Connecticut fisheries managers decided to extend their creative solutions to the sea bass overharvest through the 2025 season. After NOAA dropped the hammer on a coastwide overharvest in 2022, lawmakers in Connecticut used some Yankee ingenuity to weave a sea bass season through the year without having to drop bag limits or increase minimum size limits. The trick was closing the season for two weeks at the beginning of the summer.
This closure will take effect on June 24th and runs through July 7th, with the season reopening on July 8th. After reopening, the fishery will remain open through November 25. This closure will not affect party and charter boats. The for-hire fleet will be allowed to continue fishing through the recreational closure and, later in the season, they will also enjoy a bump in bag limit to seven fish starting September 1. In addition to the fall bag limit boost, for-hire boats will be allowed to continue fishing for sea bass through December 31.
If you really want to get in on some sea bass fishing in Connecticut waters during the closure, you’ll have to fish aboard a licensed party or charter boat, please consider leafing through our reports section and taking a trip with any of our affiliated captains. As they say, the best way to learn a fishery is to “go with a pro”. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until the season reopens on July 8. Recreational anglers should also keep in mind that New York waters open on June 23 which effectively gives us one day of open sea bass fishing on the entirety of Long Island Sound before Connecticut closes for two weeks. Please be aware, that even if you hook and land sea bass in New York waters, you cannot legally transport your catch into Connecticut waters under any circumstances.
