Connecticut.  Common Carp, once thought to be a nuisance and "trash fish", are gaining in popularity thanks to the mentoring from some highly skilled and dedicated fishermen who honed their craft in Europe.  Common Carp are Connecticut's largest (by weight) freshwater fish.  The current state record is over 43 pounds.  A typical catch is in the 8-15 pound range.  Carp fishing can be as simple or complex as you desire, making it the perfect fishery.  Fish with night crawlers or your own home made "boilies" (dough flavored with your favorite scents).  To get an idea about how carp fishing can and will become addictive, google, "fishing for common carp" - you will be amazed at the amount of information about this largely untapped fisheries resource  in many of our large rivers and in many lakes. 
Bluefish  are in prime feeding mode right now all throughout Long Island Sound.  The best way to find Bluefish is to look for a flock of birds (terns and gulls) that are flying just above the water and occasionally diving in to grab the bait fish being chased to the surface by the Bluefish.  If you are fortunate enough to find a feeding blitz, toss any surface lure, popper, or jig into the fray and hang on.  We recommend replacing your treble hooks with a single hook, if you know that you will be releasing your catch (single hook minimizes injury and makes for a much faster release).  
Striped Bass Public Hearing
The DEEP Marine Fisheries Program is hosting two public hearings of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to gather input on Draft Addendum VI to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Striped Bass. Draft Addendum VI was initiated in response to the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment, which indicates the resource is overfished and experiencing overfishing. The Draft Addendum explores a range of management alternatives designed to end overfishing and reduce fishing mortality to the target level in 2020.

The hearings will be held at:

7:00 PM, Monday September 23, 2019
DEEP Marine Headquarters Boating Education Center (rear building)
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, CT 06371

and at:

7:00 PM, Wednesday September 25, 2019
Port 5 Hall
69 Brewster Street
Bridgeport, CT 06605

Fishermen and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum VI either by attending one of the public hearings or providing written comment. 

Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM (EST) on October 7, 2019 and should be sent to Max Appelman, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI).

Fishing Spot of the Month
Fort Nathan Hale Fishing Pier, New Haven, CT.  One of the brightest gems for shoreline fishing in CT is the newly constructed pier at Fort Nathan Hale Park in New Haven.  The city did a fantastic job rebuilding the former pier (destroyed by a series of tropical storms) and in the process made a model for all other shoreline communities to follow.  "All are welcome and encouraged to come", said Mayor Tony Harp during the ribbon cutting for phase 2 of the project held on August 17, 2019.  

F or anyone interested in FREE shoreline access with quality fishing for Bluefish, Scup, Sea Robin, Fluke, Striped Bass, and Blue Crab, this pier can't be beat.  This secret spot comes highly recommended!  Please carry out all that you carry in so that this gem can shine for decades to come.  The pier is located at 20-24 Woodward Avenue, New Haven. FREE parking!!
Youth Fishing Passport's Fishing Challenge
There is still plenty of great fishing to be had and time to get or renew the Youth Fishing Passport for your budding fisher-folk under the age of 16.  The Fishing Challenge is a scavenger hunt to see if you can catch all of the fish on the scorecard.  Email your successful catches along with the angler's conservation ID to get credit.  The Top 4 (most number of species on the scorecard) will be acknowledged at our annual angler recognition ceremony. 
Youth Fishing Passport
Land Your Family on the 2020 Fishing Guide Cover
We are currently looking for the best "Family Fishing" photo for the cover of the 2020 CT DEEP Fishing Guide.  Please visit our web page for  contest details.  Photos to contend for the cover should be high resolution, colorful, and represent the great fishing Connecticut has to offer.  We especially want to see the family together as a group in the photo.  Email your entries to deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov 
2019 Fishing Guide in Espanol
The Fishing Guide for 2019 has been printed in Spanish and is now available at many locations around the state or online.
This Month's Mystery Fish 
Email your guess to DEEP.inland.fisheries@ct.gov 
The Trout and Salmon Stamp
With approval by the Legislative Regulations Review Committee on February 27, 2018, Connecticut has a Trout and Salmon Stamp.  100% of the money invested in this stamp is guaranteed to support fisheries programs.  Please visit our FAQ page or email deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov with questions.  A summary is provided below.

Anyone age 16 or older including everyone who is age 65 or older who chooses to do one or both of the following must purchase a trout and salmon stamp:

1. FISH in one of the following areas:  Trout Park, Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area, or a Broodstock Atlantic Salmon Area.

2. HARVEST (keep) trout, Kokanee Salmon, or Atlantic Salmon anywhere in the state (except for waters stocked at no expense to the state).

The fee is $5.00 for age 18 and older and $3.00 for those 16-17.  The stamp is good for the calendar year (expires on December 31).

The Trout and Salmon Stamp will print on your fishing license as an additional privilege.
Mystery Fish Revealed
Last month's  Mystery Fish  was the Northern Puffer Fish (Sphoeroides maculatus), which also goes by the name of "sea squab", "chicken of the sea", "honey toad", "sugar toad", or "blowfish".  The puffer gets it's name from the ability to add air to a specialized bladder near the stomach.  The "puffing" is a defense to make the fish look much larger to any potential predators.  The Northern Puffer is found from Cape Cod south.  Anglers most often "catch" the fish when fishing for blackfish, porgy, or fluke from a pier.    
License Fees Fund Hunting & Fishing Programs

Each time you purchase a license your contribution goes to support hunting, fishing, and open space right here in CT. 

So, the next time you see a bald eagle, harvest a white-tail, pheasant, or turkey, or catch a brown trout or striped bass, give yourself and your fellow sportsmen a pat on the back!

You are making a difference and we thank you for your support!
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