Connecticut sells three licences where most states sell one or two: Inland, Marine, and All Waters covering both. Marine is remarkably cheap at ten dollars for a resident adult, which makes the Sound one of the better-value saltwater fisheries in New England. The trout and salmon stamp is the part people get wrong: it is required to fish a trout management area at all, not merely to keep a fish, so a catch-and-release afternoon still needs it.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Connecticut fishing fee
Licences run by calendar year and expire on 31 December.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine waters, one day, ages 16-17 | Resident | 1 day | $3.00 |
| Marine waters, one day, ages 18-64 | Resident | 1 day | $5.00 |
| Marine waters, three days | Visitor | 3 days | $8.00 |
| Inland waters, three days | Visitor | 3 days | $22.00 |
| Free licence, blind or disabled | Resident | Annual | Free |
| Marine waters, ages 16-17 | Resident | Annual | $5.00 |
| Marine waters, ages 18-64 | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Inland waters, ages 16-17 | Resident | Annual | $14.00 |
| Marine waters | Visitor | Annual | $15.00 |
| All waters, ages 16-17 | Resident | Annual | $16.00 |
| Inland waters, ages 18-64 | Resident | Annual | $28.00 |
| All waters, ages 18-64 Covers the inland and marine districts in one. | Resident | Annual | $32.00 |
| Firearms and all waters fishing | Resident | Annual | $40.00 |
| Inland waters | Visitor | Annual | $55.00 |
| All waters | Visitor | Annual | $63.00 |
| Archery and all waters fishing | Resident | Annual | $65.00 |
| Firearms and all waters fishing | Visitor | Annual | $120.00 |
The trout and salmon stamp is needed to fish a trout management area even catch-and-release, not only to keep fish.
Passing through? Connecticut sells no one-day licence. The shortest option for a visitor is 3 days at $8. Compare every state's day licence.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the Connecticut extras on top of the base licence, as CT DEEP lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trout and salmon stamp | Required to keep trout, kokanee or Atlantic salmon anywhere, and to fish the designated trout management areas at all. $3.00 for residents aged 16-17. | $5.00 |
| Personal use lobster licence | β | $60.00 |
A trout stamp is an endorsement, not a licence: it is useless without the licence above it. What it costs in every state, and the 26 that require none.
Fishing the coast? The Connecticut saltwater licence is a separate purchase with its own fees.
Do you need a fishing licence in Connecticut?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$28.00 a year if you live in Connecticut, $55.00 if you are visiting, for fresh water. Connecticut licenses fresh and salt water separately, so check which one your trip needs.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 16.
- Residents who are blind or have a qualifying disability.
- Everyone on the state free fishing day.
Nobody needs a licence on Connecticutβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official CT DEEP licensing page β
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 14 Connecticut waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Candlewood Lake β Fairfield County
- Housatonic River β Litchfield County
- Farmington River β Hartford County
- Bantam Lake β Litchfield County
- Lake Waramaug β Litchfield County
- Mansfield Hollow Lake β Tolland County
- Saugatuck Reservoir β Fairfield County
- Gardner Lake β New London County
- Highland Lake β Litchfield County
- Naugatuck River β Litchfield County
- Thames River β New London County
- Lake Lillinonah β Fairfield County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Connecticut?
$28.00 for a resident annual freshwater licence and $55.00 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in Connecticut?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $28.00 for a resident annual freshwater licence, $55.00 for a visitor. 3 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Connecticut?
From age 16. Anglers under 16 fish without one, though the other rules, bag limits and catch record cards included, still apply to them.
Can I buy a Connecticut fishing licence online?
Yes. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection sells online and through licence agents.
Do I need separate freshwater and saltwater licences in Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut sells them separately, so fishing both sides means either two licences or the combined option listed in the fee table.
Do I need the trout stamp if I release everything?
In a Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area, Trout Park or Atlantic Salmon Management Area, yes. The stamp is required to fish those waters at all, not only to keep fish.
Which Connecticut licence do I need?
Inland for the rivers and lakes, Marine for Long Island Sound and the tidal rivers, All Waters if you want both on one licence. All Waters costs only a few dollars more than Inland alone.