DEP Hunting & Fishing Regulation Hearing March 16
6:30pm. Department of Environmental Protection, Phoenix Auditorium, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106.
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 1 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF Department of Environmental Protection FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
SECTION 26-48a-1, 26-55-1, 26-55-5, 26-66-4, 26-112-43, 26-112-44, 26-112-45, 26-112-46, 26-142a-1, 26-142a-12
Section 1. Subsection 26-48a-1 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-48a-1. Pheasant season, bag limits, tags, use and reporting.
(a)(1) The open season for taking pheasant shall be from the third Saturday in October through the [second Saturday in January] last day in February.
(2) The second Saturday in October shall be designated as junior pheasant hunting training day. On this day, only hunters having a valid Connecticut junior firearms hunting license and pheasant harvest [tags] stamp may hunt on private lands with permission of the landowner. The accompanying adult mentor shall have in his/her possession a valid Connecticut hunting license. The adult mentor shall not carry a firearm.
(3) The daily bag limit shall not exceed two pheasants and the season bag limit shall not exceed ten pheasants, except as provided in subsection (j) of this section.
(b) No person, required to be licensed per Section 26-27 of the Connecticut General Statutes as amended, shall kill, take, possess or transport any pheasant without a valid pheasant [tags] stamp, except as provided in subsection (j) of this section.
[(c) The pheasant tagging system shall consist of a stamp and a seasonal supply of ten pheasant harvest tags. The pheasant tag series may be purchased from any town clerk. The issuing agent shall retain .50 from each series sold to individuals holding current hunting licenses issued per section 26-27 of the Connecticut General Statutes as amended and submitting an appropriate application.
(d) No person shall file more than one application for the pheasant harvest tag series for any one pheasant season except that the commissioner upon receiving a completed special application form containing the false statement clause and accompanied by the total appropriate fee may issue to any person a replacement when he is satisfied that the original tags of such person have been lost, destroyed, or mutilated beyond recognition. Any tags obtained through an application containing false or misleading information shall be considered void.
(e) No pheasant tags may be used unless the stamp has been signed by the hunter and affixed to the appropriate space on the license by the issuing agent. The pheasant stamp shall remain permanently affixed to the individual's hunting license, both of which must be carried afield. Pheasant tags become void without a properly validated corresponding stamp in possession.]
[(f)] (c) No person shall [change or alter pheasant tags or loan to another or] allow another to have or use such [tags] stamp issued to himself or use any [tags] stamp issued to another.
[(g) Immediately upon killing a pheasant, and before moving the carcass in any manner from where it was killed, a pheasant harvest tag issued to the person who killed the pheasant must be attached to the carcass as instructed. The pheasant harvest tag shall remain attached to the bird until it is prepared for consumption or mounted for display. Tags shall not be reused.]STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 2 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
[(h)] (d) Pheasants taken under the provisions of Sections 26-48, 26-49 and 26-52 of the Connecticut General Statutes shall not be subject to regulations provided under this section.
[(i)] (e) All [tag] stamp holders[, either having taken pheasant(s) or not shall be required to submit a report as prescribed by the Department.] who are contacted by the department for the purposes of surveying pheasant hunting activity shall complete a hunting season activity report by the method specified in the hunting and trapping guide published annually by the department of environmental protection.
[(j)] (f)(1) Members and guests of a private hunting club shall not be subject to state pheasant [tagging] stamp requirements or seasonal bag limitations under subsections (a) and (b) of this section when hunting on club lands provided such club has qualified for an exemption pursuant to this subdivision. Members and guests of a private hunting club shall not be subject to daily bag limitations if a club tag is affixed to each pheasant taken on club lands. The club tag shall be affixed to the pheasant immediately upon kill and remain attached to the pheasant until it is prepared for consumption or mounted for display. The following information shall be printed legibly on each club tag: the name of the exempted club, date of taking, and the hunter's current hunting license number. To qualify for an exemption, under this subdivision, a private hunting club shall:
(A) Obtain an application form for exemption from the Wildlife Division of the Department;
(B) Secure the signature of the local Department Conservation Officer on the completed application form prior to submitting it to the Wildlife Division;
(C) Submit the completed form to the Wildlife Division;
(D) Purchase and/or raise pheasants for liberation on club lands; and
(E) Post the boundaries of all club lands to be subject to such exemption in accordance with instructions from the Wildlife Division.
(2) The exemption shall be effective when the completed application form is signed by an authorized representative of the Wildlife Division.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "club lands" shall be defined as those lands which are closed to the public and which the club owns, leases or uses for hunting pursuant to an agreement with a private landowner. "Club lands" shall exclude lands on which pheasants are released under any state cooperative program.
(4) The Commissioner may revoke an exemption for submission of false or misleading statements on the application form or violation of the requirements of section 26-48a-1(j)(1)(C) or (D). Revocation shall be effective when the hunting club receives written notice of revocation.
Section 2. Section 26-55-1 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
26-55-1. Importation, transportation or liberation of live fish or live fish eggs.
No person, firm or corporation shall import into this state, transport for the purpose of liberation within this state or liberate into the waters of this state live fish or live fish eggs except as hereinafter provided.
(a) Permits for the importation or liberation of live fish and live fish eggs may be issued at the discretion of the Commissioner.
(b) No permit for the importation or liberation of live fish or live fish eggs shall be issued to cover a period of more than sixty days and a separate application must be made for each importation or liberation of live fish or live fish eggs. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 3 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(c) All applications for an importation permit or liberation permit shall include the full name and address of the applicant and the vendor from whom the live fish or live fish eggs will be obtained, the number of each species of live fish or live fish eggs to be imported or liberated, the purpose of such importation or liberation and, if such live fish or live fish eggs are to be liberated, the name and location of the waters where such live fish or live fish eggs are to be liberated.
(d) Any live fish or live fish eggs originating outside of the United States, or originating from west of the United States continental divide, must [be certified as disease free prior to shipment] have originated from a source that has obtained a current fish health certification issued by a person or persons acceptable to the Commissioner and such [disease free certification] fish health certification shall accompany the shipment of such live fish or live fish eggs. Any live fish or live fish eggs originating outside of the United States must, in addition, have official clearance in writing, from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(e) Representatives of the Commissioner may inspect any imported fish or fish eggs being brought into the state. The Commissioner may order that any live fish or live fish eggs, suspected of carrying diseases, pathogens or parasites capable of inducing any disease, be quarantined, at permittee's expense, for a period of up to one hundred and twenty days.
(f) Any fish which show evidence of any disease, pathogen or parasite capable of inducing any disease shall be immediately taken to the state fish pathologist for examination and diagnosis. In the event that any disease, pathogen or parasite capable of inducing any disease is determined to be present by said pathologist the Commissioner may in the public interest, order that all imported fish as well as any other fish present in the waters containing such imported fish be destroyed by whatever means he shall determine is the most practical and in the best public interest.
(g) No imported fish or fish eggs shall be liberated or introduced into the waters of the state if they are known to be infected with disease or infected with parasites which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, would make the liberation of such fish inadvisable in the interest of protecting humans, resident fish species or established exotic fish species from disease or parasitism.
(h) No permit shall be required to import live, common aquarium species. The importation or possession of piranha of the subfamily: Serrasalminae, genera Serrasalmus, Serrasalmo, Pygocentrus, Teddyella, Rooseveltiella and Pygopristus, and walking catfish of the family Clariidae, genera Clarias, Heteropneustes, Dinotoplerus and Heterobranchus is prohibited except that the Commissioner may at his discretion issue permits for the importation and possession, when it is in the public interest, for public display purposes, of specimens of piranha and walking catfish. Such possession permits shall be issued for a calendar year and the applicant must request renewal of said permit prior to December thirty-first of the year said permit is in effect. Renewal of said permit shall be at the discretion of the Commissioner. Such permittee shall report annually to the Commissioner during the month of December on the status and health of the specimens for which said permit is issued, except that in the case of death of said specimens the permittee shall report same to the Commissioner within seven days.
(i) The importation, possession or liberation of grass carp or white amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is prohibited, except that the Commissioner, at his discretion, may issue a permit for the importation, possession and liberation of triploid (sterile) grass carp into lakes and ponds of this state as herein provided.
(1) Waters into which triploid grass carp are to be liberated may be inspected by an agent of the Commissioner. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 4 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(2) The Commissioner shall not issue a permit for the liberation of triploid grass carp into any waters under multiple ownership unless all individuals who have ownership rights on such waters have first provided written agreement to such liberation.
(3) The Commissioner shall not issue a permit for the liberation of triploid grass carp into any waters unless the outlet and inlet of such waters are, in his opinion, adequately screened so as to prevent the emigration of such grass carp or unless such waters are ecologically isolated. For the purposes of this subsection, ecologically isolated means any waters from which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, the emigration of such grass carp will not significantly impact public waters or waters of another, or from which there is no surface water outflow.
(4) Any permit for the liberation of triploid grass carp issued by the Commissioner may prescribe the number and size class of triploid grass carp that may be liberated.
(5) Such fish shall be certified as triploid prior to shipment by a person or persons acceptable to the Commissioner and such certification shall accompany the shipment of such fish.
(6) At least fourteen (14) days prior to importation of such fish, the permittee shall notify the Commissioner of the date that any grass carp are to be imported and the location where such fish may be inspected.
(7) Such fish may be inspected and may be sampled and tested for triploidy by an approved method by an agent of the Commissioner prior to liberation.
( Any shipment of grass carp which contains any diploid (fertile) individuals shall be confiscated and disposed of at the discretion of the Commissioner.
(9) The owner of any pond into which grass carp are liberated shall allow agents of the Commissioner to monitor the population dynamics of the grass carp and other environmental conditions of the pond in order to determine the long term efficacy of grass carp in Connecticut waters.
(10) In the event that any grass carp or white amur, that are capable of reproduction, are liberated into or found in any waters of this state, the Commissioner may, in the public interest, order that all such fish as well as any other fish present in such waters be destroyed by whatever means he shall determine to be the most practical and in the best public interest except as provided in [Public Act 89-218] section 26-55a of the Connecticut General Statutes.
(j) Live fish or live fish eggs of the following species, genera or families shall not be imported into the state or possessed except that, when it is in the public interest, permits for the importation or possession of specimens may be issued, at the discretion of the Commissioner, for research or public display purposes or as provided for in section 26-40d-1 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies:
(1) bowfin (Amia calva);
(2) gars (Lepisosteidae);
(3) gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum);
(4) white bass (Morone chrysops);
(5) freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens); STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 5 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(6) snail carp or black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus);
(7) silver carp (Hypophthalmicthys molitrix);
( big head carp (Aristichthys nobilis);
(9) tench (Tinca tinca);
(10) rohu (Labeo rohita);
(11) calbasu (Labeo calbasa);
(12) catla (Catla catla);
(13) mrigal (Cirrhina mrigala);
(14) mahseer (Tor tor);
(15) crucian carp (Carassius carassius);
(16) rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus);
(17) european whitefish, orfe or ide (Leuciscus idus);
(1 any species of fish whose importation into the United States is prohibited;
(19) any species of fish designated rare, threatened or endangered;
(20) any species of fish which the Commissioner determines is potentially dangerous to humans, established species of fish or established aquatic plants;
(21) Snakehead (including all members of the genus Channa and Parachanna or their generic synonyms of Bostrychoides, Ophicephalus, Ophiocephalus and Parophiocephalus); and
(22) Sturgeon (including all members of the family Acipenseridae, genera Acipenser, Huso, Scaphirhyncus and Pseudoscaphihryncus and their hybrids).
Permits issued by the Commissioner under this subsection shall be for a term established by the Commissioner and shall not be transferable. The Commissioner may renew such permits upon receipt of a request for renewal on or before thirty (30) calendar days preceding expiration of such permit. The Commissioner may determine the species, life stages, number of specimens, location and manner of display, confinement, or storage of specimens, and location, timing and method of disposition of any or all specimens under any permit. Each permittee shall report annually to the Commissioner on or before November thirtieth, information on the current status of specimens, results of scientific studies, disposition of specimens and any other information as may be required under said permit. In the event that any of the species listed previously in this subsection are liberated or introduced into any waters of the state, the Commissioner may, in the public interest, order that all such fish as well as any other fish present in such waters be destroyed by whatever means he shall determine is the most practical and in the best public interest.
