Section 810.35  Statewide Sportfishing (Hook and Line and Other Non-Bowfishing or Non‑Snagging Legal Methods Under a Sportfishing License) Regulations – Daily Harvest and Size Limits

a)         Length is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail with the fish laid flat on a ruler, with the mouth of the fish closed and the tail lobes pressed together.

b)         No fish species may be dressed (filleted or head and tail removed) on any waters to which length or bag limits are applicable.  Regardless of where taken, no fish less than the specified minimum length or more than the daily harvest shall be possessed while taking from, or on, any waters to which length or bag limits and/or daily harvest limits apply.  While taking from areas designated as "Catch and Release Only", all catch and release species must be immediately released back into the waters from which taken.

c)         Statewide limits by type of fish:

1)         Channel Catfish

There are no daily harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.

2)         Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass

A)        Daily harvest limit is 6 bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

B)        In streams and rivers (excluding the mainstem of the Mississippi, Ohio, including the Golconda Marina and Wabash Rivers) the daily harvest can contain no more than 3 smallmouth bass.

C)        In rivers and their tributaries statewide, except for the Mississippi, Ohio, including the Golconda Marina, Wabash and Illinois Rivers, Calumet River, Lake Calumet Connecting Channel, Calumet Sag Channel and navigable portions of the Grand Calumet River and Little Calumet River, all smallmouth bass must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15.

D)        There is no statewide size limit.

3)         Muskellunge, Northern Pike and Their Hybrids

A)        All muskellunge and muskellunge hybrids (tiger muskie) taken must be 36" in total length or longer, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

B)        No more than one muskellunge or muskellunge hybrid (tiger muskie) may be taken per day, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

C)        All northern pike taken must be 24" in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River where there is no size limit.

D)        No more than 3 northern pike may be taken per day, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

4)         Crappie (White, Black or Hybrid Crappie)

There are no harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.

5)         Bluegill, Redear Sunfish and other Sunfish

There are no harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.

6)         Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass and Hybrids

There are no daily harvest limits or minimum size limits for striped bass (ocean rockfish), white bass, yellow bass and their hybrids, which are less than 17" in total length, except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.  For those fish 17" in total length or longer, the daily limit is 3 fish, either singly or in the aggregate, except in the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri where there is a 30 fish daily harvest limit for all striped, white, yellow or hybrid striped bass.  In the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, there is a 25 fish daily harvest on striped bass, white bass, yellow bass and their hybrids, either singly or in the aggregate.

7)         Trout and Salmon

Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate.

8)         Walleye, Sauger or their Hybrid

A)        All walleye, sauger, or their hybrid (saugeye) taken must be 14" in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River, Wabash River, or as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

B)        Daily harvest limit is 6 walleye, sauger or their hybrid, either singly or in the aggregate, except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.

9)         Paddlefish

Daily harvest limit is 2 paddlefish.

10)         Injurious Species

For injurious species, as described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 805, there are no harvest or size limits.  Possession of live specimens, progeny thereof, viable eggs, or gametes is prohibited.

11)         Alligator Gar

Harvest limit is 1 alligator gar per 24 hours.

d)         The limits established in this Part on the number and size of fish a person may take in a day do not apply to a person fishing in waters wholly within his or her private property.  [515 ILCS 5/10-150]

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 15925, effective October 30, 2023)