Connecticut fishing license
Connecticut requires a recreational fishing license from age 16. The state licenses freshwater and saltwater fishing. The current license year is 2026 (January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026).
Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) · Reviewed July 30, 2026
Your likely official license
Yes — a licence is required. For a 1-day non-resident freshwater trip in Connecticut, the official match is Inland Waters Fishing License, three consecutive days (Non-resident age 16 or older).
- Inland Waters Fishing License, three consecutive days (Non-resident age 16 or older)$22 · Three consecutive days.
What it covers
- Inland Waters Fishing License, three consecutive days (Non-resident age 16 or older) — freshwater. Fee published on the DEEP Fisheries Licenses and Permits page and in the 2026 Connecticut Fishing Guide.Limits on this license: Available to nonresidents only; valid in the Inland District.
Required add-ons
No stamp or endorsement is attached to this licence for your residency, age and trip length. Check “You may also need” below for requirements that depend on where and what you fish.
You may also need
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) publishes these for the water you selected. Whether one applies depends on what you fish for and where — something this tool does not ask.
- Trout and Salmon Stamp (CT resident age 16 or 17) — Required for all persons age 16 and older who keep (harvest) any trout, kokanee or Atlantic salmon from any water, or who fish in a Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area (Class 1, 2 or 3), Trout Park or Atlantic Salmon Management Area. · $3
- Trout and Salmon Stamp (CT resident age 18 and over) — Required for all persons age 16 and older who keep (harvest) any trout, kokanee or Atlantic salmon from any water, or who fish in a Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area, Trout Park or Atlantic Salmon Management Area. · $5
- Trout and Salmon Stamp (Non-resident age 16 or older) — Required for non-residents age 16 and older who keep trout, kokanee or Atlantic salmon, or who fish in a Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area, Trout Park or Atlantic Salmon Management Area. · $5
Why this answer
- You selected non-resident status, age 35, freshwater fishing, for 1 day.
- Inland Waters Fishing License, three consecutive days (Non-resident age 16 or older) covers the full trip: Three consecutive days.
Other options you are eligible for
- Inland Waters Only Fishing License (Non-resident age 16 or older) — $55 for this trip · Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.Valid in the Inland District only.
- All Waters Fishing License (Non-resident age 16 or older) — $63 for this trip · Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.Person may fish in both the Inland and Marine Districts.
Reduced-fee and free licenses, if you qualify (1, from No charge)
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) offers these to anglers who meet specific criteria — such as a disability, veteran or military status, low income, or tribal membership. We cannot check whether they apply to you, so they are never used as the answer above.
- Free Fishing License - loss or permanent loss of use of one or more limbs — No charge · Permits and stamps are not included. Verification of the disability signed by a licensed physician must be presented. Available at DEEP's Licensing and Revenue office and participating town clerk offices. Qualified non-residents are eligible only if their own state provides the same privilege to Connecticut residents.
Exceptions that may change it
- Connecticut has a free fishing day coming up on August 8, 2026 (Free Fishing License Day 2); May 9, 2026 (Family Fishing Day (Free Fishing Day)) and June 21, 2026 (Free Fishing License Day 1) have already passed. No licence is required on a free fishing day; other rules still apply.
- Inland Waters Fishing License, three consecutive days (Non-resident age 16 or older): Available to nonresidents only; valid in the Inland District.
- Passengers on a party or charter fishing vessel registered as such with CT DEEP and fishing in the marine district are exempt from the Marine Waters Fishing License requirement.
- Under reciprocity agreements with Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, anglers holding a valid marine waters fishing licence in any of those states may fish in Connecticut's marine district and land marine fish in Connecticut.
- No fishing licence is required for a student attending a Connecticut secondary school while participating in a fishing event or field trip authorised in writing by the DEEP Commissioner, where the trip is conducted by the school to provide instruction in fishing techniques as part of a course of instruction (CGS 26-27).
- This answer covers the licence only. Season, size, bag and waterbody rules still apply and change through the year.
We do not sell licenses and take no commission. This goes to the state agency.
Check current Connecticut regulations(external, opens the official state website)Seasons, size limits, bag limits and waterbody closures are not covered by this tool and change through the year.
- Source
- Fisheries Licenses, Permits, and Related Products - CT DEEP(external, opens the official state website) — Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
- Validity
- 2026 · January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
- Reviewed
- July 30, 2026
Answers at a glance
Common trips, answered from the same official record the checker uses. These assume an adult with no special circumstances — set your own age, water and trip above.