(k) The transporter of any live fish or live fish eggs that are destined for any state waters shall be in possession of a copy of the importation or liberation permit covering such live fish or live fish eggs and any applicable [disease free certification] fish health STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 6 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
certification. Any box, package or container holding live fish or live fish eggs transported by a common carrier and destined for delivery in this state shall have attached thereto and in plain view a copy of the permit covering such importation and any applicable [disease free certification] fish health certification.
Section 3. The Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies are amended by adding section 26-55-5 as follows:
(New) 26-55-5. Possession of nuisance aquatic invertebrates.
(a) The importation, introduction into the state, possession or liberation therein of live specimens or eggs of the following species, genera or families of aquatic invertebrates is prohibited, except that, when it is in the public interest, permits for the importation or possession of specimens may be issued, at the discretion of the Commissioner, for control, eradication, research or educational purposes:
(1) quagga mussel, including veligers (Dreissena bugensis);
(2) zebra mussel, including veligers (Dreissena polymorpha);
(3) Chinese mitten crab, (Eriocheir sinensis);
(4) New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum);
(5) any species of aquatic invertebrate whose importation into the United States is prohibited;
(6) any species of aquatic invertebrate designated rare, threatened or endangered; and
(7) any species of aquatic invertebrate which the Commissioner determines is potentially dangerous to humans, established species of fish or established aquatic plants.
(b) The importation, introduction into the state or liberation therein of live specimens or eggs of the following species, genera or families of aquatic invertebrates is prohibited, except that, when it is in the public interest, permits for the importation of specimens may be issued, at the discretion of the Commissioner, for research or educational purposes:
(1) Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea); and
(2) rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus).
(c) The use of individuals, living or dead, of any species listed previously in this section as bait is prohibited, except that those species listed in subsection (b) of this section may be used as bait in the waters from which they were taken.
(d) Permits issued by the Commissioner under this section shall be for a term established by the Commissioner and shall not be transferable. The Commissioner may renew such permits upon receipt of a request for renewal on or before thirty (30) calendar days preceding expiration of such permit. The Commissioner may determine the species, life stages, number of specimens, location and manner of display, confinement, or storage of specimens, and location, timing and method of disposition of any or all specimens under any permit. Each permittee shall report annually to the Commissioner on or before November thirtieth, information on the current status of specimens, results of scientific studies, disposition of specimens and any other information as may be required under said permit.
Sec 4. Section 26-66-4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended by adding subsections (ff) and (gg) as follows:
Sec. 26-66-4. Wild fowl and shore birds STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 7 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
The open season daily bag limit and possession limit for migratory game birds and the method of taking such game birds shall be the same as the open season, daily bag limit, possession limit and methods of taking fixed for such birds by the regulations of the United States fish and wildlife service made under the provisions of an act of Congress relating to migratory birds, and as provided under the provisions of section 26-91 of the general statutes, except as provided in section 26-66-1(c).
(a) There shall be a minimum distance of one hundred yards between all occupied duck hunting blinds, whether such blinds be permanent, temporary, drift or float.
(b) No person, except the commissioner, may construct or place any permanent blind or structure for hunting of waterfowl on state-controlled lands or waters. Any such permanent blind or structure may be removed or destroyed by the commissioner at any time.
(c) All waterfowl hunting on state-controlled lands and waters of Great Island, Old Lyme and Ragged Rock Creek, Old Saybrook, shall be from waterfowl hunting blinds only, except that cripples may be recovered by shooting within the area open to hunting.
(d) Waterfowl hunting in the Niantic River in the towns of Waterford and East Lyme is subject to the following regulations:
(1) Hunting is prohibited from shore or in the intertidal area without the permission of the riparian property owner;
(2) Hunting is prohibited in the water areas northerly of an east and west line which touches the southern tip of Sandy Point and includes Keeny Cove;
(3) Hunting from boats is permitted only along the midline of the river;
(4) Hunting is prohibited in Smith Cove and the channel entering Smith Cove in East Lyme.
(e) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited in Alewife Cove and entrance channel, Waterford and New London, and in Jordan Cove, north from the mean high water line on the northern side of the sand spit and island.
(f) Except during the regular duck season scaup, scoter, eider and old squaw may be hunted only in coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams lying seaward from the first upstream bridge.
(g) There shall be no waterfowl hunting on or from the tidal waters of the inlet between Cuttings Road, Compo Beach Road and Owenoke Park, known as Gray's Creek, Westport.
(h) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in Cove Pond (Holly Pond) Stamford and Darien north of the dam.
(i) The open season for taking crows shall be from the third Saturday in October through the first Saturday in March.
[(j) Repealed, October 18, 1995.]
[(k)] (j) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in the tidal waters of Cove Harbor within 100 feet of the mean high tide mark of the Darien shore.
[(l) Repealed, February 1, 1988.]
[(m)] (k) Except when specifically authorized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for use during a special hunting season and as published in the migratory bird hunting guide, no person shall take migratory game birds with a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 8 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
[(n)] (l) Waterfowl hunting in the Thames River in the Town of Waterford is prohibited in Smith Cove northwest and above the railroad tracks, and from the shores and waters in the vicinity of Mamacoke Island in Mamacoke Cove westward of a line running from the easternmost point of land at Harrison's Landing due north to the point where it intersects the southernmost tip of Mamacoke Island, and from the shores and waters within the unnamed cove west of Mamacoke Island southward of a line running due east from the southernmost point of shoreline of the unnamed waterbody west of the railroad tracks, the shores and waters of which shall also be closed to waterfowl hunting, to a point intersecting the shoreline of Mamacoke Island.
[(o)] (m) Waterfowl hunting shall be prohibited in the area of Mason's Island known as Ram Point Cove inland of a line extending from the high water mark on the southernmost tip of Ram Point to the southernmost tip of Mason's Island bordering the eastern side of Ram Point Cove.
[(p)] (n) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in the Black Hall River in Old Lyme in the area bordered on the south by Route 156 and on the north by the first upstream railroad crossing.
[(q)] (o) No person shall kill or wound any waterfowl without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird. Any bird which is killed or wounded and not retrieved shall count in the daily bag total.
[(r)] (p) A waterfowl hunting party shall include no more than 6 individuals with a minimum distance of 100 yards between parties.
[(s)] (q) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in Assekonk Swamp, North Stonington.
[(t)] (r) For waterfowl hunting, only the following shot shall be used: (1) Non-toxic steel shot no larger than BB steel, or (2) Bismuth-tin alloy (97% bismuth and 3% tin), Tungsten Polymer, or tungsten iron shot or tungsten-matrix (95.9% tungsten: 4.1 % polymer). tungsten-nickel-iron (Hevishot) or any other non-toxic shot approved for use by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service no larger than number two. No person may possess lead shot while waterfowl hunting.
[(u)] (s) (1) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in any direction within a 500 foot radius of the mean high tide mark at Merwin Point in Milford.
(2) There shall be no waterfowl hunting within the area bounded by the shoreline and a line from the southernmost extension of the 500 foot radius at Merwin Point in Milford referenced in subdivision (1) of this subsection westward to the southeastern shoreline at Pond Point in Milford.
[(v)] (t) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited in the area known as the Cedar Point peninsula, shoreward of a line extending from the southerly tip of the stone breakwall at the eastern end of Compo Beach to the tip of Cedar Point and to the westerly tip of Owenoke Point in Westport.
[(w)] (u) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in or from the banks of the Mystic River between Route 1 and Route 27 in Mystic and Groton.
[(x)] (v) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in or from the banks of Ash Creek north of a line drawn from the northern end of the steel railing on the fishing pier in Fairfield to the northern end of the stone seawall in Bridgeport at the mouth of the creek where it enters Long Island Sound.
[(y) Repealed.]
[(z)] (w) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shore and water in the Giant's Neck area of East Lyme at the mouth of the Pataguanset River northward of a line running due west from the south end of the fixed pier located at the Giant's Neck Boat Association Launch to the south end of the breakwall located at the end of Point Road.
[(aa)] (x) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters of Long Island Sound in Greenwich as follows: STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 9 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(1) In Greenwich Cove, north of a line extending from the easternmost point of land at Willowmere Point to the northernmost point of land on the peninsula immediately north of Meadow Place.
(2) In Cos Cob Harbor, north of a line extending due east from the southeasternmost point of land at the power plant property off of Sound Shore Road to the shoreline adjacent to Glen Avon Road.
(3) In Greenwich Harbor, Smith Cove and Indian Harbor, north of a line extending from the northernmost tip of the area known as Round Island on the west side of Greenwich Harbor to the southernmost tip of the peninsula at the end of Indian Field Road.
(4) In Byram Harbor, north of a line extending northeastward from the end of Dock Road to the southeastern most tip of Gamecock Island across Byram Harbor to the southern most tip of the unnamed peninsula immediately west of Harbor Drive.
[(bb)] (y) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters of the Branford River in Branford from Route 1 south to Montowese Avenue.
[(cc)] (z) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters in Post Cove in Deep River southward of the dike that extends across the northern edge of the cove.
[(dd)] (aa) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters in the area known as Long Shore Club Park in Westport shoreward of a line extending from the westerly tip of Owenoke Point to the southwest tip of Hendricks Point.
[(ee)] (bb) Waterfowl hunting at Plum Bank Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Old Saybrook is prohibited north and east of a line extending from Southview Circle southeast to Gull Lane.
(NEW) (cc) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters of the Quinnipiac River in New Haven south from a line extending from the southernmost tip of Granis Island at the mouth of Hemingway Creek, across the river to Lombard Street to the Route 1 Bridge.
(NEW) (dd) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters of the Housatonic River in Milford and Stratford southward from the I-95 bridge to a line extending from Edgemont Road in Milford across the river to Riverview Place in Stratford.
Section 5. Section 26-112-43 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
26-112-43. Definitions and restrictions
(a) "Angling" means fishing with hook and line which shall be personally attended, but shall not include ice fishing or snagging or snatching. Not more than two lines, with or without rods, may be used at one time. Each line may have any combination of hooks, flies or lures, among which not more than three hooks may be baited.
(b) "Bait" means any animal, bait species as defined in Section 26-112-45(d) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, fish eggs, insect or vegetable, or parts thereof, living or dead, except as provided in section 26-55-5 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, used with a hook for the purpose of attracting and catching fish. Any fish legally acquired, except black bass (largemouth and smallmouth), chain pickerel, northern pike, trout, charr, salmon, carp and goldfish may be used as bait, except as provided in section 26-112-48(b) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
(c) "Bait fishing" means taking or attempting to take bait species, for personal use as bait or food, by use of a bait seine, bait trap, umbrella net, scoop net or by hand. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 10 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(d) "Bait seine" means a seine or net which, for the purpose of this regulation, does not exceed fifteen feet in length and four feet in depth and is used for the taking of bait species.
(e) "Bait trap" means a glass, wire or wooden device which, for the purpose of this regulation, does not exceed twenty inches in length and fifteen inches in diameter and is used for the taking of bait species.
(f) "Barbless hook" or "barbless fishhook" means a curved, pointed device, without a barb, used to catch fish. Barbless hooks may be single, double or treble and each point must be without a barb. For the purposes of this regulation, hooks manufactured with a barb are considered barbless if the barb has been bent down to the hook, broken off or otherwise made ineffective.
[(f)] (g) "Bobbing" means fishing with a ball or mass of worms or other bait attached to a line held in the hand or a line attached to a rod held in the hand to which no hooks are attached.
[(g)] (h) "Bow and arrow fishing" means fishing by use of a weapon made of wood or other elastic material, with a cord to connect the two ends when bent, by which an arrow is propelled, but shall not include the use of a cross bow. The use of a cross bow in fishing is prohibited.
[(h)] (i) "Children's stream" and "children's pond" means waters that are set aside in whole or in part as children's fishing areas when such restriction is indicated by posters. Angling in such areas is restricted to children under sixteen years of age.
[(i)] (j) "Closed season" means that period of time during which all fishing is prohibited in the
area specified.
[(j)] (k) "Daily creel limit" means the quantity or number of fish of a species or species group that can be taken by an individual angler during the period from 12:01 a.m. to midnight.
(l) "Disabled Persons Fishing Area" means an area set aside for the exclusive use by the physically handicapped when such restriction is indicated by posters.
(m) "Downrigger" means a device, supplemental to a fishing line, used to deploy, via an electric or handpowered winch, reel or spool that projects over the side or stern of a boat and is used as a hoist, main line and terminal weight, one or more fishing lines to a desired depth in the water column.
(n) "Gaff" means a spear or hook, with or without a handle, used for holding or lifting fish. The use of a gaff to land or assist in landing a fish is prohibited in the inland district.
[(k)] (o) "Hook" or "fishhook" means a curved, pointed device, with or without barb, used to catch fish. Hooks may be single, double or treble and each point shall be considered as a single hook.
[(l)] (p) "Fishing" or "sport fishing" means taking or attempting to take fish in the inland district, except for commercial purposes, and is restricted to angling, bow and arrow fishing, bobbing, ice fishing, snagging or snatching, spearing, scoop netting, and taking or attempting to take fish by hand. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 11 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
[(m)] (q) "Float" or "bobber" means any buoyant object attached to a fishing line. No such float shall be used unless the line is personally attended.
[(n)] (r) "Fly" means a single or double hook dressed with hair, feathers, tinsel, thread, yarn or similar material to which no bait, spinner, spoon, plug or other device is added.
[(o)] (s) "Fly fishing" means angling with the use of a fly reel, fly rod, fly line, leader and a fly or flies. Additional weight may be built into the fly in its construction, as in a weighted nymph, and additional weight may be attached to the leader. The use of strike indicators, as defined in this section, is permitted.
[(p)] (t) "Hand-held jig" means a rod, jig stick or line held in the hand, used for fishing through the ice.
[(q)] (u) "Ice fishing" means fishing through the ice with tip-ups, bobbers or floats, similar devices or hand-held jigs. The following restrictions shall apply to ice fishing:
(1) [Persons legally licensed to fish] A single individual may use, at one time, tip-ups, bobbers or floats, similar devices or hand-held jigs in any combination thereof, not exceeding six in the aggregate.
[(2) Persons under sixteen years of age may use two tip-ups, bobbers, floats, similar devices or hand held jigs in any combination thereof, not exceeding two in the aggregate.]
[(3)] (2) Each line shall be restricted to not more than three baited hooks, with or without attractors, or three ice flies or three artificial lures or any combination thereof, not exceeding three in the aggregate.
[(4)] (3) All tip-ups, bobbers or floats or similar devices shall have the name and address of the person using the same legibly printed thereon or attached thereto.
[(5)] (4) No tip-ups, bobbers or floats or similar devices shall be used unless they are personally attended.
(v) "Leadcore line" means a fishing line constructed with a metal core.
[(r)] (w) "Minimum length" means the smallest total length of a species or species group that may be legally possessed, measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail unless otherwise specified. No person shall possess any fish less than the lengths specified and any fish less than the minimum length shall, without avoidable injury, be immediately returned to the water from which taken.
[(s)] (x) "Possession limit" means the total number of fish of any species or species group that may be legally possessed by one person, either on the person, on the waters of the inland district, or the shores of such waters, or in any type of vehicle. Possession limit in the field shall not exceed the daily creel limit. Any fish in possession shall be intact to the extent that neither the heads nor the tails have been removed but gills and viscera may be removed. Possession limit shall not be construed to restrict the number of legally acquired fish that may be kept in storage in the home or in other storage facilities.
[(t)] (y) "Scoop net" or "scap net" means a net attached to a handle which, for the purpose of this regulation, shall be not over thirty-six inches across the widest point of the single hoop or have a mesh bag more than thirty-six inches in depth at its deepest point. Such net shall be constructed of flexible mesh material and shall be manually operated by a single individual. The use of any such net constructed of metal mesh or stiff plastic mesh is prohibited. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 12 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
[(u)] (z) "Set line" means a line with one or both ends secured to the shore or to a fixed or buoyant object in the water which is used for fishing and is not personally attended. Set lines shall not be used in the inland district.
[(v)] (aa) "Snagging" or "snatching" means the taking of fish by foul hooking, that is, hooking fish in any part of the body other than inside the mouth. Snagging or snatching is prohibited in all waters in the inland district for all species of fish and any fish so taken shall be released immediately, except, in streams open to fishing throughout the year, as provided in section 26-112-44 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, menhaden, alewives and blueback (glut) herring may be taken by snagging or snatching.
[(w)] (bb) "Spearing" means the use of any pointed instrument, with or without barbs, which is propelled by hand. The use of spears is prohibited in lakes and ponds and in streams, or sections of streams, stocked with trout, charr and salmon. Spears may be used only for taking carp, suckers, eels and lampreys. In the inland district, fish shall not be taken by underwater spear fishing and the use of any type of spear gun in fishing is prohibited.
[(x)] (cc) "Strike indicator" means a brightly colored, highly visible tab, sleeve or bead or similar material used in fly fishing. Such devices may be attached to the line or leader when used in areas restricted to fly fishing only.
[(y)] (dd) "Take" or "taking" means killing, capturing or otherwise rendering into possession, any fish or bait species, or attempting to kill, capture or render into possession, or assisting in taking or attempting to take any fish or bait species.
[(z) "Disabled Persons Fishing Area" means an area set aside for the exclusive use by the physically handicapped when such restriction is indicated by posters.
(aa) "Barbless hook" or "barbless fishhook" means a curved, pointed device, without a barb, used to catch fish. Barbless hooks may be single, double or treble and each point must be without a barb. For the purposes of this regulation, hooks manufactured with a barb are considered barbless if the barb has been bent down to the hook, broken off or otherwise made ineffective.
(bb) "Downrigger" means a device, supplemental to a fishing line, used to deploy, via an electric or handpowered winch, reel or spool that projects over the side or stern of a boat and is used as a hoist, main line and terminal weight, one or more fishing lines to a desired depth in the water column.
(cc) "Leadcore line" means a fishing line constructed with a metal core.]
Section 6. Subsection (b) of section 26-112-44 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
(b) Lakes and Ponds. There shall be no closed season for fishing lakes and ponds, except as provided below.
(1) The closed season for fishing in the following lakes and ponds shall be from midnight on October thirty-first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Angus Parks Pond (Eastbury Park Pond), Glastonbury
Batterson Park Pond, Farmington, New Britain
Beaver Park Lagoon, New Haven
Bicentennial Pond (Mansfield Town Pond), Mansfield STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 13 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Godfrey Pond, Stonington
Green Falls Reservoir, Voluntown
Hewitt Flyfishing Pond (Gallup Pond), North Stonington
Mohegan Lake, Fairfield
Pistol Shop Pond, Middlefield
Prospect Park Pond, Prospect
Shenipsit Reservoir, Ellington, Tolland, Vernon
Tollgate Ponds, Greenwich
Wononscopomuc Lake, Salisbury. Fishing hours shall be from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. prevailing time.
(2) The closed season for fishing in the following lakes and ponds shall be from midnight on the last day of February through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Alexander Lake, Killingly
Allen Brook Pond (Wharton Pond), Wallingford
Ball Pond, New Fairfield
Barber Pond, Bloomfield, Windsor
Bashan Lake, East Haddam
Baummer Pond, Naugatuck
Beach Pond, Voluntown and Rhode Island
Beachdale Pond, Voluntown
Beaver Brook Ponds (Upper and Lower), Windham
Bigelow Pond, Union
Billings Lake, North Stonington
Black Pond, Meriden, Middlefield
Black Pond, Woodstock
Black Rock Flood Control Impoundment, Watertown
Blanchard Pond, New Canaan, Wilton
Branford Supply Ponds, Branford
Broad Brook Mill Pond, East Windsor
Brookfield Pond, South Windsor
Cedar Lake, Chester
Clarks Pond, Hamden
Clarktown Pond, Orange
Cobbs Mill Pond, Weston
Colebrook Flood Control Impoundment, Colebrook, and Massachusetts
Day Pond, Colchester
Dayton Pond, Wallingford
Disbrow Pond, New Fairfield
Dodge Pond, East Lyme
East Twin Lake, Salisbury
Enders Pond, Granby
Factory Pond, Redding, Wilton
Fitchville Pond, Bozrah
Fort Shantok Pond, Montville
Fountain Lake, Seymour, Ansonia
Freshwater Pond, Enfield
Gardner Lake, Salem, Montville, Bozrah
Gay City Park Pond, Hebron
Gills Pond, Berlin
Hallville Pond, Preston
Hancock Brook Flood Control Pool, Plymouth
Hanover Reservoir, Canterbury, Sprague
Hewitt Pond (Lower Hewitt Pond), North Stonington
Higganum Reservoir, Haddam
Hop Brook Flood Control Pool, Middlebury STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 14 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Hopeville Pond, Griswold
Horse Pond, Salem
Howells Pond, Hartland
Johnson's Pond, Bolton
Keney Park Pond, Hartford
Lafayette Pond, Somers
Lake Stibbs, Southbury
[Lake Winfield, Plymouth]
Lake Wintergreen, Hamden
Lantern Hill Pond, Ledyard, North Stonington
Little Pond, Thompson
Long Pond, Ledyard, North Stonington
Lower Storrs Pumping Station Pond
Mad River Flood Control Impoundment, Winchester
Mansfield Training School Ponds, Mansfield
Mashapaug Lake, Union
Millers Pond, Durham
Millers Pond, Ridgefield
Mohawk Pond, Cornwall, Goshen
Moosup Pond, Plainfield
Mt. Tom Pond, Morris, Litchfield, Washington
Naubesatuck Lake, Mansfield, Chaplin, Windham
Nells Rock Reservoir, Shelton
Northfield Brook Flood Control Pool, Litchfield
Norwich Pond, Lyme
Pages Millpond, North Branford
Paine Pond, Ashford
Pataconk Lake (Russell Jennings Pond), Chester
Picketts Pond (Osborndale State Park), Derby
Roseland Lake, Woodstock
Saint Martha's Pond, Enfield
Salmon Brook Pond, Glastonbury
Sawmill Park Pond, Ledyard
Schreeder Pond (Chatfield Hollow Pond), Killingworth
Shaw Lake (Hayward Lake), East Haddam
Silvermine Pond, New Canaan
Somersville Mill Pond, Somers
Southford Falls Pond, Oxford, Southbury
Starret Pond (Huntington Park Pond), Redding
Stillwater Pond, Torrington
Stratton Brook Park Pond, Simsbury
Taftville Reservoir, Norwich
Tankerhoosen Lakes, Vernon
Tungsten Mine Park Pond, Trumbull
Twin Brooks Park Pond, Trumbull
Tyler Pond, Goshen
Uncas Lake (Hog Pond), Lyme
Upper Fulton Park Pond, Waterbury
Valley Falls Pond, Vernon
Wangumbaug Lake (Coventry Lake), Coventry
Wards Millpond, Branford
Wauregan Reservoir (Quinebaug Lake), Killingly
West Branch Reservoir (Hogback), Hartland, Colebrook
West Side Pond, Goshen
Woodruffs Pond, Hamden
Wyassup Lake, North Stonington STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 15 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(3) The closed season for fishing in the following lakes and ponds shall be as specified.
Bunnells Pond (Beardsley Park Pond), Bridgeport. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Great Hollow Pond, Monroe. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Isinglass Reservoir (Far Mill Reservoir), Shelton. From midnight on December thirty-first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Lake Chamberlain, Bethany. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Lake McDonough (Compensating Reservoir), New Hartford, Barkhamsted. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April. Fishing hours shall be from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. prevailing time, except opening day when fishing shall start at 6:00 a.m.
Lake Saltonstall, Branford, East Haven. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Maltby Lakes (#1, #2, #3), Orange West Haven. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Mohegan Park Pond, Norwich. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Saugatuck Reservoir, Easton, Redding, Weston. From midnight on December thirty-first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Shelton Reservoir #2, Shelton. From midnight on December thirty-first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Simsbury Town Park Ponds, Simsbury. From midnight on June fifteenth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
West Pequonnock Reservoir, Monroe. From midnight on December thirty-first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
(4) Children's Ponds. The closed season for fishing in the following posted children's ponds shall be from midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, except as specified.
