Connecticut Resident Marine Fishing Back to $10 Posted by Shore Publishing on Oct 15 2009, 11:33 AM
Filed under: captain morgan
The roller coaster ride (seemingly without tracks) continues as the Connecticut legislature appears stuck on a haphazard route of establishing fees. Listening to little input from anglers and disregarding input from the Department of
Environmental Protection, we now have a system of fees in place that needs much bandaging.
We’ve seen our resident marine fishing license launch in June at $10, increase to $30, and go back down to $10 in October! In the process, a newly implemented $15 one-day resident license has been eliminated for obvious reasons, as was the $50 marine fishing/firearms one. This does not bode well in the face of anglers who comprise a large part of the electorate and endorse fish and wildlife conservation.
Not with standing, at press time, we now have a ridiculous $60 non-resident season marine license in place, while New York’s license, for example, is only $15. Granted, the budget deficit is causing practically all fees to double, however, there are practical limits. In theory, formulas work but in reality one must pay attention to the end result and ultimate effects.
Unless certain fees are adjusted, Connecticut revenues (as well as many trickle-down businesses) will experience negative results. For example, during the key Columbus Day holiday weekend, many potential visitors to Hammonasset State Park
re-thought their plans after
learning of its increased fees. Add a
non-resident marine license (even a $24 three-day), food, etc., to the equation and, in this economic climate, it became unaffordable. A loss for everyone!
There is still time for the legislature to implement more changes before its session ends, bringing our fishing fees more in line with our neighboring states and more palatable to anglers. After all, isn’t there a point at which the golden goose stops laying eggs?
On the Water
October continued with its typical wind, building seas, and stormy weather. The Sound, with water temperatures fluctuating from 59 to 67 degrees, calmed partially through the Columbus Day weekend, opening a window for anglers to pursue their fall fishing. Limited pretty much to bass, blues, and blackfish/tautog and periods of albie/bonito runs, concentration on these species has been very focused.
Stripers in excess of 45 pounds have moved in and been caught using live and frozen baits. Inshore fishing has picked up during both periods of light and low light with darker plugs used
effectively at night. Offshore reefs continue to produce plenty of bass in the 20-pound range with lone “cows” being the exception. Look to Faulkner’s, Charles, Southwest, and Six Mile, winds
permitting.
Alligator blues are everywhere, tearing into chunks, jigs, ‘brellas, trolled lures, and gear. Top water action has ratcheted up on both the reefs and from shore, however, with limited bait driven into the tidal rivers, shore anglers can improve catches by chumming. Large snappers are running deep and are more apt to hit shiners and/or heavier lures.
Blackfish/tautog are taking crabs and clams by the breakwalls from Clinton to New Haven with some of the best fishing at Madison, Charles, Kimberly, and Southwest reefs. Fish 6 to 12 pounds are turned on now that water temperatures have cooled. Look for action to pick up further in the next week.
Atlantic broodstock salmon will be released this week into the Shetucket and Naugatuck rivers including Crystal Lake and Mount Tom Pond. The rivers will receive 1,100 fish and the lakes 200 of these two- to three-year-olds measuring 13 to 16 inches and weighing from two to five pounds. This is an increase of about 800 salmon released compared to the approximate 300 in previous years. River trout fishing is good throughout Connecticut with Lake Quonnipaug scheduled for a fall stocking this week which will crank up that action.
For all things fishy including licenses, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...
Tight Lines,
Captain Morgan
Filed under: captain morgan
The roller coaster ride (seemingly without tracks) continues as the Connecticut legislature appears stuck on a haphazard route of establishing fees. Listening to little input from anglers and disregarding input from the Department of
Environmental Protection, we now have a system of fees in place that needs much bandaging.
We’ve seen our resident marine fishing license launch in June at $10, increase to $30, and go back down to $10 in October! In the process, a newly implemented $15 one-day resident license has been eliminated for obvious reasons, as was the $50 marine fishing/firearms one. This does not bode well in the face of anglers who comprise a large part of the electorate and endorse fish and wildlife conservation.
Not with standing, at press time, we now have a ridiculous $60 non-resident season marine license in place, while New York’s license, for example, is only $15. Granted, the budget deficit is causing practically all fees to double, however, there are practical limits. In theory, formulas work but in reality one must pay attention to the end result and ultimate effects.
Unless certain fees are adjusted, Connecticut revenues (as well as many trickle-down businesses) will experience negative results. For example, during the key Columbus Day holiday weekend, many potential visitors to Hammonasset State Park
re-thought their plans after
learning of its increased fees. Add a
non-resident marine license (even a $24 three-day), food, etc., to the equation and, in this economic climate, it became unaffordable. A loss for everyone!
There is still time for the legislature to implement more changes before its session ends, bringing our fishing fees more in line with our neighboring states and more palatable to anglers. After all, isn’t there a point at which the golden goose stops laying eggs?
On the Water
October continued with its typical wind, building seas, and stormy weather. The Sound, with water temperatures fluctuating from 59 to 67 degrees, calmed partially through the Columbus Day weekend, opening a window for anglers to pursue their fall fishing. Limited pretty much to bass, blues, and blackfish/tautog and periods of albie/bonito runs, concentration on these species has been very focused.
Stripers in excess of 45 pounds have moved in and been caught using live and frozen baits. Inshore fishing has picked up during both periods of light and low light with darker plugs used
effectively at night. Offshore reefs continue to produce plenty of bass in the 20-pound range with lone “cows” being the exception. Look to Faulkner’s, Charles, Southwest, and Six Mile, winds
permitting.
Alligator blues are everywhere, tearing into chunks, jigs, ‘brellas, trolled lures, and gear. Top water action has ratcheted up on both the reefs and from shore, however, with limited bait driven into the tidal rivers, shore anglers can improve catches by chumming. Large snappers are running deep and are more apt to hit shiners and/or heavier lures.
Blackfish/tautog are taking crabs and clams by the breakwalls from Clinton to New Haven with some of the best fishing at Madison, Charles, Kimberly, and Southwest reefs. Fish 6 to 12 pounds are turned on now that water temperatures have cooled. Look for action to pick up further in the next week.
Atlantic broodstock salmon will be released this week into the Shetucket and Naugatuck rivers including Crystal Lake and Mount Tom Pond. The rivers will receive 1,100 fish and the lakes 200 of these two- to three-year-olds measuring 13 to 16 inches and weighing from two to five pounds. This is an increase of about 800 salmon released compared to the approximate 300 in previous years. River trout fishing is good throughout Connecticut with Lake Quonnipaug scheduled for a fall stocking this week which will crank up that action.
For all things fishy including licenses, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...
Tight Lines,
Captain Morgan