2026 regulation year
Long Island Sound — western basin 2026 — Connecticut Fishing Regulations
Connecticut statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Long Island Sound — western basin carries a special-regulation overlay on top of Connecticut's 2026 fishing rules. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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Watch Long Island Sound — western basin (CT) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.
State-level special regulation
CT DEEP Marine Fisheries jurisdiction; striped bass 28–31 in slot + 1 / day per ASMFC; summer flounder 18 in min + 4 / day; tautog 16 in min + 3 / day Oct 10 – Dec 31 + spring Apr 1 – Apr 30; scup 11 in min + 30 / day; black sea bass 16.5 in min + 5 / day; CT Marine Waters Fishing Licence (free) required
Source: Connecticut special-water list
Official source
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) — Inland Fisheries + Marine Fisheries Divisions publishes the authoritative 2026 Connecticut fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Connecticut fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection's emergency-order feed — check it before any Connecticut trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Connecticut
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Long Island Sound — western basin?
- Long Island Sound — western basin carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Connecticut's statewide 2026 rules. It reads: "CT DEEP Marine Fisheries jurisdiction; striped bass 28–31 in slot + 1 / day per ASMFC; summer flounder 18 in min + 4 / day; tautog 16 in min + 3 / day Oct 10 – Dec 31 + spring Apr 1 – Apr 30; scup 11 in min + 30 / day; black sea bass 16.5 in min + 5 / day; CT Marine Waters Fishing Licence (free) required." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Long Island Sound — western basin?
- Yes. Long Island Sound — western basin is in Connecticut, so a valid Connecticut fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) — Inland Fisheries + Marine Fisheries Divisions. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Long Island Sound; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Connecticut rules.
- Do Long Island Sound — western basin's special rules replace Connecticut's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Connecticut's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Long Island Sound by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.