Inland Fishing Licenses | Marine Fishing Licenses | Fishing Permits

*Any active, full-time member of the armed forces may be issued a fishing and/or small game firearms license for the resident fee. Credentials indicating active full-time membership or separation subsequent to the issuance of the license and prior to its expiration date must be carried while fishing or hunting.

** Issuance of a free license to the blind or mentally retarded requires proof of disability in the form of a certificate provided by any person licensed to practice medicine in this state.

*** Any resident with the loss of a limb or the loss of the use of a limb and a doctor’s certificate may be issued a free license. Qualified nonresidents who are residents of states which allow the same privileges are also eligible.

Lost License

If you purchased your license through the Online Sportsmen Licensing System, you can reprint your license at any time by logging on with your CT Conservation ID, last name, and date of birth. After logging in, there is a link for reprinting your license on the top right of the page.  If you purchased your license at a participating license vendor or DEP Office, you can ask for them to reprint your license.

Marine Waters Fishing Licenses

Marine Waters Fishing Licenses are required for anyone 16 years of age or older fishing from shore or from a boat in the marine district or landing marine fish or bait species in Connecticut taken from offshore waters. Licenses are issued on a calendar year basis and expire on December 31st. Please see Marine Waters Fishing License FAQ page for more information.

License Type	Fee	Where to Purchase
Resident Marine Waters Fishing	$10.00	- Online Sportsmen Licensing System  - Participating Town Halls  - Designated vendor (tackle shop)  - DEP Offices  - DEP Store  - By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store)
Resident Senior Citizen (65 or older) - Marine Waters Fishing	Free (Requires Annual Renewal)	- Online Sportsmen Licensing System  - Participating Town Halls  - DEP Offices
Nonresident Marine Waters Fishing	$60.00	- Online Sportsmen Licensing System  - Participating Town Halls  - Designated vendor (tackle shop)  - DEP Offices  - DEP Store  - By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store)
Armed Forces Members* Marine Waters Fishing	$10.00	- Participating Town Halls  - DEP Offices  - DEP Store  - By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store)
Mentally Retarded or Blind** - Marine Waters Fishing	Free	- Participating Town Halls  - DEP Offices  - DEP Store
Disabled Persons*** - Marine Waters Fishing	Free	- Participating Town Halls  - DEP Offices  - DEP Store

*Any active, full-time member of the armed forces may be issued a fishing and/or small game firearms license for the resident fee. Credentials indicating active full-time membership or separation subsequent to the issuance of the license and prior to its expiration date must be carried while fishing or hunting.

** Issuance of a free license to the blind or mentally retarded requires proof of disability in the form of a certificate provided by any person licensed to practice medicine in this state.

*** Any resident with the loss of a limb or the loss of the use of a limb and a doctor’s certificate may be issued a free license. Qualified nonresidents who are residents of states which allow the same privileges are also eligible.

Recreational Marine Licenses - Other
Persons taking lobsters for their own use by 10 pots or SCUBA are required to obtain:
Personal Use Lobster License: $120.00
Marine Fishing License Application for Open-Access Licenses (PDF)
Lobster Reporting Form (PDF)

Persons taking menhaden with a single gill net not more than 60 feet in length, for personal use, from marine waters only are required to obtain:
Personal Use Gillnet License for Menhaden: $100.00
Marine Fishing License Application for Open-Access Licenses (PDF)
Gillnet Reporting Form (PDF)

Licenses are issued on a calendar year basis, expire December 31st, and are non-transferable

Commercial Licenses
A commercial license is required to take, land (regardless where taken) for sale fish, lobsters, blue crabs, squid, sea scallops and bait species from both the inland and marine districts. For further information on commercial fishing contact DEP Fisheries Division at (860) 434-6043 or write to Marine Fisheries Office, P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or e-mail at dep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov.

Marine Fishing License Application for Open-Access Licenses (PDF)
Marine Fishing License Application for Limited Access Licenses (PDF)

Commercial Fishing Vessel Permit (PDF)
This permit is required for all vessels used for activities authorized under commercial fishing licenses (e.g. use of commercial fishing gear, even if for personal use purposes). This permit does not apply to vessels used only for activities associated with the Inland Commercial Bait License, Marine Commercial Bait License, Commercial Blue Crab License, or Commercial Shad License.

