Connecticut sets Winter II commercial limits: 5,000 pounds of fluke a week, 500 pounds of sea bass

Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) set new commercial possession limits that took effect at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, according to a Marine Fisheries notice dated Oct. 30.

Holders of a Summer Flounder License Endorsement may land 5,000 pounds of summer flounder per week, with call-in and call-out to Encon (860-424-3503) required. Black Sea Bass endorsement holders are limited to 500 pounds. As of Oct. 29, DEEP estimated 62.9% of the state's 2026 commercial summer flounder quota and 68.4% of its black sea bass quota had been landed. Scup is at 12,000 pounds for NOAA's Winter II period (Oct. 1 to Dec. 31), with no scup endorsement needed.

Commercial tautog stays open through Dec. 24, and tagging is required: 3 fish under the creel-limited licenses and 10 fish under a Principal or non-creel-limited General Commercial Fishing License. American lobster remains closed to all gear, recreational and commercial, in Lobster Management Area 6 (Long Island Sound) through Nov. 28.

Other limits in the notice are 12,000 pounds of Atlantic menhaden (call in above 6,000 pounds), 1,000 pounds of bluefish, 500 pounds of smooth dogfish, 7,500 pounds of spiny dogfish, 100 pounds of weakfish, and 50 pounds or 38 winter flounder unless taken in federal waters under a federal groundfish permit.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: CT DEEP Marine Fisheries News N26-15: Winter II Commercial Fishery Possession Limits (Oct. 30, 2026).