Fisheries Licenses and Permits
Inland Fishing Licenses | Marine Fishing Licenses | Fishing Permits
NOTICE!! Please be aware that as of 6:30 PM on April 14, 2010, pursuant to the recently adopted deficit mitigation plan (HB-5545), many of the fees for licenses and permits have been reduced. The new bill does not include provisions for making refunds for previously purchased licenses. Application forms are being updated to reflect the new fees.
As a reminder, the free LIFETIME RESIDENT INLAND FISHING LICENSE-AGE 65+ and LIFETIME RESIDENT FIREARM LICENSE-AGE 65+ became ANNUAL licenses effective October 1, 2009. All age 65+ licenses obtained since October 1, 2009 expired December 31, 2009 must be renewed. All age 65+ licenses obtained in 2010 are set to expire on 12/31/10 and will need to be renewed at no cost each year going forward.
Inland Fishing Licenses are required for anyone 16 years of age or older fishing in the
Inland District. Licenses are issued on a calendar year basis and expire on December 31st.
| License Type |
Fee
(as of 4/14/10) |
Where to Purchase |
| Resident Inland Fishing |
$28.00 |
- By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store) |
| Resident All Waters Fishing |
$32.00 |
- By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store) |
| Resident All Waters Fishing and Small Game Firearms Hunting |
$38.00 |
|
| Resident All Waters Fishing and Bow and Arrow Permit to Hunt Deer and Small Game |
$65.00 |
|
| Resident Archery Supersport License to Fish in All Waters, Bow and Arrow Permit to Hunt Deer and Small Game, Permit to Hunt Wild Turkey During Spring |
$82.00 |
|
| Resident Firearms Supersport License to Fish in All Waters and Firearms Hunt, Firearms Private land Shotgun or Rifle Deer Permit, Muzzleloader Private Land Deer Permit, and Permit to Hunt Wild Turkey During Spring |
$84.00 |
|
| Resident Senior Citizen (65 and older) - Inland Fishing |
Free (Requires Annual Renewal) |
|
| Nonresident Season-Inland Fishing |
$55.00 |
- By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store) |
| Nonresident Season-All Waters Fishing |
$63.00 |
- By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store) |
| Nonresident Three Day Inland Fishing |
$22.00 |
- By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store) |
| Nonresident Inland Fishing and Small Game Firearms Hunting |
$110.00 |
- (Not available by phone) |
| Nonresident All Waters Fishing and Firearms Hunting |
$120.00 |
- (Not available by phone) |
| Armed Forces Members* Inland Fishing |
$28.00 |
- By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store) |
| Armed Forces Members* All Waters Fishing and Small Game Firearms Hunting |
$38.00 |
|
| Mentally Retarded or Blind** - Inland Fishing |
Free |
- Participating Town Halls
- DEP Offices
- DEP Store |
| Disabled Persons*** - Inland Fishing |
Free |
- Participating Town Halls
- DEP Offices
- DEP Store |
| Disabled Persons - Inland Fishing and Small Game Firearms Hunting |
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 CT residents 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 |
- By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store) |
| Resident One Day Marine Waters Fishing |
$5.00 |
- Online Sportsmen Licensing System
- Participating Town Halls
- Designated vendor (tackle shop)
- DEP Offices
- DEP Store
- By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store) |
| Resident All Waters Fishing |
$32.00 |
- 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) |
|
| Resident Marine Waters Fishing and Firearms Hunting |
$25.00 |
- (Not available by phone) |
| Resident All Waters Fishing and Firearms Hunting |
$38.00 |
- (Not available by phone) |
| Nonresident Marine Waters Fishing |
$15.00 |
|
| Nonresident Season-All Waters Fishing |
$63.00 |
|
| Nonresident Marine Waters Fishing and Firearms Hunting |
$94.00 |
|
| Nonresident All Waters Fishing and Firearms Hunting |
$120.00 |
|
| Nonresident Three Day Marine Waters Fishing |
$8.00 |
- By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store) |
| Armed Forces Members* Marine Waters Fishing |
$10.00 |
- By phone at 860-424-3700 (DEP Store) |
| Mentally Retarded or Blind** - Marine Waters Fishing |
Free |
|
| Disabled Persons*** - Marine Waters Fishing |
Free |
|
*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 CT residents 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.
Importation and/or Liberation Permit (General) -
Word Form / PDF
Authorizes the importation of live fish or live fish eggs from out-of-state and/or the liberation (stocking) of live fish or live fish eggs into Connecticut waters.
- 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.
Inland Fishing Tournament/Derby Permit (Fillable PDF)
Required to conduct a fishing tournament or derby on waters open to public fishing involving anglers 16 years of age and older. Open water catch-and-release-only tournaments can be granted an exemption from Bass Management Area special regulations (exemptions available for all Bass Management lakes from September 1 through June 30, exemptions granted only for Gardner Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir from July 1 to August 31).
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 April 15, 2010
