2020 Fishing Regulations:

A 2018 stock assessment, or inventory, by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission concluded that stripers are being overfished, and that the number of reproductive fish in the population was too low because the rate at which fish are being removed is too high.

The goal for 2020 is an 18 percent reduction in the harvest.

“It’s enough that it is going to require a fairly substantial course correction for the fishery,” Justin Davis, assistant director of the Fisheries Division of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said. “We’re not talking about shutting down the fishery or cutting the harvest in half.”

From 1985 until 1990, striper fishing was shut down entirely.

The Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board approved Addendum VI to Amendment 6 of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. The Addendum reduces all state commercial quotas by 18%, and implements a 1 fish bag limit and a 28”-35” recreational slot limit for ocean fisheries and a 1 fish bag limit and an 18” minimum size limit for Chesapeake Bay recreational fisheries. States may submit alternative regulations through conservation equivalency to achieve an 18% reduction in total removals relative to 2017 levels.

Addendum VI was initiated in response to the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment, which indicates the resource is overfished and experiencing overfishing. The Addendum’s measures are designed to reduce harvest, end overfishing, and bring fishing mortality to the target level in 2020.

Since catch and release practices contribute significantly to overall fishing mortality, the Addendum requires the mandatory use of circle hooks when fishing with bait to reduce release mortality in recreational striped bass fisheries. Outreach and education will be a necessary element to garner support and compliance with this important conservation measure.

States are required to submit implementation plans by November 30, 2019 for review by the Technical Committee and approval by the Board in February 2020. States must implement mandatory circle hook requirements by January 1, 2021. All other provisions of Addendum VI must be implemented by April 1, 2020.

Fishery managers approved new regulations for the 2020 recreational bluefish fishery. These measures, which include a 3-fish bag limit for private anglers and a 5-fish bag limit for for-hire fishermen, represent a substantial reduction compared to the federal 15-fish bag limit that has been in place since 2000.

The most recent assessment of the Atlantic bluefish stock concluded that the stock is overfished.

Gillnetting Bunker

The Connecticut Personal Use Gillnet License permits you to use a single gillnet not greater than 60 feet to take only menhaden for personal use, and only in Connecticut's marine waters. In the Long Island Sound and Vicinity Fishing Area Chart below, this includes areas 1-3, as well as parts of areas 151-155.

Personal Use Gillnet License for Menhaden: $100

Don’t Forget to Provide your 2019 Annual Catch for Personal Use Gillnet License for Menhaden (Bunker)

THIS REPORT MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JANUARY 31, 2020. Failure to report or submitting incomplete reports will disqualify you from obtaining a renewal of your license. For information or assistance regarding this report, contact the DEP Marine Fisheries Division.