Sporting Licenses (fishing, hunting)

Sportsmen licenses may be purchased in the Town Clerk's Office.

Please refer to the State of Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection website for current license fees and information. Sports licenses are valid for a calendar year from January to December. Fishing licenses are available to anyone age 16 and over. Children under age 16 may fish with a licensed adult.
The free LIFETIME RESIDENT INLAND FISHING LICENSE-AGE 65+ and LIFETIME RESIDENT FIREARM LICENSE-AGE 65+ became ANNUAL licenses effective October 1, 2009. All age 65+ licenses will need to be renewed at no cost each year.

Fishing Licenses are available for 2025. Don't miss a single day of fishing!

https://departmentofenergyandenvironmentalprotection.cmail20.com/t/j-l-w...

Updated Information from DEEP Fisheries Division

Opening Day for "Catch and Keep" 4/12

6:00 am sharp on April 12 starts the "catch and keep" season for trout. Public Act 21-12 removed the closed season for trout, however, based on angler input the DEEP established a "catch and release" season for trout. This season starts on March 1 of each year and runs until 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April. We wish all the best of luck in the pursuit of some of CT's finest trout.

Trout fishing shifts to "Catch and Keep" in most waters (see exceptions below) starting at 6:00 am on Saturday, April 12 Please be sure to check the regulations for the waterbody you are fishing. Check our online fishing guide for rivers and streams (https://departmentofenergyandenvironmentalprotection.cmail20.com/t/j-l-w...) and for lakes and ponds.

A Trout and Salmon Stamp is required to keep trout or salmon (and is required if fishing in some waters - see trout and salmon stamp below).

https://departmentofenergyandenvironmentalprotection.cmail20.com/t/j-l-w...

Waters that are not open for catch and keep:

1) Year-Round Catch and Release Trout Management Areas: There are 10 sections of river where the harvest (keeping or taking) of trout is not allowed at any time, all trout must be released. These sections of river have the ability to support trout survival year-round, unlike most waters in CT where the water temperature becomes lethal for some period of time (but the presence of cold tributaries provide survival via a "thermal refuge"). Some sections have special regulations such as requiring the use of a barbless hooks* or single free swinging hook. Always consult the Fishing Guide for site specific regulations for these year-round catch and release TMAs.

Hockanum River, Vernon, Manchester

Housatonic River, Salisbury, Canaan, Cornwall, Sharon

Housatonic River, (Bulls Bridge TMA), Sherman, Kent

Mill River (Fairfield)

Moosup River, Plainfield

Naugatuck River, Litchfield, Harwinton, Thomaston

Pequabuck River/Coppermine Brook, Bristol, Plainville

Tenmile River (Bulls Bridge TMA), Sherman, Kent

West Branch Farmington River, Barkhamsted, New Hartford

Willimantic River, Tolland, Willington

2) Class 1 Wild Trout Management Areas A section of river or stream with adequate natural reproduction to support year-round fishing, provided there was no harvest. There is no stocking of hatchery fish into these waters.

The regulations on these waters were to protect the population structure by prohibiting harvest, requiring the use of a single barbless hook, and limiting gear to be artificial only (no bait).

https://departmentofenergyandenvironmentalprotection.cmail20.com/t/j-l-w...

Deep Brook/Pootatuck River, Newtown

Freeman Hill Brook, Burlington

Mill River (Fairfield)

Beaver Brook/Merrick Brook, Scotland

Wachocastinook (Riga) Brook, Salisbury

Macedonia Brook, Kent

Hawley's Brook, Weston

Quinnipiac River, Southington

Eightmile River, Southington

Tankerhoosen River, Vernon

Trout and Salmon Stamp

The Trout and Salmon Stamp is an add on to your fishing license. The cost is $5.00 for all, except those age 16-17 where it is $3.00. Visit our FAQ page for more info.

https://departmentofenergyandenvironmentalprotection.cmail20.com/t/j-l-wgliik-hjtkjtldhj-n/

The Trout and Salmon Stamp is required:

To KEEP any trout or salmon (sign on left below)

Or To FISH (even if catch and release fishing) in waters designated as (sign on right below)

https://departmentofenergyandenvironmentalprotection.cmail20.com/t/j-l-w... (Trout Parks)

https://departmentofenergyandenvironmentalprotection.cmail20.com/t/j-l-w... (Trout Management Areas-Rivers)

https://departmentofenergyandenvironmentalprotection.cmail20.com/t/j-l-w... (Class 1,2 and 3)

https://departmentofenergyandenvironmentalprotection.cmail20.com/t/j-l-w... (Atlantic Salmon Management Areas)

Prefer to buy online? You may visit Connecticut's Official Sportsmen Licensing System at https://ct.aspirafocus.com/internetsales

Here you can obtain your Connecticut: