Connecticut state waters, out to 3 miles
Creel is a combined 6-fish aggregate with American shad.
CT DEEP 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Connecticut state record
CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Lower jaw juts past the upper; spring river runs. More on the hickory shad page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Hickory shad in other states9 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for hickory shad in Connecticut?
No size limit.
How many hickory shad can you keep in Connecticut?
6 per angler (aggregate with American shad). Counts toward the American and hickory shad aggregate.
When is hickory shad season in Connecticut?
Open year-round.
What is the Connecticut record hickory shad?
3 lb 4 oz, Niantic River, Niantic (2003).
How current is this Connecticut hickory shad rule?
Source: 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.
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