[Abe Stone Park Pond (Colony Park Pond), Ansonia]
Backwater Brook Pond, Thompson
Beachland Park Pond, West Hartford
Butternut Pond, East Windsor. Open season 6:00 a.m. third Saturday in April through October thirty-first.
City Hall Pond, Milford
Clark Pond (Besse Pond), Torrington
Edgewood Park Pond, New Haven
Factory Pond, Salisbury
Fernridge Park Pond, West Hartford
Gould Manor Pond, Fairfield
Helen Keller School Pond, Easton
Hyde Park Pond, Glastonbury STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 16 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Hurlburt Pond, Putnam
Katz Pond, Trumbull
Lilly Pond, Thompson
Lower Fulton Park Pond, Waterbury
McGovern Pond, West Hartford
Mill Pond, Newington
Mill Woods Park Pond, Wethersfield
Mirror Lake (Hubbard Park Pond), Meriden
North Street Pond, Milford
Orange Park Pond, Orange
Page Park Pond, Bristol
Pasture Pond (Quinebaug Valley Trout Hatchery), Plainfield. Open season 6:00 a.m. third Saturday in April through September thirtieth.
Sochrin Pond, Seymour
Stanley Quarter Pond, New Britain
Stroh Pond, Windsor
Washington Park Pond, Windsor
(5) [Trophy] Trout Management Lakes. The closed season for fishing in Trophy Trout Lakes listed in section 26-112-46 shall be as specified therein.
(6) Boundary Waters. The closed season for fishing in boundary water listed in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies shall be as specified therein.
Section 7. Subsection 26-112-45(d) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
(d) Bait species. Bait species include the following species of fish, amphibians, aquatic insects and crustaceans to the exclusion of all other species: golden shiner or "pond shiner" (Notemigonus crysoleucas), common shiner (Notropis cornutus), fallfish (Semotilus corporalis), creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), spottail shiner or "river bait" (Notropis hudsonius), bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus), blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus), longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae), pearl dace (Semotilus margarita), bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), cutlips minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua), chub sucker (Erimyzon oblongus), white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus), mummichug (Fundulus heteroclitus), striped killifish (Fundulus majalis), tidewater silverside (Menidia beryllina), Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), sand lance or "sand eels" (Ammodytes spp.), frogs (except the northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens), crayfish (except rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus), perch bugs, helgramites, and mayfly nymphs. Bait species may be taken only for personal use as bait and food, except as provided in section 26-55-5 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, and shall not be sold or offered for sale, except as provided in sections 26-142a-1 [through] to 26-142a-6 inclusive, 26-142a-12 and 26-142a-15 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
(1) Bait species may be taken by bait seine, bait trap, umbrella net, by hand, by scoop net and by angling, as provided below:
(A) In all inland waters, except those lakes and ponds where the use of fish (dead or alive) as bait is prohibited, bait species may be taken at any time by bait traps not to exceed twenty inches in length and fifteen inches in diameter and by umbrella nets not to exceed four feet in length by four feet in width.
(B) In all streams bait species may be taken at any time with bait seines not to exceed fifteen feet in length and four feet in depth. Bait seines shall not be used in lakes and ponds, except in those lakes and ponds designated by the Department of Environmental STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 17 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Protection as open to the commercial taking of bait. In such lakes and ponds bait seines not exceeding fifteen feet in length and four feet in width may be used to take bait species at any time of year.
(C) During the open season for fishing in inland waters, bait species may also be taken by hand, by scoop net and by angling.
Section 8. Subsection (m) of section 26-112-45 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
(m) Trout, charr and kokanee. Trout, charr and kokanee include brown trout (Salmo trutta), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), lake trout (Savelinus namaycush), kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka), and their hybrids.
(1) Trout, charr and kokanee may be taken only by angling and ice fishing.
(2) The taking of trout, charr and kokanee from March first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April is prohibited, except: in boundary waters, Trout Management Areas, Wild Trout Management Areas, Sea-run Trout Streams and [Trophy] Trout Management Lakes as listed in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies as specified therein; in streams open to fishing throughout the year as listed in section 26-112-44 and as specified in section 26-112-48 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
(3) The daily creel limit for trout, charr and kokanee shall be eight in the aggregate, not more than five of which may be trout or charr except: in boundary waters, Trout Management Areas, Wild Trout Management Areas, Trout Parks, Sea-Run Trout Streams, Trophy Trout Streams and [Trophy] Trout Management Lakes as listed in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies as specified therein; in streams open to fishing throughout the year as listed in section 26-112-44 and as specified in section 26-112-48 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
(4) The minimum length for lake trout shall be twenty inches.
(5) There shall be no minimum length for trout (except lake trout), charr and kokanee except:
(A) In [Trophy] Trout Management Lakes, Wild Trout Management Areas, Trophy Trout Streams, Sea-Run Trout Streams and Trout Management Areas listed in section 26-112-46 as specified therein.
(B) In streams open to fishing throughout the year listed in section 26-112-44 where the minimum length shall be fifteen inches.
(C) In the following streams, or portions of the streams, where the minimum length of trout and charr shall be nine inches:
Belden Brook, Hartland, Granby- that portion downstream from Fuller Road in Hartland.
Blackledge River, Glastonbury, Marlborough- that portion downstream from Route 94.
Burlington Brook, Burlington- that portion downstream from Covey Road.
Center Brook, Colebrook- that portion downstream from Route 183.
Cherry Brook, Canton- that portion downstream from Route 179. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 18 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Colebrook Brook, Winchester, Colebrook.
Dickinson Creek, Colchester, Marlborough- that portion downstream from Route 66.
East Branch Salmon Brook, Granby- that portion downstream from the Connecticut-Massachusetts state line.
East Branch Eightmile River, Salem, East Haddam, Lyme- that portion downstream from Witch Meadow Road in Salem.
East Branch Farmington River, Barkhamsted, New Hartford– that portion downstream from the dam at Lake McDonough.
Eightmile River, East Haddam, Lyme- that portion from Foxtown Road downstream to the dam at Mt. Archer Road.
Farmington River, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, East Granby, Bloomfield, Windsor- that portion downstream from Route 177.
Fawn Brook, Marlborough, Hebron- that portion downstream from Slocum Road.
Indian Meadow Brook, Winchester.
Jeremy River, Colchester- that portion downstream from Greyville Road.
Judd Brook, Colchester, Hebron- that portion downstream from Old Colchester Road.
Mad River, Norfolk, Winchester- that portion downstream from Grantville Road in Norfolk.
Meadow Brook, Colchester- that portion downstream from Route 16.
Mill Brook, Winchester- that portion downstream from Hannifin Road.
Morgan Brook, Barkhamsted- that portion downstream from the dam on West Hill Pond.
Mountain Brook, Granby- that portion downstream from the Route 20 bridge located between the Route 20 intersections with Case Street and Enders Road.
Pequabuck River, Plymouth, Bristol, Plainville, Farmington - that portion downstream from Canal Street in Plymouth.
Pine Brook, East Hampton, Haddam- that section downstream from Sexton Road in East Hampton.
Ratlum Brook, Canton, New Hartford- that portion downstream from the confluence with Spruce Brook.
Raymond Brook, Hebron- that portion downstream from Old Colchester Road.
Safstrom Brook, East Hampton- that portion downstream from Tartia Road.
Salmon River, Colchester, East Hampton, East Haddam, Haddam- that portion from the confluence of the Blackledge and Jeremy rivers downstream to Route 151.
Salmon Brook, East Granby, Granby. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 19 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Sandy Brook, Colebrook, Norfolk- that portion downstream from the Connecticut-Massachusetts state line.
Still River, Barkhamsted, Colebrook- that portion downstream from the confluence with the Mad River.
West Branch of Fawn Brook, Marlborough, Hebron- that portion downstream from Slocum Road.
West Branch of Salmon Brook, Granby- that portion downstream from Route 179.
Section 9. Subsection 26-112-46(c) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
(c) Trout Management Areas.
(1) The Housatonic River Trout Management Area shall be that portion of the Housatonic River in Salisbury, Canaan, Sharon, and Cornwall from the bridge at Route 112 downstream to the bridge at Routes 4 and 7. There shall be no closed season for trout and charr in the Housatonic River Trout Management Area, except that those portions of this trout management area within one hundred feet of the mouths of tributary streams, as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection, shall be closed to all fishing during the period June fifteenth through August thirty-first. Fishing within a portion of the Housatonic River Trout Management Area as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection is restricted to fly fishing only. The daily creel limit for trout and charr in the Housatonic River Trout Management Area is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. Possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of the Housatonic River Trout Management Area is prohibited.
(2) The Willimantic River Trout Management Area shall be that portion of the Willimantic River in Tolland and Willington from the mouth of Roaring Brook downstream to the bridge at Route 74. Fishing in the Willimantic River Trout Management Area is restricted to fly fishing only. There shall be no closed season for trout and charr in the Willimantic River Trout Management Area. The daily creel limit for trout and charr in the Willimantic River Trout Management Area is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. Possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of the Willimantic River Trout Management Area is prohibited.
(3) The Mianus River Trout Management Area shall be that portion of the Mianus River in Stamford, from Merrybrook Road to the dam approximately one mile upstream, as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection. There shall be no closed season for trout and charr in this area and the minimum length for trout and charr taken shall be nine inches. From September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, fishing in this area is restricted to single hook flies and artificial lures only, the daily creel limit for trout and charr is zero, and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. During said time period from September first through 6:00 A.M. on the third Saturday in April, possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of the Mianus River Trout Management Area is prohibited. From 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April through August 31, the daily creel limit in the Mianus River Trout Management Area for any combination of trout and charr is two.
(4) The [West Branch – Farmington River Trout Management Area shall be that portion of the Farmington River in Barkhamsted and New Hartford from approximately one mile STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 20 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
upstream of the bridge at Route 318 downstream to the bridge at Route 219, as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection. Fishing in this area is restricted to the use of barbless hooks only. There shall be no closed season for trout and charr in the West Branch – Farmington River Trout Management Area; the daily creel limit for trout and charr in the West Branch – Farmington River Trout Management Area is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. Possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of this area is prohibited.] Farmington River Trout Management Area shall be the West Branch Farmington River in Hartland, Barkhamsted, and New Hartford and that portion of the Farmington River from the junction of the East and West Branches of the Farmington River in New Hartford downstream to the Route 177 Bridge in Unionville. There shall be no closed season for trout and charr in the Farmington River Trout Management Area. The daily creel limits for trout and charr in the Farmington River Trout Management Area shall be as follows:
(A) In that portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area from the Goodwin Dam in Hartland downstream to the foot bridge abutments approximately one and four-tenths miles downstream of the confluence with the Still River in Barkhamsted, as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection, the daily creel limit for trout and charr in any combination shall be two and the minimum length for any trout and charr taken shall be twelve inches during the time period from 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April through August 31. During said time period, possession of trout or charr less than twelve (12) inches or possession of more than two (2) trout or charr on such waters or their shores is prohibited. From September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, the daily creel limit for trout and charr is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. During said time period from September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of this portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area is prohibited.
(B) In that portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area from the foot bridge abutments approximately one and four-tenths miles downstream of the confluence with the Still River in Barkhamsted, downstream to the bridge at Route 219 in New Hartford, as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection, the daily creel limit for trout and charr is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. Possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of this portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area is prohibited.
(C) In that portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area from the bridge at Route 219 in New Hartford downstream to the Route 177 Bridge in Unionville, the daily creel limit for trout and charr in any combination shall be two and the minimum length for any trout and charr taken shall be twelve inches during the time period from 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April through August 31. During said time period, possession of trout or charr less than twelve (12) inches or possession of more than two (2) trout or charr on such waters or their shores is prohibited. From September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, the daily creel limit for trout and charr is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. During said time period from September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of this portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area is prohibited.
(5) The Hammonasset River Trout Management Area shall be that portion of the Hammonasset River in Killingworth and Madison, from the Lake Hammonasset Dam downstream to Chestnut Hill Road. From September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Sat
6:30pm. Department of Environmental Protection, Phoenix Auditorium, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106.