Visiting for a day
Adult visiting from another state · freshwater · one day
Inland Waters Fishing License, three consecutive days (Non-resident age 16 or older)
Published total: $22
Resident for the season
Adult Connecticut resident · freshwater · all year
Inland Waters Only Fishing License (CT resident age 18 to 64)
Published total: $28
Visiting for a saltwater day
Adult visiting from another state · saltwater · one day
Marine Waters Fishing License, three consecutive days (Non-resident age 16 and older)
Published total: $8
Age and residency rules
Who counts as a resident. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) does not publish a definition we could quote.
Age-based rules
- A fishing licence is not required for anyone under age 16; licences are required for all persons age 16 and older.
License options
| License | Who | Water | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Waters Fishing License (CT resident age 16 or 17)(external, opens the official state website)Person may fish in both the Inland and Marine Districts. | ResidentConnecticut residents age 16 or 17 pay a 50% discounted rate. | freshwater and saltwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | $16 |
| All Waters Fishing License (CT resident age 18 to 64)(external, opens the official state website)Person may fish in both the Inland and Marine Districts. DEEP does not publish a discounted or free All Waters licence for residents 65 and over; instead residents 65+ may obtain the free Inland and free Marine licences separately. | ResidentConnecticut residents age 18 to 64. | freshwater and saltwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | $32 |
| All Waters Fishing License (Non-resident age 16 or older)(external, opens the official state website)Person may fish in both the Inland and Marine Districts. | Non-residentNon-resident age 16 or older; there is no youth or senior discount for non-residents. | freshwater and saltwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | $63 |
| Inland Waters Only Fishing License (CT resident age 16 or 17)(external, opens the official state website)Valid in the Inland District only. | ResidentConnecticut residents age 16 or 17 pay a 50% discounted rate. | freshwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | $14 |
| Inland Waters Only Fishing License (CT resident age 18 to 64)(external, opens the official state website)Valid in the Inland District only. | ResidentConnecticut residents age 18 to 64; free for residents age 65 and older. | freshwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | $28 |
| Inland Waters Only Fishing License (Non-resident age 16 or older)(external, opens the official state website)Valid in the Inland District only. | Non-residentNon-resident age 16 or older. | freshwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | $55 |
| Inland Waters Fishing License, three consecutive days (Non-resident age 16 or older)(external, opens the official state website)Available to nonresidents only; valid in the Inland District. | Non-residentNon-resident age 16 or older; available to nonresidents only. | freshwater | Three consecutive days. | $22 |
| Marine Waters Only Fishing License (CT resident age 16 or 17)(external, opens the official state website)Required for fishing from shore or from a boat in the marine district, or landing marine fish or bait species in Connecticut taken from offshore waters. | ResidentConnecticut residents age 16 or 17 pay a 50% discounted rate. | saltwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | $5 |
| Marine Waters Only Fishing License (CT resident age 18 to 64)(external, opens the official state website)Required for fishing from shore or from a boat in the marine district, or landing marine fish or bait species in Connecticut taken from offshore waters. Also required for recreational cast nets, minnow traps, dip nets, umbrella nets, seines, eel pots and spearfishing. | ResidentConnecticut residents age 18 to 64; free for residents age 65 and older. | saltwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | $10 |
| Marine Waters Fishing License, one day (CT resident age 16 or 17)(external, opens the official state website)Marine district only. | ResidentConnecticut residents age 16 or 17. | saltwater | One-day marine licence. | $3 |
| Marine Waters Fishing License, one day (CT resident age 18 to 64)(external, opens the official state website)Marine district only. DEEP does not publish an equivalent one-day inland licence for residents. | ResidentConnecticut residents age 18 to 64. | saltwater | One-day marine licence. | $5 |
| Marine Waters Only Fishing License (Non-resident age 16 or older)(external, opens the official state website)Marine district only. Anglers holding a valid marine waters fishing licence from Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or New York may fish Connecticut's marine district under reciprocity without buying this licence. | Non-residentNon-resident age 16 or older. | saltwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | $15 |
| Marine Waters Fishing License, three consecutive days (Non-resident age 16 and older)(external, opens the official state website)Available to nonresidents only; valid in the marine district. | Non-residentNon-resident age 16 and older; available to nonresidents only. | saltwater | Three consecutive days. | $8 |
| Inland Waters Only Fishing License (CT resident age 65 and older)(external, opens the official state website)Free but must still be obtained and renewed every year - online, at participating town halls, or at DEEP offices. The Trout and Salmon Stamp is not included and must be bought separately when required. | ResidentCT resident age 65 or older only. | freshwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st; requires annual renewal. | No charge |
| Marine Waters Only Fishing License (CT resident age 65 and older)(external, opens the official state website)DEEP: "The license is free for resident anglers age 65 and older, but a new license must be obtained every year. This is needed to meet the requirements for exemption from a federal registry." | ResidentCT resident age 65 or older only. | saltwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st; requires annual renewal. | No charge |
| Free Fishing License - blind or intellectually disabled CT resident(external, opens the official state website)Issuance requires proof of disability in the form of a certificate provided by any person licensed to practice medicine in Connecticut. Available at DEEP offices or a designated vendor; first-time applicants should contact DEEP Licensing and Revenue at 860-424-3105 for documentation instructions. | Resident | freshwater and saltwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | No charge |
| Free Fishing License - loss or permanent loss of use of one or more limbs(external, opens the official state website)Permits and stamps are not included. Verification of the disability signed by a licensed physician must be presented. Available at DEEP's Licensing and Revenue office and participating town clerk offices. Qualified non-residents are eligible only if their own state provides the same privilege to Connecticut residents. | Resident or visitor | freshwater and saltwater | Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st. | No charge |
All Waters Fishing License (CT resident age 16 or 17)(external, opens the official state website)
Person may fish in both the Inland and Marine Districts.
