(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), (d), (e) or (f) of this section and other provisions of this chapter providing specific license exemption, no person more than sixteen years of age shall take, attempt to take or assist in taking any fish or bait species in the marine district by any method or land marine fish and bait species in the state regardless of where such marine fish or bait species are taken, without first having obtained a marine waters fishing license as provided in section 26-28c.
(b) No marine waters fishing license shall be required for any person who is rowing a boat or operating the motor of a boat from which other persons are taking or attempting to take fish.
(c) The taking of fish and bait species as herein provided shall be regarded as sport fishing and the taking or landing of such species in the marine district by commercial methods for commercial purposes shall be governed by other provisions of this chapter.
(d) No marine waters fishing license shall be required for any resident of the state who is participating in a fishing derby authorized in writing by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection provided (1) no fees are charged for such derby, (2) such derby has a duration of one day or less, and (3) such derby is sponsored by a nonprofit civic service organization. Such organization shall be limited to one derby in any calendar year.
(e) No marine waters fishing license shall be required for any person who is fishing as a passenger on a party or charter fishing vessel registered under section 26-142a and operating solely in the marine district.
(f) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may designate one day in each calendar year when no license shall be required for sport fishing in the marine district.
(P.A. 09-173, S. 4; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 15-52, S. 7.)
History: P.A. 09-173 effective June 15, 2009; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsecs. (d) and (f), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 15-52 amended Subsec. (e) by changing “party boat, charter boat or head boat” to “party or charter fishing vessel”, effective January 1, 2016.