Sec.26-159a-4. Minimum lengths

(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 possess or land any fish of the following species taken by sport fishing methods, regardless of where taken, if it is less than the identified length as measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail:

(1) Scup (porgy) (Stenotomus chrysops): 10.5 inches, except that no person on a vessel operating under the authority of a party/charter vessel registration issued under section 26-142a of the Connecticut General Statutes shall possess or land fish less than 11 inches;

(2) Winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus): 12 inches;

(3) Summer flounder (fluke) (Paralichthys dentatus): 19.5 inches;

(4) Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua): the length specified in 50 CFR 648.89;

(5) Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus): the length specified in 50 CFR 648.89;

(6) Yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea): 13 inches;

(7) Tautog (blackfish) (Tautoga onitis): 14 inches;

(8) Pollock (Pollachius virens): the length specified in 50 CFR 648.89;

(9) Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis): 16 inches;

(10) Black sea bass (Centropristis striata): 12 inches;

(11) American eel (Anguilla rostrata): 6 inches;

(12) White perch (Morone Americana): 7 inches; and

(13) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis): 28 inches.

(b) Any of said species taken contrary to subsection (a) of this section shall, without avoidable injury, be returned immediately to the water from which taken. Culling or high-grading, as defined in section 26-142a-16 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, is prohibited, except in fishing tournaments granted an exemption by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26-159a-26 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. This subsection shall not be construed to prevent tagging and release of fish, other than striped bass, under a tagging program consistent with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's standards for scientific tagging programs.

(c) No person engaged in sport fishing shall possess any summer flounder fillet less than the minimum total length for the species unless the carcass of the fish from which the fillet was removed has been retained and meets the minimum length. This subsection shall not be construed to prevent filleting of fish on shore or at the dockside.

(Effective May 19, 1995; Amended October 23, 1997; Amended October 30, 1998; Amended December 27, 2000; Amended 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)