The Saybrook Point public access area has been added to the list of locations where anglers can take scup and summer flounder of reduced size under the Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Program.
The Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing 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 (see www.ct.gov/deep/saltwaterfishing). 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 on scup and summer flounder have been reduced at 45 public fishing access areas listed in the DEEP Coastal Access Guide (except the Tomlinson Bridge Fishing Pier is not yet in the 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 16 inches (compared to 18 inches otherwise) and scup may be taken at 9 inches (versus 10.5 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 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.
For further information, contact the DEEP Marine Fisheries Division by email at dep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov, by mail at PO Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or by telephone at 860.434.6043 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.