Fishing

Fishing in Connecticut

Discover 145 state parks offering fishing in Connecticut

🐟 Connecticut Fishing License at a Glance

Resident Annual $28 inland ($32 all waters)

Non-Resident Annual $55 inland ($63 all waters)

Youth Under 16 free

Senior 65+: no charge (residents, renew yearly)

Trout Stamp $5 (18+), $3 (16-17)

Saltwater R: $10, NR: $15

🎉 Free Fishing Days May 9, 2026

Short-term licenses NR inland 3-day $22; NR marine 3-day $8; R marine 1-day $5 R = resident, NR = non-resident

The all-waters license covers inland and marine waters; marine licenses from Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island are valid in Connecticut's marine district. On June 21 and August 8, 2026 anglers needed a no-cost one-day license from the online system. Trout parks, most of them in state parks, need the trout and salmon stamp.

Official Connecticut Fishing Info →

Checked against the official agency, September 2026. Fees and dates change yearly — always confirm current rates and free-fishing dates via the official link above before purchasing.

145 State Parks

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Connecticut State Parks with Fishing

Algonquin State Forest

Assekonk Swamp Wildlife Management Area

Barber Pond Wildlife Management Area

Bartlett Brook Wildlife Management Area

Bear Hill Wildlife Management Area

Beaver Brook State Park

Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument

Belding Wildlife Management Area

Bennetts Pond State Park

Bigelow Hollow State Park

Black Pond Wildlife Management Area

Bolton Notch State Park

Burr Pond State Park

Candlewood Hill Wildlife Management Area

Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area

Chatfield Hollow State Park

Cockaponset State Forest

Collis P. Huntington State Park

Connecticut Valley Railroad SP

Cromwell Meadows Wildlife Management Area

Dart Island State Park

Day Pond State Park

Dennis Hill State Park

Devil’s Hopyard State Park

Dinosaur State Park

Durham Meadows Wildlife Management Area

Eagle Landing State Park

Eightmile River Wildlife Management Area

Enders State Forest

Farmington Canal State Park Trail

Ferry Landing State Park

Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park

Fort Trumbull State Park

Franklin Wildlife Management Area

Gardner Lake State Park

Gay City State Park

George Waldo State Park

Great Harbor Wildlife Management Area

Haddam Island State Park

Haddam Meadows State Park

Haley Farm State Park

Sunset on Long Island Sound from Hammonasset State Park with lens flare

Hammonasset Beach State Park

Harkness Memorial mansion Long Island Sound Connecticut

Harkness Memorial State Park

Haystack Mountain State Park

Higganum Reservoir State Park

Hop River State Park Trail

Hopemead State Park

Hopeville Pond State Park

Housatonic Meadows State Park

Housatonic River Wildlife Management Area

Humaston Brook State Park

Hurd State Park

Indian Well State Park

James L. Goodwin State Forest

James V. Spignesi Wildlife Management Area

John A. Minetto State Park

Kent Falls State Park

Kettletown State Park

Killingly Pond State Park Scenic Reserve

King’s Island Coop Wildlife Management Area

Kollar Wildlife Management Area

Lake Waramaug State Park

Lamentation Mountain State Park

Larson Lot Wildlife Management Area

Lord’s Cove Wildlife Management Area

Lovers Leap State Park

Macedonia Brook State Park

Machimoodus State Park

Mansfield Hollow State Park

Maromas Coop Wildlife Management Area

Mashamoquet Brook State Park

Massacoe State Forest

Meadow Brook Wildlife Management Area

Menunketesuck Wildlife Management Area

Messerschmidt Wildlife Management Area

Minnie Island State Park

Mohawk Forest/Mohawk Mountain State Park

Mohegan State Forest

Mono Pond State Park Reserve

Moosup Valley State Park Trail

Mooween State Park

Mount Riga State Park

Nassahegon State Forest

Natchaug State Forest

Naugatuck State Forest

Nehantic State Forest

Nepaug State Forest

Newgate Wildlife Management Area

Nipmuck State Forest

Nod Brook Wildlife Management Area

Nott Island Wildlife Management Area

Nye-Holman State Forest

Old Furnace State Park

Osbornedale State Park

Pachaug State Forest

Paugnut State Forest

Paugussett State Forest

Pease Brook Wildlife Management Area

Penwood State Park

Pootatuck State Forest

Putnam Memorial State Park

Quaddick State Park

Quinebaug Lake State Park

Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area

Quinnipiac River Marsh Wildlife Management Area

Quinnipiac River State Park

Ragged Rock Wildlife Management Area

River Highlands State Park

Robbins Swamp Wildlife Management Area

Rocky Glen State Park

Rocky Neck State Park

Ross Marsh Wildlife Management Area

Ross Pond State Park

Salmon River State Forest

Salt Rock State Campground

Satan’s Kingdom State Recreation Area

Scantic River State Park

Selden Neck State Park

Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve

Shenipsit State Forest

Sherwood Island State Park

Silver Sands State Park

Simsbury Wildlife Management Area

Sleeping Giant State Park

Southford Falls waterfall with red covered bridge and autumn foliage in Connecticut

Southford Falls State Park

Squantz Pond State Park

Stillwater Pond State Park

Stoddard Hill State Park

Stratton Brook State Park

Suffield Wildlife Management Area

Sunnybrook State Park

Sunrise State Park

Talcott Mountain State Park

Tankerhoosen Wildlife Management Area

Topsmead State Forest

Tunxis State Forest

Wadsworth Falls State Park

West Rock Ridge State Park

Wharton Brook State Park

Windsor Locks Canal State Park

Windsor Meadows State Park

Wooster Mountain State Park

Wopowog Wildlife Management Area

Wyantenock State Forest

Zemko Pond Wildlife Management Area

Other Places with Fishing in Connecticut (Not State Parks)

These places are run by a county, city, federal agency, another state agency, a tribe or a private owner, not by Connecticut’s state park system. State park passes, rules and reservations may not apply, so check with the operator before you go.

Mianus River Park

Run by the towns of Greenwich and Stamford

Quinebaug Valley State Fish Hatchery

Run by CT DEEP Fisheries as a trout hatchery

Trout Brook Valley State Park Reserve

Run by the Aspetuck Land Trust

❓ Fishing in Connecticut — FAQ

Are there free fishing days in Connecticut?

Yes — May 9, 2026. On free fishing days no license is required; confirm the dates with the official Connecticut agency before your trip.