What special fishing regulations apply at Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County)?

Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County) carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Connecticut's statewide 2026 rules, covering Striped bass (rockfish) and Summer flounder (fluke). One of them reads: "Eastern CT tidal estuaries; striped bass + tautog + scup + bluefish + summer flounder; Mashantucket Pequot + Mohegan tribal waters protected on listed reservation reaches; CT Marine Waters Fishing Licence (free) required." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County)'s special rules replace Connecticut's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Connecticut's statewide 2026 regulations apply on SE CT estuaries by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules 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.

Which species have special rules on SE CT estuaries?

Striped bass (rockfish) and Summer flounder (fluke) have a water-body-specific rule on Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County), each linking to its full Connecticut regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Connecticut limits.

2026 regulation year

Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County) 2026 — Connecticut Fishing Regulations

Connecticut statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 3, 2026

Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County) carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Connecticut's 2026 fishing rules — covering Striped bass (rockfish), Summer flounder (fluke). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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Watch Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County) (CT) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

Eastern CT tidal estuaries; striped bass + tautog + scup + bluefish + summer flounder; Mashantucket Pequot + Mohegan tribal waters protected on listed reservation reaches; CT Marine Waters Fishing Licence (free) required
Source: Connecticut special-water list

Per-species rules on Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County)

Striped bass (rockfish) regulations →
28–31 in slot, 1 / day; eastern CT estuaries
Summer flounder (fluke) regulations →
18 in min, 4 / day; eastern CT estuaries

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

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Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County)?: Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County) carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Connecticut's statewide 2026 rules, covering Striped bass (rockfish) and Summer flounder (fluke). One of them reads: "Eastern CT tidal estuaries; striped bass + tautog + scup + bluefish + summer flounder; Mashantucket Pequot + Mohegan tribal waters protected on listed reservation reaches; 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 Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County)?: Yes. Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County) 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 SE CT estuaries; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Connecticut rules.
Do Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County)'s special rules replace Connecticut's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Connecticut's statewide 2026 regulations apply on SE CT estuaries by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules 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.
Which species have special rules on SE CT estuaries?: Striped bass (rockfish) and Summer flounder (fluke) have a water-body-specific rule on Thames River + Mystic River + Stonington Harbor (New London County), each linking to its full Connecticut regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Connecticut limits.

← Back to Connecticut regulations overview