For information on Connecticut regulations governing the taking of lobsters, marine and anadromous finfish, and crabs by commercial and recreational fishermen, see Marine Fisheries Information Circular (PDF)

Other Licenses/Permits
Environmental Tourism Cruise Vessel Permit Application (PDF)
This permit authorizes a vessel to be used for the temporary collection of marine fish and invertebrates for educational or tourism purposes. All animals must be returned to the water prior to completion of the daily tour.

Marine Fishing Tournament/Derby Permit Application and Reporting Form (PDF)
A permit is required to conduct a marine fishing tournament or derby in Connecticut that is open to persons 16 years of age and older as described under section 26-159a-26 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (see back of application). There is no charge for the permit.

Permits

Listed below are the permits administered by the Fisheries Division.  Many of the applications are available in PDF format. 

A fillable PDF can be filled out using your computer or the form can be printed and completed by hand.  Mail the completed application to the specific DEP unit as instructed on the form. (You will need Adobe Reader to view and print the PDF files.)

Commercial Fishing Vessel Permit (PDF)
This permit is required for all vessels used for activities authorized under commercial fishing licenses (e.g. use of commercial fishing gear, even if for personal use purposes). This permit does not apply to vessels used only for activities associated with the Inland Commercial Bait License, Marine Commercial Bait License, Commercial Blue Crab License, or Commercial Shad License.

Environmental Tourism Cruise Vessel Permit Application (PDF)
This permit authorizes a vessel to be used for the temporary collection of marine fish and invertebrates for educational or tourism purposes. All animals must be returned to the water prior to completion of the daily tour.

Import Live Fish - For Bait Dealers Only - Word Form  / PDF

(Bait Dealers Reporting Form - must be submitted annually by licensed bait dealers)

Required for commercial fish hatcheries and bait dealers to import live fish or live fish eggs into the state.

• No permit is required to import common aquarium species. 
• It is illegal to release any aquarium fish into public or private waters. 
• Possession or importation of a number of fish species is prohibited. These prohibited species include piranha, walking catfish, black, silver & bighead carp, gizzard shad and all species of the family Channidae (snakeheads). 
• For further information and a complete listing, contact Inland Fisheries at 860-424-3474. 

• A liberation permit is necessary whenever an individual or organization stocks live fish or fish eggs into any pond, lake or stream in Connecticut.
• An importation permit is required for the importation into Connecticut of live fish or fish eggs.
• List of Private Hatcheries (PDF)

Importation and/or Liberation Permit for Triploid Grass Carp
Authorizes the importation, possession and liberation of triploid grass carp into inspected/approved ponds.

• Possession of diploid grass carp is prohibited.
• Triploid grass carp represent one method of controlling nuisance aquatic vegetation.
• The Inland Fisheries Division inspects all ponds to determine regulatory compliance, particularly to verify that the fish can not escape from the waters in which they were stocked, thereby preventing off-site damage to aquatic habitats.
• Grass carp information packets and application forms can be obtained by contacting the Inland Fisheries Division at 860-424-3474.

Private Waters Designation (Fillable PDF)
The registration of private waters is required for any owner of private waters who desires to remove fish from such waters.

Scientific Collector's Permit (Fillable PDF)
This permit allows individuals to collect fish and crustaceans for scientific & educational purposes.

Special Regulations on Association Controlled Waters (Fillable PDF)
A permit for any association owning or controlling the fishing rights in any stream or pond to have special open and closed seasons, daily creel and season limits, and legal lengths of species taken from such waters.

DEP Offices where licenses can be purchased:

Location	Hours	Phone
DEP Field Offices:
Marine Headquarters, Old Lyme	M-F 8:00 am-4:00 pm	860-434-6043
Eastern District, Marlborough	M-F 8:30 am-4:00 pm	860-295-9523
Western District, Harwinton	M-F 8:30 am-4:00 pm	860-485-0226
Franklin WMA, Franklin	M-F 8:30 am-4:30 pm	860-642-7239
Sessions Woods WMA, Burlington	M-F 8:30 am-4:00 pm	860-675-8130
DEP Main Office, 79 Elm St, Hartford
License & Revenue	M-F 9:00 am-4:00 pm	860-424-3105
DEP Store	M-F 9:00 am-3:30 pm	860-424-3555

DEP Permits & Licenses

Content Last Updated October 7, 2009