Section 810.20  Snagging

a)         Sport fishermen are permitted only one pole and line device to which can be attached no more than two hooks. On the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, the maximum treble hook size is 5/0; gaffs may not be used to land paddlefish.

b)         Species of Fish and Snagging Catch Limit

1)         Only the following species of fish and harvest limit may be taken by snagging:

Asian Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limit

Carp − no harvest limit

Buffalo − no harvest limit

Freshwater Drum − no harvest limit

Salmon (coho and chinook only) − 5 fish in the aggregate daily harvest limit

Paddlefish − 2 per day; the maximum length limit for paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa is 33" eye-fork length (EFL) (all paddlefish greater than or equal to 33" EFL must be immediately released back to the Mississippi River); the minimum length limit for paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri is 24-inch EFL (all paddlefish less than or equal to 24-inch EFL must be immediately released back to the Mississippi River)

Bowfin − no harvest limit

Gizzard shad − no harvest limit

Carpsuckers − no harvest limit

Longnose gar − no harvest limit

Shortnose gar − no harvest limit

Suckers − no harvest limit

2)         No sorting (i.e., catching more fish than is allowed and putting back some in order to keep larger ones) of snagged salmon and paddlefish is permitted, except for paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri where sorting is permitted.  Every paddlefish snagged must be included in the daily harvest limit.  Every salmon 10 inches in total length or longer snagged must be taken into immediate possession and included in the daily harvest limit.  Once the daily limit of salmon or paddlefish has been reached, snagging must cease.

c)         Waters Open to Snagging and Snagging Season

1)         Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Illinois River, except for the area below the Peoria Lock and Dam where snagging is permitted year round.

2)         Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri, except for the Chain of Rocks low water dam at Chouteau Island − Madison County, also known as Dam 27 at the Chain of Rocks − Madison County where no snagging is permitted. Snagging is permitted from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset daily, March 1 through April 15 within a 500 yard downstream limit below locks and dams on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa.

3)         Snagging for fish is permitted year-round within a 100 yard limit upstream or downstream of the dam at Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County.

4)         Snagging for chinook and coho salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted:

A)        Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon.

B)        Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only).

C)        Winnetka Power Plant discharge area.

D)        Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors).

d)         Disposition of Snagged Salmon and Paddlefish.  All snagged salmon and paddlefish must be removed from the area from which they are taken and disposed of properly, in accordance with Article 5, Section 5-5 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 1898, effective January 27, 2021)