Thank you for being part of Connecticut's ﬁshing community. Whether you ﬁsh every weekend or only once each year, we appreciate your support of Connecticut's ﬁsheries.

100% of your investment in fishing license fees come to the DEEP Bureau of Natural Resources to support your passion for the outdoors- Thank You! 👍👍

August 2026

This month at a glance

🆓 Free Fishing License Day - August 8

🦈Saltwater Fishing Day - August 8

📅 Fish with CARE events

📝 Bass Tournament Survey (ends August 14)

🚫 Human Made Rock Dams Impact Streams

🏆 Monster Rainbow Trout

🏙️Urban Fisheries Updates

🎏Meet the Fisheries Staff

🐟 Mystery Fish Challenge

FREE Fishing License Day - August 8, 2026

The final Free Fishing License Day for 2026 is Saturday August 8. On this date anyone can get a FREE one-day fishing license through the DEEP's online licensing system. We hope you take this opportunity to give fishing a try or take someone new out!

Saltwater Fishing Day @ Fort Trumbull State Park Fishing Pier

To celebrate Free Fishing License Day on August 8th, the Fish with CARE program will be at Fort Trumbull State Park (New London) from 10am to 3pm with loaner rods, reels, bait, and instruction for you to try your luck at catching some of the marine fish that call Long Island Sound home! Everything is free, just make sure those 16 years of age and older have a fishing license or FREE 1-day license for August 8th.

The fishing pier at Fort Trumbull State Park (New London) is an exceptional pier, offers pristine views of the Thames River mouth, and is designed with anglers in mind. A large variety of species can be found including scup (porgy), summer flounder (fluke), bluefish, blackfish, spot, and striped bass.

Check out our pier fishing video for tips on fishing the Long Island Sound shoreline. If you would like some hands-on "coaching", join our Fish with CARE team at one of our learn to fishing events (schedule below).

Learn to Fish with CARE!

Fish with CARE schedule, visit our web page for full list of 2026 events:

The Fish with CARE program (CT Aquatic Resource Education) has been introducing, or re-introducing, people to fishing since 1986. Fishing means many things to many people. Come find what fishing means to you by attending one of our many fishing events.

Check out our online, self-paced "Let's Go Fishing" course - a beginner's guide to fishing in CT - and put your skills to the test at a Fish with CARE event. We have all of the equipment, bait and a dedicated group of knowledgeable and patient fishing coaches to support you. A fishing license is required for participants age 16 and older.

Don't miss any days of fishing in 2026 - renew or get your fishing license today! Planning to keep a trout or fish in a Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area, Trout Park, or Atlantic Salmon Management Area? Be sure to add the Trout and Salmon Stamp to your cart before checking out - required for harvesting trout or fishing any of those special management areas.

Bass Tournament Survey - Share Your Opinion

The Fisheries Division is considering potential regulation changes to summertime tournament bass fishing¹. We are seeking input from the angling community via a short survey (Microsoft Forms) to get angler information on tournament regulations preferences and bass fishing. Take the survey here: Microsoft Forms This survey will be open until August 14th.

Why does this matter: Currently, black bass tournament groups must request an exemption from Bass Management Lake (BML) regulations to hold weigh-in format fishing events (where fish are caught, kept in a livewell, and then weighed at one location at the end) during most of the year. However, from July 1 - August 31, current BML regulations effectively prevent tournaments from hosting weigh-in format events during that time as no exemptions are given (with the exception of Gardner Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir). DEEP Fisheries Division is considering removing BML regulations from the 29 waterbodies currently managed under this designation. Because DEEP is considering removal of BML regulations, the Fisheries Division is exploring alternative summertime protections for black bass.

Please review this Updating Black Bass Management in Connecticut document, which explains why we are looking into potential changes.

¹Changes would not take effect any earlier than January 1, 2028 and would be the result of input via public comment and a public hearing.

Don't Lose Fishing Time—Renew Your License in Just a Few Minutes

Dam It - Not A Great Idea

Small rock dams may seem like a harmless way to create a swimming hole or give your dog a deeper place to play, but these structures can have unintended consequences for Connecticut's rivers and streams. By slowing or blocking the natural flow of water, rock dams can increase water temperatures, trap sediment and organic material, alter stream habitat, and prevent the movement of fish and other aquatic organisms.

