Fishing at Sherwood Island

You can fish at Sherwood Island State Park all year, but where depends on the date. From April 15 to September 30, fishing is allowed only from Sherwood Point and the East and West jetties, so anglers stay clear of swimmers. From October 1 to April 14 the whole beach opens to fishing, from 8 a.m. to sunset only. DEEP lists striped bass, bluefish, blackfish, scup and summer and winter flounder.

Why Fish Here

Sherwood Island sits on a saltwater estuary: the fresh water of New Creek and Mill Creek flows out and mixes with Long Island Sound. DEEP says the waters off the park "teem with marine life," and the rock jetties concentrate bait and the fish that chase it. You can cast from the jetties' rocks or, in the off-season, from the sand.

Where You Can Fish, and When

• April 15 – September 30 (open season): fishing is allowed at Sherwood Point, the East Jetty and the West Jetty only. The swimming beaches are off limits to anglers.
• October 1 – April 14 (off-season): the entire beach is open to fishing, 8 a.m. to sunset only. There is no night fishing.

DEEP's park map marks the fishing areas, a stone jetty and a wood jetty. Park in the East Beach lot for the East Jetty, the West Beach lot for the West Jetty, and the pavilion lot for Sherwood Point (parking).

What You Can Catch

DEEP's list for Sherwood Island:

• Striped bass: the headline fish; spring and fall runs bring the most action along the jetties and, in the off-season, the beach.
• Bluefish: fast, toothy and often in summer and early fall blitzes.
• Blackfish (tautog): around the jetty rocks.
• Scup (porgy): summer panfish around structure.
• Summer flounder (fluke) and winter flounder: over sand bottoms near the jetties.

Seasons, size limits and bag limits change; DEEP's current saltwater regulations and the "CT is Fishy" app are linked from the park page.

License and Rules

Anyone 16 or older fishing in Connecticut marine waters needs a Connecticut marine waters fishing licence, sold online through DEEP; DEEP's licence page lists it at $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents. DEEP also runs a Shore Fishing in Coastal State Parks guide with rules for every coastal park. Out-of-state cars still pay the parking fee through October 31.

Tips

• Check the tide chart: moving water, especially the first hours of the outgoing tide, usually fishes best around jetties.
• Wear grippy shoes on the jetty rocks, which are slick with weed.
• In summer, arrive at 8 a.m.; the jetties fill and the lots fill with beachgoers.
• Off-season, the whole beach is yours, but you must be off by sunset.

Crabbing

DEEP's photo gallery for the park shows children crabbing along the beach, and the shallows by the salt marsh hold crabs in summer. Follow DEEP's marine regulations for crab sizes and limits.

Nearby

After fishing, warm up at the Nature Center in season or walk the salt marsh trail. Check weather for wind; a strong south wind makes the jetties rough.