• Connecticut issues a non-resident, three-day inland fishing license. No license is required in the marine district — except for lobsters and shellfish for personal use.

• Know where you are in the Sound — you could be fishing in another state! Visit www.ct.gov/dep/fishing for CT boundaries.

• The first bridge upstream from the mouth of a river or stream is the demarcation line between the Marine and Inland fishing districts.

• 380,000 anglers made over 1.4 million fishing trips to Long Island Sound in 2006.

• When you catch and release remember that an erect dorsal fin is a sign of a revived fish.

• When you plan to catch and release, try to keep the fish in the water while removing the hook —the fish will recover quicker.

• When releasing a fish, grasp it by the tail, move it slowly back and forth in the water to flow water over the gills to restore oxygen to its bloodstream.

• Connecticut regulations on minimum size, daily limit and season changed in 2008 for the following species: scup (porgy), summer flounder (fluke), tautog (blackfish) and black sea bass. Check the Spring 2008 Marine Fisheries Brochure.

• Previously retained fish may not be returned to the water in favor of a more desirable fish. Culling or "high-grading" is prohibited.

• A lucky few may site the dolphins that appear to be returning to a cleaner, dolphin-friendlier Sound.

• Register for a Connecticut Conservation ID and purchase your fishing and hunting licenses, permits and tags on-line at https://ct.outdoorcentral.net/InternetSales/

• Keep needle nose pliers, a pair of nail clippers or a hook disgorger in your bait box for removing hooks.

• Removing a "gut hook" can cause severe damage; simply cut the line as close to the hook as possible and leave the hook to dissolve.

• You don't need a license to take bait species for personal use. Legal gear: cast nets, small minnow traps, umbrella nets, scoop or scap nets (36"), hook & line, by hand.

• Harvesting mussels, oysters, clams and scallops for personal use requires a license. Check with the town hall in the town where you plan to harvest, call or e-mail the CT Dept. of Agriculture.

• Use a scoop net hand line, dip net or trotline and specific traps to catch blue crabs. No license is required.

• Disabled access for fishing and crabbing is available at the Ferry Landing State Park in Old Lyme.

• Fishing is allowed off the south end of Meig's Point Jetty and West Beach Jetty at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison from 8 a.m. to sunset during peak season.

• There is a saltwater closed season during which certain species may not be taken. Check the DEP, Marine Fisheries web site for more information.

• Daily creel limit: the number of a specific species that can be retained by an individual during the period from 12:01 a.m. to Midnight.

• If fishing from your own head-equipped boat remember: ALL Connecticut waters in Long Island are a "No Discharge Area." Boat holding tanks must be emptied at one of 43 pumpout facilities.