Connecticut law protects our free-flowing streams. Connecticut General Statute § 26-134 states:

"No person shall, unless authorized by the commissioner, prevent the passing of fish in any stream or through the outlet or inlet of any pond or stream by means of any rack, screen, weir or other obstruction."

Rock dams and similar stream obstructions may violate this statute and are subject to enforcement by Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon).

Enjoy Connecticut's streams—without changing them. Instead of building rock dams, consider these stream-friendly alternatives:

Enjoy a naturally deep pool for swimming.
Let your dog play in free-flowing water.
Look for fish, crayfish, salamanders, and aquatic insects in their natural habitat.
Take photos and enjoy the beauty of Connecticut's rivers.
Leave the stream better than you found it by picking up litter.

Monster 'bow

Check out this monster Rainbow Trout caught on July 4th by Sean Rawding from Lake Quassapaug. The fish was 31 inches and weighed in at 16.36 pounds (16 pounds 5 ounces) and was just shy of the state record caught earlier this year (16 pounds 7 ounces). Congrats to Sean for this fish of a lifetime.

If you hook into a trophy fish please feel free to submit your catch through our angler recognition app. Visit our web page for details on the Trophy Fish Award and Angler Recognition program, including species qualification criteria and types of recognition.

Urban Fisheries Update

Phragmites 🌾 (pictured above) can be a formidable barrier for fishing access. Rodrigo Pinto, DEEP's urban fishing coordinator, has been building collaborative efforts to remove this vegetative wall and improve fishing access at some of DEEP's Community Fishing Waters. These 18 waters are scattered statewide in highly populated areas and provide the opportunity to catch stocked trout and/or stocked channel catfish.

Please check out a media story covering these efforts at the northern Beaver Pond in New Haven that he has been co-organizing since 2025 with DEEP, the City of New Haven, the civic organization Community Placemaking Engagement Network (CPEN), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Additional efforts are underway at Lake Wintergreen (Hamden) and in Lakewood Lake (Waterbury).

Meet the People Working Behind the Scenes to Improve Connecticut's Fisheries

Each month in 2026 you will get to meet one of the highly dedicated and passionate staff of the Fisheries Division. Each member of our team brings skill and professionalism to make CT's fisheries the best they can be.

Meet Steven Piera

Steve is the hatchery supervisor for the Kensington State Fish Hatchery in Berlin, CT. Steve is responsible for much, including all operation and maintenance of the facility, which runs 24/7/365, overseeing the rearing of Seeforellen Brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon. Both species provide anglers with unique opportunities and are extremely popular fisheries. Steve enjoys the traditions that connect people to the natural world. He believes in hard work, faith, family and life's best memories come from muddy boots, wagging tails and quiet mornings in a natural setting.

Education: On the job training as a maintainer and more.

What was the spark to get you interested in fisheries biology/management? Growing up in a family of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen fishing was our culture. I also come from a lineage of farmers. My father used to volunteer bringing kids fishing at the Quinnebaug State Fish Hatchery with the big brother big sister program and I would tag along. I learned about the trout stocking program and how important it was to so many people. Farming fish seemed like something I should pursue.

Favorite part of the job: My Favorite part has constantly been changing as I've grown in the job. Early on it was raising great fish. Now its building the programs, improving the facility, teaching employees, solving problems, and leaving the hatchery better than I found it.

Least favorite part of the job: Having more ideas than time and resources

Trivia/Favorites of Steve:

Pizza Topping: Sundried tomatoes, fried eggplant, ricotta and anchovies

Movie: Dances with Wolves

Favorite Fish: Sunapee Trout because of the adventures, memories and beautiful places I've encountered in search of them

Favorite Concert: Blues Traveler at Redrocks

Red Sox or Yankees: Could not care less... GO CANES ! 2026 STANLY CUP CHAMPS!

Phobia: Needles

Dream place to live: Nowhere and everywhere. If I had the opportunity, I would live nomadic.

Fishing Challenge DIY Videos

To help budding anglers fill their Youth Fishing Passport (YFP) fishing challenge score card the Fish With CARE program has made a special playlist on the DEEP Video YouTube channel. The playlist will give you tips on gear, bait, and techniques on targeting each of the 33 fish species found in the YFP fishing challenge!

The fishing challenge is free for young anglers ages 15 and younger. The challenge is a year-long fishing scavenger hunt to try and catch all 33 species on the score card. Catches are