- Who
- Resident · Connecticut residents age 16 or 17 pay a 50% discounted rate.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- $16
All Waters Fishing License (CT resident age 18 to 64)(external, opens the official state website)
Person may fish in both the Inland and Marine Districts. DEEP does not publish a discounted or free All Waters licence for residents 65 and over; instead residents 65+ may obtain the free Inland and free Marine licences separately.
- Who
- Resident · Connecticut residents age 18 to 64.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- $32
Person may fish in both the Inland and Marine Districts.
- Who
- Non-resident · Non-resident age 16 or older; there is no youth or senior discount for non-residents.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- $63
Valid in the Inland District only.
- Who
- Resident · Connecticut residents age 16 or 17 pay a 50% discounted rate.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- $14
Valid in the Inland District only.
- Who
- Resident · Connecticut residents age 18 to 64; free for residents age 65 and older.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- $28
Valid in the Inland District only.
- Who
- Non-resident · Non-resident age 16 or older.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- $55
Available to nonresidents only; valid in the Inland District.
- Who
- Non-resident · Non-resident age 16 or older; available to nonresidents only.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Three consecutive days.
- Price
- $22
Required for fishing from shore or from a boat in the marine district, or landing marine fish or bait species in Connecticut taken from offshore waters.
- Who
- Resident · Connecticut residents age 16 or 17 pay a 50% discounted rate.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- $5
Required for fishing from shore or from a boat in the marine district, or landing marine fish or bait species in Connecticut taken from offshore waters. Also required for recreational cast nets, minnow traps, dip nets, umbrella nets, seines, eel pots and spearfishing.
- Who
- Resident · Connecticut residents age 18 to 64; free for residents age 65 and older.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- $10
Marine district only.
- Who
- Resident · Connecticut residents age 16 or 17.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- One-day marine licence.
- Price
- $3
Marine district only. DEEP does not publish an equivalent one-day inland licence for residents.
- Who
- Resident · Connecticut residents age 18 to 64.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- One-day marine licence.
- Price
- $5
Marine district only. Anglers holding a valid marine waters fishing licence from Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or New York may fish Connecticut's marine district under reciprocity without buying this licence.
- Who
- Non-resident · Non-resident age 16 or older.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- $15
Available to nonresidents only; valid in the marine district.
- Who
- Non-resident · Non-resident age 16 and older; available to nonresidents only.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- Three consecutive days.
- Price
- $8
Free but must still be obtained and renewed every year - online, at participating town halls, or at DEEP offices. The Trout and Salmon Stamp is not included and must be bought separately when required.
- Who
- Resident · CT resident age 65 or older only.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st; requires annual renewal.
- Price
- No charge
DEEP: "The license is free for resident anglers age 65 and older, but a new license must be obtained every year. This is needed to meet the requirements for exemption from a federal registry."
- Who
- Resident · CT resident age 65 or older only.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st; requires annual renewal.
- Price
- No charge
Issuance requires proof of disability in the form of a certificate provided by any person licensed to practice medicine in Connecticut. Available at DEEP offices or a designated vendor; first-time applicants should contact DEEP Licensing and Revenue at 860-424-3105 for documentation instructions.
