Connecticut state waters, out to 3 miles
HMS permit with shark endorsement plus circle hooks required; bigeye thresher is prohibited — common thresher only.
Common thresher is not on CT's prohibited list (bigeye thresher is); federal HMS permit required.
NOAA HMS 2025 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Gear required HMS sharks
NOAA HMS 2025 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Connecticut state record
CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
The tail's upper lobe is as long as the body — the whip is the whole ID. More on the common thresher page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask6
What is the size limit for common thresher in Connecticut?
54 in fork length. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many common thresher can you keep in Connecticut?
1 shark per vessel per trip. Counts toward the Coastal sharks aggregate.
When is common thresher season in Connecticut?
Open year-round.
What gear is required for common thresher in Connecticut?
Non-offset, corrodible circle hooks required when fishing with bait. HMS Angling permit with shark endorsement required in federal waters.
What is the Connecticut record common thresher?
467 lb, Montauk Point (2006).
How current is this Connecticut common thresher rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 2025 · CT DEEP 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a common thresher in Connecticut and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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