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 1 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF Department of Environmental Protection FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
SECTION 26-48a-1, 26-55-1, 26-55-5, 26-66-4, 26-112-43, 26-112-44, 26-112-45, 26-112-46, 26-142a-1, 26-142a-12
Section 1. Subsection 26-48a-1 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-48a-1. Pheasant season, bag limits, tags, use and reporting.
(a)(1) The open season for taking pheasant shall be from the third Saturday in October through the [second Saturday in January] last day in February.
(2) The second Saturday in October shall be designated as junior pheasant hunting training day. On this day, only hunters having a valid Connecticut junior firearms hunting license and pheasant harvest [tags] stamp may hunt on private lands with permission of the landowner. The accompanying adult mentor shall have in his/her possession a valid Connecticut hunting license. The adult mentor shall not carry a firearm.
(3) The daily bag limit shall not exceed two pheasants and the season bag limit shall not exceed ten pheasants, except as provided in subsection (j) of this section.
(b) No person, required to be licensed per Section 26-27 of the Connecticut General Statutes as amended, shall kill, take, possess or transport any pheasant without a valid pheasant [tags] stamp, except as provided in subsection (j) of this section.
[(c) The pheasant tagging system shall consist of a stamp and a seasonal supply of ten pheasant harvest tags. The pheasant tag series may be purchased from any town clerk. The issuing agent shall retain .50 from each series sold to individuals holding current hunting licenses issued per section 26-27 of the Connecticut General Statutes as amended and submitting an appropriate application.
(d) No person shall file more than one application for the pheasant harvest tag series for any one pheasant season except that the commissioner upon receiving a completed special application form containing the false statement clause and accompanied by the total appropriate fee may issue to any person a replacement when he is satisfied that the original tags of such person have been lost, destroyed, or mutilated beyond recognition. Any tags obtained through an application containing false or misleading information shall be considered void.
(e) No pheasant tags may be used unless the stamp has been signed by the hunter and affixed to the appropriate space on the license by the issuing agent. The pheasant stamp shall remain permanently affixed to the individual's hunting license, both of which must be carried afield. Pheasant tags become void without a properly validated corresponding stamp in possession.]
[(f)] (c) No person shall [change or alter pheasant tags or loan to another or] allow another to have or use such [tags] stamp issued to himself or use any [tags] stamp issued to another.
[(g) Immediately upon killing a pheasant, and before moving the carcass in any manner from where it was killed, a pheasant harvest tag issued to the person who killed the pheasant must be attached to the carcass as instructed. The pheasant harvest tag shall remain attached to the bird until it is prepared for consumption or mounted for display. Tags shall not be reused.]STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 2 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
[(h)] (d) Pheasants taken under the provisions of Sections 26-48, 26-49 and 26-52 of the Connecticut General Statutes shall not be subject to regulations provided under this section.
[(i)] (e) All [tag] stamp holders[, either having taken pheasant(s) or not shall be required to submit a report as prescribed by the Department.] who are contacted by the department for the purposes of surveying pheasant hunting activity shall complete a hunting season activity report by the method specified in the hunting and trapping guide published annually by the department of environmental protection.
[(j)] (f)(1) Members and guests of a private hunting club shall not be subject to state pheasant [tagging] stamp requirements or seasonal bag limitations under subsections (a) and (b) of this section when hunting on club lands provided such club has qualified for an exemption pursuant to this subdivision. Members and guests of a private hunting club shall not be subject to daily bag limitations if a club tag is affixed to each pheasant taken on club lands. The club tag shall be affixed to the pheasant immediately upon kill and remain attached to the pheasant until it is prepared for consumption or mounted for display. The following information shall be printed legibly on each club tag: the name of the exempted club, date of taking, and the hunter's current hunting license number. To qualify for an exemption, under this subdivision, a private hunting club shall:
(A) Obtain an application form for exemption from the Wildlife Division of the Department;
(B) Secure the signature of the local Department Conservation Officer on the completed application form prior to submitting it to the Wildlife Division;
(C) Submit the completed form to the Wildlife Division;
(D) Purchase and/or raise pheasants for liberation on club lands; and
(E) Post the boundaries of all club lands to be subject to such exemption in accordance with instructions from the Wildlife Division.
(2) The exemption shall be effective when the completed application form is signed by an authorized representative of the Wildlife Division.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "club lands" shall be defined as those lands which are closed to the public and which the club owns, leases or uses for hunting pursuant to an agreement with a private landowner. "Club lands" shall exclude lands on which pheasants are released under any state cooperative program.
(4) The Commissioner may revoke an exemption for submission of false or misleading statements on the application form or violation of the requirements of section 26-48a-1(j)(1)(C) or (D). Revocation shall be effective when the hunting club receives written notice of revocation.
Section 2. Section 26-55-1 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
26-55-1. Importation, transportation or liberation of live fish or live fish eggs.
No person, firm or corporation shall import into this state, transport for the purpose of liberation within this state or liberate into the waters of this state live fish or live fish eggs except as hereinafter provided.
(a) Permits for the importation or liberation of live fish and live fish eggs may be issued at the discretion of the Commissioner.
(b) No permit for the importation or liberation of live fish or live fish eggs shall be issued to cover a period of more than sixty days and a separate application must be made for each importation or liberation of live fish or live fish eggs. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 3 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(c) All applications for an importation permit or liberation permit shall include the full name and address of the applicant and the vendor from whom the live fish or live fish eggs will be obtained, the number of each species of live fish or live fish eggs to be imported or liberated, the purpose of such importation or liberation and, if such live fish or live fish eggs are to be liberated, the name and location of the waters where such live fish or live fish eggs are to be liberated.
(d) Any live fish or live fish eggs originating outside of the United States, or originating from west of the United States continental divide, must [be certified as disease free prior to shipment] have originated from a source that has obtained a current fish health certification issued by a person or persons acceptable to the Commissioner and such [disease free certification] fish health certification shall accompany the shipment of such live fish or live fish eggs. Any live fish or live fish eggs originating outside of the United States must, in addition, have official clearance in writing, from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(e) Representatives of the Commissioner may inspect any imported fish or fish eggs being brought into the state. The Commissioner may order that any live fish or live fish eggs, suspected of carrying diseases, pathogens or parasites capable of inducing any disease, be quarantined, at permittee's expense, for a period of up to one hundred and twenty days.
(f) Any fish which show evidence of any disease, pathogen or parasite capable of inducing any disease shall be immediately taken to the state fish pathologist for examination and diagnosis. In the event that any disease, pathogen or parasite capable of inducing any disease is determined to be present by said pathologist the Commissioner may in the public interest, order that all imported fish as well as any other fish present in the waters containing such imported fish be destroyed by whatever means he shall determine is the most practical and in the best public interest.
(g) No imported fish or fish eggs shall be liberated or introduced into the waters of the state if they are known to be infected with disease or infected with parasites which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, would make the liberation of such fish inadvisable in the interest of protecting humans, resident fish species or established exotic fish species from disease or parasitism.
(h) No permit shall be required to import live, common aquarium species. The importation or possession of piranha of the subfamily: Serrasalminae, genera Serrasalmus, Serrasalmo, Pygocentrus, Teddyella, Rooseveltiella and Pygopristus, and walking catfish of the family Clariidae, genera Clarias, Heteropneustes, Dinotoplerus and Heterobranchus is prohibited except that the Commissioner may at his discretion issue permits for the importation and possession, when it is in the public interest, for public display purposes, of specimens of piranha and walking catfish. Such possession permits shall be issued for a calendar year and the applicant must request renewal of said permit prior to December thirty-first of the year said permit is in effect. Renewal of said permit shall be at the discretion of the Commissioner. Such permittee shall report annually to the Commissioner during the month of December on the status and health of the specimens for which said permit is issued, except that in the case of death of said specimens the permittee shall report same to the Commissioner within seven days.
(i) The importation, possession or liberation of grass carp or white amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is prohibited, except that the Commissioner, at his discretion, may issue a permit for the importation, possession and liberation of triploid (sterile) grass carp into lakes and ponds of this state as herein provided.
(1) Waters into which triploid grass carp are to be liberated may be inspected by an agent of the Commissioner. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 4 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(2) The Commissioner shall not issue a permit for the liberation of triploid grass carp into any waters under multiple ownership unless all individuals who have ownership rights on such waters have first provided written agreement to such liberation.
(3) The Commissioner shall not issue a permit for the liberation of triploid grass carp into any waters unless the outlet and inlet of such waters are, in his opinion, adequately screened so as to prevent the emigration of such grass carp or unless such waters are ecologically isolated. For the purposes of this subsection, ecologically isolated means any waters from which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, the emigration of such grass carp will not significantly impact public waters or waters of another, or from which there is no surface water outflow.
(4) Any permit for the liberation of triploid grass carp issued by the Commissioner may prescribe the number and size class of triploid grass carp that may be liberated.
(5) Such fish shall be certified as triploid prior to shipment by a person or persons acceptable to the Commissioner and such certification shall accompany the shipment of such fish.
(6) At least fourteen (14) days prior to importation of such fish, the permittee shall notify the Commissioner of the date that any grass carp are to be imported and the location where such fish may be inspected.
(7) Such fish may be inspected and may be sampled and tested for triploidy by an approved method by an agent of the Commissioner prior to liberation.
( Any shipment of grass carp which contains any diploid (fertile) individuals shall be confiscated and disposed of at the discretion of the Commissioner.
(9) The owner of any pond into which grass carp are liberated shall allow agents of the Commissioner to monitor the population dynamics of the grass carp and other environmental conditions of the pond in order to determine the long term efficacy of grass carp in Connecticut waters.
(10) In the event that any grass carp or white amur, that are capable of reproduction, are liberated into or found in any waters of this state, the Commissioner may, in the public interest, order that all such fish as well as any other fish present in such waters be destroyed by whatever means he shall determine to be the most practical and in the best public interest except as provided in [Public Act 89-218] section 26-55a of the Connecticut General Statutes.
(j) Live fish or live fish eggs of the following species, genera or families shall not be imported into the state or possessed except that, when it is in the public interest, permits for the importation or possession of specimens may be issued, at the discretion of the Commissioner, for research or public display purposes or as provided for in section 26-40d-1 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies:
(1) bowfin (Amia calva);
(2) gars (Lepisosteidae);
(3) gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum);
(4) white bass (Morone chrysops);
(5) freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens); STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 5 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(6) snail carp or black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus);
(7) silver carp (Hypophthalmicthys molitrix);
( big head carp (Aristichthys nobilis);
(9) tench (Tinca tinca);
(10) rohu (Labeo rohita);
(11) calbasu (Labeo calbasa);
(12) catla (Catla catla);
(13) mrigal (Cirrhina mrigala);
(14) mahseer (Tor tor);
(15) crucian carp (Carassius carassius);
(16) rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus);
(17) european whitefish, orfe or ide (Leuciscus idus);
(1 any species of fish whose importation into the United States is prohibited;
(19) any species of fish designated rare, threatened or endangered;
(20) any species of fish which the Commissioner determines is potentially dangerous to humans, established species of fish or established aquatic plants;
(21) Snakehead (including all members of the genus Channa and Parachanna or their generic synonyms of Bostrychoides, Ophicephalus, Ophiocephalus and Parophiocephalus); and
(22) Sturgeon (including all members of the family Acipenseridae, genera Acipenser, Huso, Scaphirhyncus and Pseudoscaphihryncus and their hybrids).
Permits issued by the Commissioner under this subsection shall be for a term established by the Commissioner and shall not be transferable. The Commissioner may renew such permits upon receipt of a request for renewal on or before thirty (30) calendar days preceding expiration of such permit. The Commissioner may determine the species, life stages, number of specimens, location and manner of display, confinement, or storage of specimens, and location, timing and method of disposition of any or all specimens under any permit. Each permittee shall report annually to the Commissioner on or before November thirtieth, information on the current status of specimens, results of scientific studies, disposition of specimens and any other information as may be required under said permit. In the event that any of the species listed previously in this subsection are liberated or introduced into any waters of the state, the Commissioner may, in the public interest, order that all such fish as well as any other fish present in such waters be destroyed by whatever means he shall determine is the most practical and in the best public interest.
