Section 810.35  Statewide Sportfishing Regulations – Daily Catch 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 catch shall be possessed while taking from, or on, any waters to which length or bag limits and/or daily catch 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 catch or size limits except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.

2)         LARGEMOUTH BASS, SMALLMOUTH BASS, SPOTTED BASS

Daily catch limit is 6 bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.  In streams and rivers (excluding the mainstem of the Mississippi, Ohio and Wabash Rivers) the daily creel can contain no more than 3 smallmouth bass.  In streams and tributaries statewide, except for the Mississippi, Ohio, Wabash and Illinois Rivers, all smallmouth bass must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15.  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 inches in total length or longer, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

B)        No more than 1 muskellunge or muskellunge hybrid (tiger muskie), either singly or in the aggregate, may be taken per day, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

C)        All northern pike taken must be 24 inches in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River and Ohio 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 catch or size limits except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.

5)         BLUEGILL AND REDEAR SUNFISH

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

7)         TROUT AND SALMON

Daily catch 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 inches in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River, Ohio River, Wabash River, or as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

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

9)         INJURIOUS SPECIES

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

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 3302, effective February 25, 2008)