- Who
- Resident
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- No charge
Permits and stamps are not included. Verification of the disability signed by a licensed physician must be presented. Available at DEEP's Licensing and Revenue office and participating town clerk offices. Qualified non-residents are eligible only if their own state provides the same privilege to Connecticut residents.
- Who
- Resident or visitor
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Issued on a calendar year basis and expires on December 31st.
- Price
- No charge
Freshwater and saltwater
Connecticut licenses freshwater and saltwater fishing. Check which waters your license covers before you fish — a freshwater license does not cover saltwater unless the option explicitly says it does.
State license vs federal registry. Connecticut's Marine Waters Fishing License is designed to satisfy the requirements for an exemption from the federal National Saltwater Angler Registry, and NOAA Fisheries lists Connecticut as an exempt state. DEEP submits licence holders' contact information to the registry under an exemption agreement with NOAA. Anglers age 65+ must renew the free marine licence every year to keep the exemption. Enrolling in the federal registry alone does not allow fishing in Connecticut's marine waters.
Stamps, endorsements and report cards
- Trout and Salmon Stamp (CT resident age 16 or 17) — Required for all persons age 16 and older who keep (harvest) any trout, kokanee or Atlantic salmon from any water, or who fish in a Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area (Class 1, 2 or 3), Trout Park or Atlantic Salmon Management Area. · $3
- Trout and Salmon Stamp (CT resident age 18 and over) — Required for all persons age 16 and older who keep (harvest) any trout, kokanee or Atlantic salmon from any water, or who fish in a Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area, Trout Park or Atlantic Salmon Management Area. · $5
- Trout and Salmon Stamp (Non-resident age 16 or older) — Required for non-residents age 16 and older who keep trout, kokanee or Atlantic salmon, or who fish in a Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area, Trout Park or Atlantic Salmon Management Area. · $5
Exemptions worth knowing
- Passengers on a party or charter fishing vessel registered as such with CT DEEP and fishing in the marine district are exempt from the Marine Waters Fishing License requirement.
- Under reciprocity agreements with Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, anglers holding a valid marine waters fishing licence in any of those states may fish in Connecticut's marine district and land marine fish in Connecticut. Still required: The angler must hold a valid marine waters fishing licence issued by Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or New York. Connecticut residents must hold a valid Connecticut marine waters fishing licence and cannot rely on reciprocity, and enrolment in the federal registry alone does not satisfy the requirement.
- On Family Fishing Day (Free Fishing Day) no fishing licence is required anywhere in Connecticut.
- On Connecticut's two Free Fishing License Days the licence fee is waived, but anyone fishing must still obtain a free one-day all-waters fishing licence. Still required: Participants must get a free 1-day licence from the DEEP online licensing system; the free licence becomes available starting 3 weeks prior to each date. All other fishing regulations remain in effect.
- No fishing licence is required for a student attending a Connecticut secondary school while participating in a fishing event or field trip authorised in writing by the DEEP Commissioner, where the trip is conducted by the school to provide instruction in fishing techniques as part of a course of instruction (CGS 26-27). Still required: The secondary school must apply to DEEP Inland Fisheries for written authorisation at least one month before the trip, supplying the school name, instructor, course name and description, and the approximate number of students.
Free fishing days
- Family Fishing Day (Free Fishing Day) — May 9, 2026. DEEP: "Saturday May 9, 2026 is Free Fishing Day. No fishing license is required."
- Free Fishing License Day 1 — June 21, 2026. The fee is waived but a free 1-day licence must be obtained from the DEEP licensing system; it becomes available 3 weeks prior to the date.
- Free Fishing License Day 2 — August 8, 2026. The fee is waived but a free 1-day licence must be obtained from the DEEP licensing system; it becomes available 3 weeks prior to the date.
Where this comes from
- Primary source
- Fisheries Licenses, Permits, and Related Products - CT DEEP(external, opens the official state website) — Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
- Retrieved
- July 26, 2026
- Reviewed
- July 30, 2026
- Also consulted
- Saltwater (Marine Waters Fishing) License Frequently Asked Questions(external, opens the official state website)
- About Connecticut's Fishing Licenses(external, opens the official state website)
- Freshwater Fishing Guide - Licenses and Permits(external, opens the official state website)
- Trout and Salmon Stamp(external, opens the official state website)
- National Saltwater Angler Registry(external, opens the official state website)
Found something out of date? Email corrections@fishinglicensecheck.com and tell us which figure and which page — see corrections.
Nearby states
Licenses are issued state by state — a Connecticut license does not carry its own rules across the border, so if your trip crosses one, check both states.