(k) The transporter of any live fish or live fish eggs that are destined for any state waters shall be in possession of a copy of the importation or liberation permit covering such live fish or live fish eggs and any applicable [disease free certification] fish health STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 6 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
certification. Any box, package or container holding live fish or live fish eggs transported by a common carrier and destined for delivery in this state shall have attached thereto and in plain view a copy of the permit covering such importation and any applicable [disease free certification] fish health certification.
Section 3. The Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies are amended by adding section 26-55-5 as follows:
(New) 26-55-5. Possession of nuisance aquatic invertebrates.
(a) The importation, introduction into the state, possession or liberation therein of live specimens or eggs of the following species, genera or families of aquatic invertebrates is prohibited, except that, when it is in the public interest, permits for the importation or possession of specimens may be issued, at the discretion of the Commissioner, for control, eradication, research or educational purposes:
(1) quagga mussel, including veligers (Dreissena bugensis);
(2) zebra mussel, including veligers (Dreissena polymorpha);
(3) Chinese mitten crab, (Eriocheir sinensis);
(4) New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum);
(5) any species of aquatic invertebrate whose importation into the United States is prohibited;
(6) any species of aquatic invertebrate designated rare, threatened or endangered; and
(7) any species of aquatic invertebrate which the Commissioner determines is potentially dangerous to humans, established species of fish or established aquatic plants.
(b) The importation, introduction into the state or liberation therein of live specimens or eggs of the following species, genera or families of aquatic invertebrates is prohibited, except that, when it is in the public interest, permits for the importation of specimens may be issued, at the discretion of the Commissioner, for research or educational purposes:
(1) Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea); and
(2) rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus).
(c) The use of individuals, living or dead, of any species listed previously in this section as bait is prohibited, except that those species listed in subsection (b) of this section may be used as bait in the waters from which they were taken.
(d) Permits issued by the Commissioner under this section shall be for a term established by the Commissioner and shall not be transferable. The Commissioner may renew such permits upon receipt of a request for renewal on or before thirty (30) calendar days preceding expiration of such permit. The Commissioner may determine the species, life stages, number of specimens, location and manner of display, confinement, or storage of specimens, and location, timing and method of disposition of any or all specimens under any permit. Each permittee shall report annually to the Commissioner on or before November thirtieth, information on the current status of specimens, results of scientific studies, disposition of specimens and any other information as may be required under said permit.
Sec 4. Section 26-66-4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended by adding subsections (ff) and (gg) as follows:
Sec. 26-66-4. Wild fowl and shore birds STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 7 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
The open season daily bag limit and possession limit for migratory game birds and the method of taking such game birds shall be the same as the open season, daily bag limit, possession limit and methods of taking fixed for such birds by the regulations of the United States fish and wildlife service made under the provisions of an act of Congress relating to migratory birds, and as provided under the provisions of section 26-91 of the general statutes, except as provided in section 26-66-1(c).
(a) There shall be a minimum distance of one hundred yards between all occupied duck hunting blinds, whether such blinds be permanent, temporary, drift or float.
(b) No person, except the commissioner, may construct or place any permanent blind or structure for hunting of waterfowl on state-controlled lands or waters. Any such permanent blind or structure may be removed or destroyed by the commissioner at any time.
(c) All waterfowl hunting on state-controlled lands and waters of Great Island, Old Lyme and Ragged Rock Creek, Old Saybrook, shall be from waterfowl hunting blinds only, except that cripples may be recovered by shooting within the area open to hunting.
(d) Waterfowl hunting in the Niantic River in the towns of Waterford and East Lyme is subject to the following regulations:
(1) Hunting is prohibited from shore or in the intertidal area without the permission of the riparian property owner;
(2) Hunting is prohibited in the water areas northerly of an east and west line which touches the southern tip of Sandy Point and includes Keeny Cove;
(3) Hunting from boats is permitted only along the midline of the river;
(4) Hunting is prohibited in Smith Cove and the channel entering Smith Cove in East Lyme.
(e) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited in Alewife Cove and entrance channel, Waterford and New London, and in Jordan Cove, north from the mean high water line on the northern side of the sand spit and island.
(f) Except during the regular duck season scaup, scoter, eider and old squaw may be hunted only in coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams lying seaward from the first upstream bridge.
(g) There shall be no waterfowl hunting on or from the tidal waters of the inlet between Cuttings Road, Compo Beach Road and Owenoke Park, known as Gray's Creek, Westport.
(h) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in Cove Pond (Holly Pond) Stamford and Darien north of the dam.
(i) The open season for taking crows shall be from the third Saturday in October through the first Saturday in March.
[(j) Repealed, October 18, 1995.]
[(k)] (j) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in the tidal waters of Cove Harbor within 100 feet of the mean high tide mark of the Darien shore.
[(l) Repealed, February 1, 1988.]
[(m)] (k) Except when specifically authorized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for use during a special hunting season and as published in the migratory bird hunting guide, no person shall take migratory game birds with a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 8 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
[(n)] (l) Waterfowl hunting in the Thames River in the Town of Waterford is prohibited in Smith Cove northwest and above the railroad tracks, and from the shores and waters in the vicinity of Mamacoke Island in Mamacoke Cove westward of a line running from the easternmost point of land at Harrison's Landing due north to the point where it intersects the southernmost tip of Mamacoke Island, and from the shores and waters within the unnamed cove west of Mamacoke Island southward of a line running due east from the southernmost point of shoreline of the unnamed waterbody west of the railroad tracks, the shores and waters of which shall also be closed to waterfowl hunting, to a point intersecting the shoreline of Mamacoke Island.
[(o)] (m) Waterfowl hunting shall be prohibited in the area of Mason's Island known as Ram Point Cove inland of a line extending from the high water mark on the southernmost tip of Ram Point to the southernmost tip of Mason's Island bordering the eastern side of Ram Point Cove.
[(p)] (n) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in the Black Hall River in Old Lyme in the area bordered on the south by Route 156 and on the north by the first upstream railroad crossing.
[(q)] (o) No person shall kill or wound any waterfowl without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird. Any bird which is killed or wounded and not retrieved shall count in the daily bag total.
[(r)] (p) A waterfowl hunting party shall include no more than 6 individuals with a minimum distance of 100 yards between parties.
[(s)] (q) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in Assekonk Swamp, North Stonington.
[(t)] (r) For waterfowl hunting, only the following shot shall be used: (1) Non-toxic steel shot no larger than BB steel, or (2) Bismuth-tin alloy (97% bismuth and 3% tin), Tungsten Polymer, or tungsten iron shot or tungsten-matrix (95.9% tungsten: 4.1 % polymer). tungsten-nickel-iron (Hevishot) or any other non-toxic shot approved for use by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service no larger than number two. No person may possess lead shot while waterfowl hunting.
[(u)] (s) (1) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in any direction within a 500 foot radius of the mean high tide mark at Merwin Point in Milford.
(2) There shall be no waterfowl hunting within the area bounded by the shoreline and a line from the southernmost extension of the 500 foot radius at Merwin Point in Milford referenced in subdivision (1) of this subsection westward to the southeastern shoreline at Pond Point in Milford.
[(v)] (t) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited in the area known as the Cedar Point peninsula, shoreward of a line extending from the southerly tip of the stone breakwall at the eastern end of Compo Beach to the tip of Cedar Point and to the westerly tip of Owenoke Point in Westport.
[(w)] (u) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in or from the banks of the Mystic River between Route 1 and Route 27 in Mystic and Groton.
[(x)] (v) There shall be no waterfowl hunting in or from the banks of Ash Creek north of a line drawn from the northern end of the steel railing on the fishing pier in Fairfield to the northern end of the stone seawall in Bridgeport at the mouth of the creek where it enters Long Island Sound.
[(y) Repealed.]
[(z)] (w) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shore and water in the Giant's Neck area of East Lyme at the mouth of the Pataguanset River northward of a line running due west from the south end of the fixed pier located at the Giant's Neck Boat Association Launch to the south end of the breakwall located at the end of Point Road.
[(aa)] (x) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters of Long Island Sound in Greenwich as follows: STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 9 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(1) In Greenwich Cove, north of a line extending from the easternmost point of land at Willowmere Point to the northernmost point of land on the peninsula immediately north of Meadow Place.
(2) In Cos Cob Harbor, north of a line extending due east from the southeasternmost point of land at the power plant property off of Sound Shore Road to the shoreline adjacent to Glen Avon Road.
(3) In Greenwich Harbor, Smith Cove and Indian Harbor, north of a line extending from the northernmost tip of the area known as Round Island on the west side of Greenwich Harbor to the southernmost tip of the peninsula at the end of Indian Field Road.
(4) In Byram Harbor, north of a line extending northeastward from the end of Dock Road to the southeastern most tip of Gamecock Island across Byram Harbor to the southern most tip of the unnamed peninsula immediately west of Harbor Drive.
[(bb)] (y) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters of the Branford River in Branford from Route 1 south to Montowese Avenue.
[(cc)] (z) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters in Post Cove in Deep River southward of the dike that extends across the northern edge of the cove.
[(dd)] (aa) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters in the area known as Long Shore Club Park in Westport shoreward of a line extending from the westerly tip of Owenoke Point to the southwest tip of Hendricks Point.
[(ee)] (bb) Waterfowl hunting at Plum Bank Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Old Saybrook is prohibited north and east of a line extending from Southview Circle southeast to Gull Lane.
(NEW) (cc) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters of the Quinnipiac River in New Haven south from a line extending from the southernmost tip of Granis Island at the mouth of Hemingway Creek, across the river to Lombard Street to the Route 1 Bridge.
(NEW) (dd) Waterfowl hunting is prohibited from the shores and waters of the Housatonic River in Milford and Stratford southward from the I-95 bridge to a line extending from Edgemont Road in Milford across the river to Riverview Place in Stratford.
Section 5. Section 26-112-43 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
26-112-43. Definitions and restrictions
(a) "Angling" means fishing with hook and line which shall be personally attended, but shall not include ice fishing or snagging or snatching. Not more than two lines, with or without rods, may be used at one time. Each line may have any combination of hooks, flies or lures, among which not more than three hooks may be baited.
(b) "Bait" means any animal, bait species as defined in Section 26-112-45(d) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, fish eggs, insect or vegetable, or parts thereof, living or dead, except as provided in section 26-55-5 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, used with a hook for the purpose of attracting and catching fish. Any fish legally acquired, except black bass (largemouth and smallmouth), chain pickerel, northern pike, trout, charr, salmon, carp and goldfish may be used as bait, except as provided in section 26-112-48(b) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
(c) "Bait fishing" means taking or attempting to take bait species, for personal use as bait or food, by use of a bait seine, bait trap, umbrella net, scoop net or by hand. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 10 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(d) "Bait seine" means a seine or net which, for the purpose of this regulation, does not exceed fifteen feet in length and four feet in depth and is used for the taking of bait species.
(e) "Bait trap" means a glass, wire or wooden device which, for the purpose of this regulation, does not exceed twenty inches in length and fifteen inches in diameter and is used for the taking of bait species.
(f) "Barbless hook" or "barbless fishhook" means a curved, pointed device, without a barb, used to catch fish. Barbless hooks may be single, double or treble and each point must be without a barb. For the purposes of this regulation, hooks manufactured with a barb are considered barbless if the barb has been bent down to the hook, broken off or otherwise made ineffective.
[(f)] (g) "Bobbing" means fishing with a ball or mass of worms or other bait attached to a line held in the hand or a line attached to a rod held in the hand to which no hooks are attached.
[(g)] (h) "Bow and arrow fishing" means fishing by use of a weapon made of wood or other elastic material, with a cord to connect the two ends when bent, by which an arrow is propelled, but shall not include the use of a cross bow. The use of a cross bow in fishing is prohibited.
[(h)] (i) "Children's stream" and "children's pond" means waters that are set aside in whole or in part as children's fishing areas when such restriction is indicated by posters. Angling in such areas is restricted to children under sixteen years of age.
[(i)] (j) "Closed season" means that period of time during which all fishing is prohibited in the
area specified.
[(j)] (k) "Daily creel limit" means the quantity or number of fish of a species or species group that can be taken by an individual angler during the period from 12:01 a.m. to midnight.
(l) "Disabled Persons Fishing Area" means an area set aside for the exclusive use by the physically handicapped when such restriction is indicated by posters.
