HARTFORD — Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) is nearing completion of its 2021 fall stockings of Atlantic salmon. DEEP’s Fisheries Division began stocking Atlantic salmon in early October, and nearly 1,400 salmon have been released so far with close to 150 left to stock.
The upper Naugatuck River (281 salmon), lower Naugatuck River (311 salmon), Shetucket River (602 salmon), Crystal Lake (100 salmon) and Mount Tom Pond (100 salmon) have all been stocked at least once; most river sections have been stocked up to four times already. Most of these fish ranged in weight from 2-6 pounds each, though some larger fish were also stocked. Later this month, DEEP expects to stock close to 150 more salmon. These fish will generally range in weight from 6 to 20 pounds each.
These Atlantic salmon stockings provide an exceptional fishing opportunity for the state’s anglers.
“Atlantic Salmon are renowned for their size, beauty and fighting ability,” said Pete Aarrestad, Director of DEEP’s Fisheries Division. “The Atlantic Salmon recreational fishery has become quite popular, and catching one of these large leapers provides a thrilling experience for anglers.”
DEEP reminds anglers of a change to regulations concerning fishing seasons for Atlantic salmon for 2021. The catch-and-release season for Atlantic salmon stocked into the Naugatuck and Shetucket rivers will run through December 15.
This change to the catch-and-release season was made based on the results of a survey sent to approximately 25,000 license holders and also posted on DEEP’s Fish & Wildlife Facebook page back in 2019. Approximately two-thirds of the 2,500 anglers who responded to the survey were in favor of extending the catch-and-release season. This survey was originally prompted by requests from salmon anglers for the catch-and-release season to be extended by one month or longer.
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