Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Program

This Marine Fisheries program is part of a broader Department effort to improve the fishing experience and quality of access to our Public Trust marine fisheries resources in Connecticut, especially in urban areas (also see Bonus Striped Bass Program). Shore-based fishing is the simplest and most affordable form of salt water fishing and a popular way to enjoy Connecticut’s coastline. At the same time, shore fishing is an opportunity to catch the evening’s meal. To that end, minimum size limits have been reduced for two abundant marine species at 41 public fishing access areas listed in the DEEP Coastal Access Guide. These sites offer good shore-based summer flounder and/or scup fishing opportunities in at least 18 different communities distributed from Stonington to Westport.

At these sites, summer flounder may be taken at 17 inches (compared to 19 inches otherwise) and scup may be taken at 8 inches (versus 9 inches), giving the shore angler at these sites a considerably better chance of taking home a meal or two. To aid law enforcement the sites chosen for this program are separate from any boat launches or marinas where boat caught fish may be present. It is important to the success and continuation of this program that anglers at these enhanced access sites take their catch directly home after fishing. Possession of these species under the standard minimum size at other locations is a violation and can result in significant fines.

Enhanced Shore Fishing Access Sites are locations where smaller summer flounder - fluke (17 inch minimum length) and scup (8 inch minimum length) may be taken.

Find an Enhanced Shore Fishing Access Site