(m) "Downrigger" means a device, supplemental to a fishing line, used to deploy, via an electric or handpowered winch, reel or spool that projects over the side or stern of a boat and is used as a hoist, main line and terminal weight, one or more fishing lines to a desired depth in the water column.
(n) "Gaff" means a spear or hook, with or without a handle, used for holding or lifting fish. The use of a gaff to land or assist in landing a fish is prohibited in the inland district.
[(k)] (o) "Hook" or "fishhook" means a curved, pointed device, with or without barb, used to catch fish. Hooks may be single, double or treble and each point shall be considered as a single hook.
[(l)] (p) "Fishing" or "sport fishing" means taking or attempting to take fish in the inland district, except for commercial purposes, and is restricted to angling, bow and arrow fishing, bobbing, ice fishing, snagging or snatching, spearing, scoop netting, and taking or attempting to take fish by hand. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 11 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
[(m)] (q) "Float" or "bobber" means any buoyant object attached to a fishing line. No such float shall be used unless the line is personally attended.
[(n)] (r) "Fly" means a single or double hook dressed with hair, feathers, tinsel, thread, yarn or similar material to which no bait, spinner, spoon, plug or other device is added.
[(o)] (s) "Fly fishing" means angling with the use of a fly reel, fly rod, fly line, leader and a fly or flies. Additional weight may be built into the fly in its construction, as in a weighted nymph, and additional weight may be attached to the leader. The use of strike indicators, as defined in this section, is permitted.
[(p)] (t) "Hand-held jig" means a rod, jig stick or line held in the hand, used for fishing through the ice.
[(q)] (u) "Ice fishing" means fishing through the ice with tip-ups, bobbers or floats, similar devices or hand-held jigs. The following restrictions shall apply to ice fishing:
(1) [Persons legally licensed to fish] A single individual may use, at one time, tip-ups, bobbers or floats, similar devices or hand-held jigs in any combination thereof, not exceeding six in the aggregate.
[(2) Persons under sixteen years of age may use two tip-ups, bobbers, floats, similar devices or hand held jigs in any combination thereof, not exceeding two in the aggregate.]
[(3)] (2) Each line shall be restricted to not more than three baited hooks, with or without attractors, or three ice flies or three artificial lures or any combination thereof, not exceeding three in the aggregate.
[(4)] (3) All tip-ups, bobbers or floats or similar devices shall have the name and address of the person using the same legibly printed thereon or attached thereto.
[(5)] (4) No tip-ups, bobbers or floats or similar devices shall be used unless they are personally attended.
(v) "Leadcore line" means a fishing line constructed with a metal core.
[(r)] (w) "Minimum length" means the smallest total length of a species or species group that may be legally possessed, measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail unless otherwise specified. No person shall possess any fish less than the lengths specified and any fish less than the minimum length shall, without avoidable injury, be immediately returned to the water from which taken.
[(s)] (x) "Possession limit" means the total number of fish of any species or species group that may be legally possessed by one person, either on the person, on the waters of the inland district, or the shores of such waters, or in any type of vehicle. Possession limit in the field shall not exceed the daily creel limit. Any fish in possession shall be intact to the extent that neither the heads nor the tails have been removed but gills and viscera may be removed. Possession limit shall not be construed to restrict the number of legally acquired fish that may be kept in storage in the home or in other storage facilities.
[(t)] (y) "Scoop net" or "scap net" means a net attached to a handle which, for the purpose of this regulation, shall be not over thirty-six inches across the widest point of the single hoop or have a mesh bag more than thirty-six inches in depth at its deepest point. Such net shall be constructed of flexible mesh material and shall be manually operated by a single individual. The use of any such net constructed of metal mesh or stiff plastic mesh is prohibited. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 12 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
[(u)] (z) "Set line" means a line with one or both ends secured to the shore or to a fixed or buoyant object in the water which is used for fishing and is not personally attended. Set lines shall not be used in the inland district.
[(v)] (aa) "Snagging" or "snatching" means the taking of fish by foul hooking, that is, hooking fish in any part of the body other than inside the mouth. Snagging or snatching is prohibited in all waters in the inland district for all species of fish and any fish so taken shall be released immediately, except, in streams open to fishing throughout the year, as provided in section 26-112-44 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, menhaden, alewives and blueback (glut) herring may be taken by snagging or snatching.
[(w)] (bb) "Spearing" means the use of any pointed instrument, with or without barbs, which is propelled by hand. The use of spears is prohibited in lakes and ponds and in streams, or sections of streams, stocked with trout, charr and salmon. Spears may be used only for taking carp, suckers, eels and lampreys. In the inland district, fish shall not be taken by underwater spear fishing and the use of any type of spear gun in fishing is prohibited.
[(x)] (cc) "Strike indicator" means a brightly colored, highly visible tab, sleeve or bead or similar material used in fly fishing. Such devices may be attached to the line or leader when used in areas restricted to fly fishing only.
[(y)] (dd) "Take" or "taking" means killing, capturing or otherwise rendering into possession, any fish or bait species, or attempting to kill, capture or render into possession, or assisting in taking or attempting to take any fish or bait species.
[(z) "Disabled Persons Fishing Area" means an area set aside for the exclusive use by the physically handicapped when such restriction is indicated by posters.
(aa) "Barbless hook" or "barbless fishhook" means a curved, pointed device, without a barb, used to catch fish. Barbless hooks may be single, double or treble and each point must be without a barb. For the purposes of this regulation, hooks manufactured with a barb are considered barbless if the barb has been bent down to the hook, broken off or otherwise made ineffective.
(bb) "Downrigger" means a device, supplemental to a fishing line, used to deploy, via an electric or handpowered winch, reel or spool that projects over the side or stern of a boat and is used as a hoist, main line and terminal weight, one or more fishing lines to a desired depth in the water column.
(cc) "Leadcore line" means a fishing line constructed with a metal core.]
Section 6. Subsection (b) of section 26-112-44 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
(b) Lakes and Ponds. There shall be no closed season for fishing lakes and ponds, except as provided below.
(1) The closed season for fishing in the following lakes and ponds shall be from midnight on October thirty-first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Angus Parks Pond (Eastbury Park Pond), Glastonbury
Batterson Park Pond, Farmington, New Britain
Beaver Park Lagoon, New Haven
Bicentennial Pond (Mansfield Town Pond), Mansfield STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 13 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Godfrey Pond, Stonington
Green Falls Reservoir, Voluntown
Hewitt Flyfishing Pond (Gallup Pond), North Stonington
Mohegan Lake, Fairfield
Pistol Shop Pond, Middlefield
Prospect Park Pond, Prospect
Shenipsit Reservoir, Ellington, Tolland, Vernon
Tollgate Ponds, Greenwich
Wononscopomuc Lake, Salisbury. Fishing hours shall be from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. prevailing time.
(2) The closed season for fishing in the following lakes and ponds shall be from midnight on the last day of February through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Alexander Lake, Killingly
Allen Brook Pond (Wharton Pond), Wallingford
Ball Pond, New Fairfield
Barber Pond, Bloomfield, Windsor
Bashan Lake, East Haddam
Baummer Pond, Naugatuck
Beach Pond, Voluntown and Rhode Island
Beachdale Pond, Voluntown
Beaver Brook Ponds (Upper and Lower), Windham
Bigelow Pond, Union
Billings Lake, North Stonington
Black Pond, Meriden, Middlefield
Black Pond, Woodstock
Black Rock Flood Control Impoundment, Watertown
Blanchard Pond, New Canaan, Wilton
Branford Supply Ponds, Branford
Broad Brook Mill Pond, East Windsor
Brookfield Pond, South Windsor
Cedar Lake, Chester
Clarks Pond, Hamden
Clarktown Pond, Orange
Cobbs Mill Pond, Weston
Colebrook Flood Control Impoundment, Colebrook, and Massachusetts
Day Pond, Colchester
Dayton Pond, Wallingford
Disbrow Pond, New Fairfield
Dodge Pond, East Lyme
East Twin Lake, Salisbury
Enders Pond, Granby
Factory Pond, Redding, Wilton
Fitchville Pond, Bozrah
Fort Shantok Pond, Montville
Fountain Lake, Seymour, Ansonia
Freshwater Pond, Enfield
Gardner Lake, Salem, Montville, Bozrah
Gay City Park Pond, Hebron
Gills Pond, Berlin
Hallville Pond, Preston
Hancock Brook Flood Control Pool, Plymouth
Hanover Reservoir, Canterbury, Sprague
Hewitt Pond (Lower Hewitt Pond), North Stonington
Higganum Reservoir, Haddam
Hop Brook Flood Control Pool, Middlebury STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 14 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Hopeville Pond, Griswold
Horse Pond, Salem
Howells Pond, Hartland
Johnson's Pond, Bolton
Keney Park Pond, Hartford
Lafayette Pond, Somers
Lake Stibbs, Southbury
[Lake Winfield, Plymouth]
Lake Wintergreen, Hamden
Lantern Hill Pond, Ledyard, North Stonington
Little Pond, Thompson
Long Pond, Ledyard, North Stonington
Lower Storrs Pumping Station Pond
Mad River Flood Control Impoundment, Winchester
Mansfield Training School Ponds, Mansfield
Mashapaug Lake, Union
Millers Pond, Durham
Millers Pond, Ridgefield
Mohawk Pond, Cornwall, Goshen
Moosup Pond, Plainfield
Mt. Tom Pond, Morris, Litchfield, Washington
Naubesatuck Lake, Mansfield, Chaplin, Windham
Nells Rock Reservoir, Shelton
Northfield Brook Flood Control Pool, Litchfield
Norwich Pond, Lyme
Pages Millpond, North Branford
Paine Pond, Ashford
Pataconk Lake (Russell Jennings Pond), Chester
Picketts Pond (Osborndale State Park), Derby
Roseland Lake, Woodstock
Saint Martha's Pond, Enfield
Salmon Brook Pond, Glastonbury
Sawmill Park Pond, Ledyard
Schreeder Pond (Chatfield Hollow Pond), Killingworth
Shaw Lake (Hayward Lake), East Haddam
Silvermine Pond, New Canaan
Somersville Mill Pond, Somers
Southford Falls Pond, Oxford, Southbury
Starret Pond (Huntington Park Pond), Redding
Stillwater Pond, Torrington
Stratton Brook Park Pond, Simsbury
Taftville Reservoir, Norwich
Tankerhoosen Lakes, Vernon
Tungsten Mine Park Pond, Trumbull
Twin Brooks Park Pond, Trumbull
Tyler Pond, Goshen
Uncas Lake (Hog Pond), Lyme
Upper Fulton Park Pond, Waterbury
Valley Falls Pond, Vernon
Wangumbaug Lake (Coventry Lake), Coventry
Wards Millpond, Branford
Wauregan Reservoir (Quinebaug Lake), Killingly
West Branch Reservoir (Hogback), Hartland, Colebrook
West Side Pond, Goshen
Woodruffs Pond, Hamden
Wyassup Lake, North Stonington STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 15 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
(3) The closed season for fishing in the following lakes and ponds shall be as specified.
Bunnells Pond (Beardsley Park Pond), Bridgeport. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Great Hollow Pond, Monroe. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Isinglass Reservoir (Far Mill Reservoir), Shelton. From midnight on December thirty-first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Lake Chamberlain, Bethany. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Lake McDonough (Compensating Reservoir), New Hartford, Barkhamsted. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April. Fishing hours shall be from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. prevailing time, except opening day when fishing shall start at 6:00 a.m.
Lake Saltonstall, Branford, East Haven. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Maltby Lakes (#1, #2, #3), Orange West Haven. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Mohegan Park Pond, Norwich. From midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Saugatuck Reservoir, Easton, Redding, Weston. From midnight on December thirty-first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Shelton Reservoir #2, Shelton. From midnight on December thirty-first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
Simsbury Town Park Ponds, Simsbury. From midnight on June fifteenth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
West Pequonnock Reservoir, Monroe. From midnight on December thirty-first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April.
(4) Children's Ponds. The closed season for fishing in the following posted children's ponds shall be from midnight on November thirtieth through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, except as specified.
[Abe Stone Park Pond (Colony Park Pond), Ansonia]
Backwater Brook Pond, Thompson
Beachland Park Pond, West Hartford
Butternut Pond, East Windsor. Open season 6:00 a.m. third Saturday in April through October thirty-first.
