Sec.26-159a-20. Closed recreational fishing seasons

(a) No person, while on the waters of this state or on any parcel of land, structure, or portion of a roadway abutting tidal waters of this state shall take, possess or land any of the following species taken by sport fishing methods, regardless of where taken, during the following periods.

(1) Scup (porgy) (Stenotomus chrysops): For persons on a vessel operating under the authority of a party/charter vessel registration issued under section 26-142a of the Connecticut General Statutes, October 16 to June 11, inclusive; for all other persons, September 27 to May 23, inclusive;

(2) Tautog (Tautoga onitis): May 1 to June 30, September 1 to September 30, and December 7 to December 31, all dates inclusive;

(3) Summer flounder (fluke) (Paralichthys dentatus): September 2 to May 23, inclusive; and;

(4) Winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus): May 31 to March 31, inclusive.

(b) Any of said species taken contrary to subsection (a) of this section shall, without avoidable injury, be returned immediately to the waters from which it was taken. This subsection shall not be construed to prevent tagging and release of fish under a tagging program consistent with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's standards for scientific tagging programs.

(c) This section shall not be construed to restrict the possession of legally acquired fish in storage in the home or other storage facilities, or in a commercial storage facility where seafood is handled, stored, processed or marketed.

(Adopted effective January 28, 2002; Amended March 31, 2003; Amended February 26, 2004; Amended April 26, 2005; Amended December 27, 2006; Amended January 25, 2007; Amended September 27, 2007; Amended December 22, 2008)