If you’re 16 or older, you need a fishing license in Connecticut to fish any inland or marine water in the state. A resident freshwater license costs $28 for the year, a marine license runs $10, and a combined all-waters license is $32. Non-residents, short-term visitors, and anyone planning to keep trout or salmon have their own pricing to work through.
Who Needs a License
Connecticut General Statutes Section 26-27 requires everyone 16 and older, resident or not, to hold a valid license before taking or attempting to take any fish or bait species. That applies whether you’re on shore, in a boat, or landing saltwater fish. A separate provision, Section 26-28b, extends the marine license requirement to fish caught in federal waters or another state’s waters and brought back to Connecticut.1Justia. Connecticut Code 26-27 – Licenses Required for Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Exceptions2Justia. Connecticut Code 26-28b – Marine Waters Fishing License Exemptions
Who Is Exempt
A license is not required in these situations:1Justia. Connecticut Code 26-27 – Licenses Required for Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Exceptions3Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Frequently Asked Questions
- Children under 16.
- Connecticut residents fishing on land they own or lease and live on, along with their spouse and direct descendants, as long as the property isn’t used for club or commercial fishing.
- Passengers fishing from a registered party or charter vessel operating solely in the marine district.
- Anyone operating a boat while others on board fish.
- Participants in a free, one-day fishing derby run by a nonprofit civic organization and authorized by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection.
- Students on a commissioner-authorized secondary school fishing trip designed as instruction.
- People fishing under an organization’s group fishing license at an authorized event.
Residents who are legally blind, have an intellectual disability, or have lost the use of one or more limbs are not fully exempt but can get a free license through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).4Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Fisheries Licenses and Permits
License Types and Costs
Every Connecticut fishing license expires on December 31, no matter when you buy it. There are three annual categories plus short-term permits for visitors.4Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Fisheries Licenses and Permits
Inland (Freshwater)
- Resident 18–64: $28
- Resident 16–17: $14
- Resident 65+: free, but must renew each year
- Non-resident 16+: $55
Marine (Saltwater)
- Resident 18–64: $10
- Resident 16–17: $5
- Resident 65+: free, but must renew each year
- Non-resident 16+: $15
Non-residents from other New England states or New York may qualify for the resident marine rate if their home state offers Connecticut anglers the same treatment.
All Waters (Inland Plus Marine)
- Resident 18–64: $32
- Resident 16–17: $16
- Non-resident 16+: $63
Short-Term Permits
A one-day resident marine license is $5. Non-residents can buy a three-consecutive-day marine license for $8 or a three-day inland license for $22.
The Trout and Salmon Stamp
The regular license isn’t the whole story if trout or salmon are on your list. Connecticut requires a separate trout and salmon stamp, $5 for adults and $3 for residents aged 16–17, to keep trout, kokanee, or Atlantic salmon anywhere in the state. You also need the stamp just to fish in designated Trout Management Areas, Wild Trout Management Areas, Trout Parks, and Atlantic Salmon Management Areas, even if you release every fish. In other stocked waters and trophy trout areas, the stamp is only required if you intend to keep what you catch. The stamp expires with the license on December 31.
How to Buy One
DEEP’s Online Outdoor Licensing System is open around the clock and is the fastest option. You can also buy in person at outdoor retailers, some town halls, and select DEEP offices. You’ll need your name, address, and date of birth, and resident applicants need proof of Connecticut residency. Online licenses are electronically signed, so a copy on your phone is enough — no printout required.5Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Hunting Licenses and Permits
Free Fishing Days in 2026
Connecticut sets aside three days a year when the license requirement is waived:4Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Fisheries Licenses and Permits
- Saturday, May 9, 2026: Free Fishing Day. No license needed at all.
- Sunday, June 21, 2026: Free Fishing License Day. Claim a free one-day license through the state’s online system in advance.
- Saturday, August 8, 2026: Free Fishing License Day. Same online process; the free one-day license becomes available roughly three weeks before the date.
Everything else still applies on these days: size limits, creel limits, gear rules, and season restrictions.
Penalties for Fishing Without One
The fine for fishing without a valid license is $87. First-time offenders get a break: if you buy the required license after being cited but before the fine is imposed, the court will suspend the fine and dismiss the case. That relief is one-time only and doesn’t apply if you were previously suspended or disqualified.6Justia. Connecticut Code 26-64 – Fine for Violations
Fraudulently obtaining a license, or fishing while suspended, carries a $100 to $200 fine plus an indefinite suspension of hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges. Continuing to fish during that suspension is a class D misdemeanor, and repeat offenses become a class A misdemeanor.7Justia. Connecticut Code 26-61 – Suspension of Licenses and Registrations
What a License Doesn’t Cover
Buying a license makes your fishing legal, but it doesn’t override species rules. Minimum lengths, daily creel limits, and open seasons apply separately, and any fish that doesn’t meet the requirements has to go back in the water immediately.8Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Saltwater Fishing Guide – Species Regulations Line and gear limits also vary by water type, with tighter rules in Trout Management Areas, Wild Trout Management Areas, Trout Parks, Sea-run Trout Streams, and Trophy Trout Areas. The current Connecticut Fishing Guide published by DEEP is the place to check before you head out, since specifics change year to year.