City Hall Pond, Milford
Clark Pond (Besse Pond), Torrington
Edgewood Park Pond, New Haven
Factory Pond, Salisbury
Fernridge Park Pond, West Hartford
Gould Manor Pond, Fairfield
Helen Keller School Pond, Easton
Hyde Park Pond, Glastonbury STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 16 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Hurlburt Pond, Putnam
Katz Pond, Trumbull
Lilly Pond, Thompson
Lower Fulton Park Pond, Waterbury
McGovern Pond, West Hartford
Mill Pond, Newington
Mill Woods Park Pond, Wethersfield
Mirror Lake (Hubbard Park Pond), Meriden
North Street Pond, Milford
Orange Park Pond, Orange
Page Park Pond, Bristol
Pasture Pond (Quinebaug Valley Trout Hatchery), Plainfield. Open season 6:00 a.m. third Saturday in April through September thirtieth.
Sochrin Pond, Seymour
Stanley Quarter Pond, New Britain
Stroh Pond, Windsor
Washington Park Pond, Windsor
(5) [Trophy] Trout Management Lakes. The closed season for fishing in Trophy Trout Lakes listed in section 26-112-46 shall be as specified therein.
(6) Boundary Waters. The closed season for fishing in boundary water listed in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies shall be as specified therein.
Section 7. Subsection 26-112-45(d) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
(d) Bait species. Bait species include the following species of fish, amphibians, aquatic insects and crustaceans to the exclusion of all other species: golden shiner or "pond shiner" (Notemigonus crysoleucas), common shiner (Notropis cornutus), fallfish (Semotilus corporalis), creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), spottail shiner or "river bait" (Notropis hudsonius), bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus), blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus), longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae), pearl dace (Semotilus margarita), bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), cutlips minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua), chub sucker (Erimyzon oblongus), white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus), mummichug (Fundulus heteroclitus), striped killifish (Fundulus majalis), tidewater silverside (Menidia beryllina), Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), sand lance or "sand eels" (Ammodytes spp.), frogs (except the northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens), crayfish (except rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus), perch bugs, helgramites, and mayfly nymphs. Bait species may be taken only for personal use as bait and food, except as provided in section 26-55-5 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, and shall not be sold or offered for sale, except as provided in sections 26-142a-1 [through] to 26-142a-6 inclusive, 26-142a-12 and 26-142a-15 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
(1) Bait species may be taken by bait seine, bait trap, umbrella net, by hand, by scoop net and by angling, as provided below:
(A) In all inland waters, except those lakes and ponds where the use of fish (dead or alive) as bait is prohibited, bait species may be taken at any time by bait traps not to exceed twenty inches in length and fifteen inches in diameter and by umbrella nets not to exceed four feet in length by four feet in width.
(B) In all streams bait species may be taken at any time with bait seines not to exceed fifteen feet in length and four feet in depth. Bait seines shall not be used in lakes and ponds, except in those lakes and ponds designated by the Department of Environmental STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 17 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Protection as open to the commercial taking of bait. In such lakes and ponds bait seines not exceeding fifteen feet in length and four feet in width may be used to take bait species at any time of year.
(C) During the open season for fishing in inland waters, bait species may also be taken by hand, by scoop net and by angling.
Section 8. Subsection (m) of section 26-112-45 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
(m) Trout, charr and kokanee. Trout, charr and kokanee include brown trout (Salmo trutta), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), lake trout (Savelinus namaycush), kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka), and their hybrids.
(1) Trout, charr and kokanee may be taken only by angling and ice fishing.
(2) The taking of trout, charr and kokanee from March first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April is prohibited, except: in boundary waters, Trout Management Areas, Wild Trout Management Areas, Sea-run Trout Streams and [Trophy] Trout Management Lakes as listed in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies as specified therein; in streams open to fishing throughout the year as listed in section 26-112-44 and as specified in section 26-112-48 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
(3) The daily creel limit for trout, charr and kokanee shall be eight in the aggregate, not more than five of which may be trout or charr except: in boundary waters, Trout Management Areas, Wild Trout Management Areas, Trout Parks, Sea-Run Trout Streams, Trophy Trout Streams and [Trophy] Trout Management Lakes as listed in section 26-112-46 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies as specified therein; in streams open to fishing throughout the year as listed in section 26-112-44 and as specified in section 26-112-48 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
(4) The minimum length for lake trout shall be twenty inches.
(5) There shall be no minimum length for trout (except lake trout), charr and kokanee except:
(A) In [Trophy] Trout Management Lakes, Wild Trout Management Areas, Trophy Trout Streams, Sea-Run Trout Streams and Trout Management Areas listed in section 26-112-46 as specified therein.
(B) In streams open to fishing throughout the year listed in section 26-112-44 where the minimum length shall be fifteen inches.
(C) In the following streams, or portions of the streams, where the minimum length of trout and charr shall be nine inches:
Belden Brook, Hartland, Granby- that portion downstream from Fuller Road in Hartland.
Blackledge River, Glastonbury, Marlborough- that portion downstream from Route 94.
Burlington Brook, Burlington- that portion downstream from Covey Road.
Center Brook, Colebrook- that portion downstream from Route 183.
Cherry Brook, Canton- that portion downstream from Route 179. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 18 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Colebrook Brook, Winchester, Colebrook.
Dickinson Creek, Colchester, Marlborough- that portion downstream from Route 66.
East Branch Salmon Brook, Granby- that portion downstream from the Connecticut-Massachusetts state line.
East Branch Eightmile River, Salem, East Haddam, Lyme- that portion downstream from Witch Meadow Road in Salem.
East Branch Farmington River, Barkhamsted, New Hartford– that portion downstream from the dam at Lake McDonough.
Eightmile River, East Haddam, Lyme- that portion from Foxtown Road downstream to the dam at Mt. Archer Road.
Farmington River, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, East Granby, Bloomfield, Windsor- that portion downstream from Route 177.
Fawn Brook, Marlborough, Hebron- that portion downstream from Slocum Road.
Indian Meadow Brook, Winchester.
Jeremy River, Colchester- that portion downstream from Greyville Road.
Judd Brook, Colchester, Hebron- that portion downstream from Old Colchester Road.
Mad River, Norfolk, Winchester- that portion downstream from Grantville Road in Norfolk.
Meadow Brook, Colchester- that portion downstream from Route 16.
Mill Brook, Winchester- that portion downstream from Hannifin Road.
Morgan Brook, Barkhamsted- that portion downstream from the dam on West Hill Pond.
Mountain Brook, Granby- that portion downstream from the Route 20 bridge located between the Route 20 intersections with Case Street and Enders Road.
Pequabuck River, Plymouth, Bristol, Plainville, Farmington - that portion downstream from Canal Street in Plymouth.
Pine Brook, East Hampton, Haddam- that section downstream from Sexton Road in East Hampton.
Ratlum Brook, Canton, New Hartford- that portion downstream from the confluence with Spruce Brook.
Raymond Brook, Hebron- that portion downstream from Old Colchester Road.
Safstrom Brook, East Hampton- that portion downstream from Tartia Road.
Salmon River, Colchester, East Hampton, East Haddam, Haddam- that portion from the confluence of the Blackledge and Jeremy rivers downstream to Route 151.
Salmon Brook, East Granby, Granby. STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 19 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
Sandy Brook, Colebrook, Norfolk- that portion downstream from the Connecticut-Massachusetts state line.
Still River, Barkhamsted, Colebrook- that portion downstream from the confluence with the Mad River.
West Branch of Fawn Brook, Marlborough, Hebron- that portion downstream from Slocum Road.
West Branch of Salmon Brook, Granby- that portion downstream from Route 179.
Section 9. Subsection 26-112-46(c) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:
(c) Trout Management Areas.
(1) The Housatonic River Trout Management Area shall be that portion of the Housatonic River in Salisbury, Canaan, Sharon, and Cornwall from the bridge at Route 112 downstream to the bridge at Routes 4 and 7. There shall be no closed season for trout and charr in the Housatonic River Trout Management Area, except that those portions of this trout management area within one hundred feet of the mouths of tributary streams, as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection, shall be closed to all fishing during the period June fifteenth through August thirty-first. Fishing within a portion of the Housatonic River Trout Management Area as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection is restricted to fly fishing only. The daily creel limit for trout and charr in the Housatonic River Trout Management Area is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. Possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of the Housatonic River Trout Management Area is prohibited.
(2) The Willimantic River Trout Management Area shall be that portion of the Willimantic River in Tolland and Willington from the mouth of Roaring Brook downstream to the bridge at Route 74. Fishing in the Willimantic River Trout Management Area is restricted to fly fishing only. There shall be no closed season for trout and charr in the Willimantic River Trout Management Area. The daily creel limit for trout and charr in the Willimantic River Trout Management Area is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. Possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of the Willimantic River Trout Management Area is prohibited.
(3) The Mianus River Trout Management Area shall be that portion of the Mianus River in Stamford, from Merrybrook Road to the dam approximately one mile upstream, as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection. There shall be no closed season for trout and charr in this area and the minimum length for trout and charr taken shall be nine inches. From September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, fishing in this area is restricted to single hook flies and artificial lures only, the daily creel limit for trout and charr is zero, and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. During said time period from September first through 6:00 A.M. on the third Saturday in April, possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of the Mianus River Trout Management Area is prohibited. From 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April through August 31, the daily creel limit in the Mianus River Trout Management Area for any combination of trout and charr is two.
(4) The [West Branch – Farmington River Trout Management Area shall be that portion of the Farmington River in Barkhamsted and New Hartford from approximately one mile STATE OF CONNECTICUT Page 20 of 33 Pages REGULATION OF NAME OF AGENCY Department of Environmental Protection
upstream of the bridge at Route 318 downstream to the bridge at Route 219, as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection. Fishing in this area is restricted to the use of barbless hooks only. There shall be no closed season for trout and charr in the West Branch – Farmington River Trout Management Area; the daily creel limit for trout and charr in the West Branch – Farmington River Trout Management Area is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. Possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of this area is prohibited.] Farmington River Trout Management Area shall be the West Branch Farmington River in Hartland, Barkhamsted, and New Hartford and that portion of the Farmington River from the junction of the East and West Branches of the Farmington River in New Hartford downstream to the Route 177 Bridge in Unionville. There shall be no closed season for trout and charr in the Farmington River Trout Management Area. The daily creel limits for trout and charr in the Farmington River Trout Management Area shall be as follows:
(A) In that portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area from the Goodwin Dam in Hartland downstream to the foot bridge abutments approximately one and four-tenths miles downstream of the confluence with the Still River in Barkhamsted, as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection, the daily creel limit for trout and charr in any combination shall be two and the minimum length for any trout and charr taken shall be twelve inches during the time period from 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April through August 31. During said time period, possession of trout or charr less than twelve (12) inches or possession of more than two (2) trout or charr on such waters or their shores is prohibited. From September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, the daily creel limit for trout and charr is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. During said time period from September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of this portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area is prohibited.
(B) In that portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area from the foot bridge abutments approximately one and four-tenths miles downstream of the confluence with the Still River in Barkhamsted, downstream to the bridge at Route 219 in New Hartford, as indicated by signs posted by the Department of Environmental Protection, the daily creel limit for trout and charr is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. Possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of this portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area is prohibited.
(C) In that portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area from the bridge at Route 219 in New Hartford downstream to the Route 177 Bridge in Unionville, the daily creel limit for trout and charr in any combination shall be two and the minimum length for any trout and charr taken shall be twelve inches during the time period from 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April through August 31. During said time period, possession of trout or charr less than twelve (12) inches or possession of more than two (2) trout or charr on such waters or their shores is prohibited. From September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, the daily creel limit for trout and charr is zero and all trout and charr caught shall be immediately returned, without avoidable injury, to the waters from which taken. During said time period from September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in April, possession of trout or charr in the waters or on the shores of this portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area is prohibited.
(5) The Hammonasset River Trout Management Area shall be that portion of the Hammonasset River in Killingworth and Madison, from the Lake Hammonasset Dam downstream to Chestnut Hill Road. From September first through 6:00 a.m. on the third Sat