Illinois Compiled Statutes
515 ILCS 5/ - Fish and Aquatic Life Code.
Article 10 - Limits - Seasons & Methods Of Taking

(515 ILCS 5/Art. 10 heading)

(515 ILCS 5/10-5) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-5)
Sec. 10-5.
Daily limit; bass.
All properly licensed individuals shall be
permitted to take, in any one day, no more than 6 of any one species or 6
in the aggregate of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-10) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-10)
Sec. 10-10.
Daily limit; trout and salmon.
All properly licensed
individuals shall be permitted to take, in any one day, no more than 5 of
any one species or 5 in the aggregate of brook trout, brown trout, rainbow
trout, lake trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon, kokanee salmon, or other
salmons.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-15) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-15)
Sec. 10-15.
Method of taking certain fish.
Muskellunge, northern pike,
pickerels, walleye, sauger, largemouth bass,
smallmouth bass, spotted bass, warmouth, rock bass, white bass, yellow
bass, striped bass (ocean rockfish), sunfish,
bluegill, crappie, trout, salmon, and their hybrids shall be taken
only by properly
licensed individuals and only with sport fishing devices as provided
in Section 10-95.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-20) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-20)
Sec. 10-20.
Size limit; northern pike.
All northern pike in the
possession of any individual shall be not less than 24 inches in length,
except that northern pike of any size may be possessed that are taken in
the waters of the Mississippi River.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-25) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-25)
Sec. 10-25.
Daily limit; northern pike, sauger, and walleye.
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), all properly licensed
individuals shall be permitted to take, in any one day, no more than 3
northern pike, 6 sauger or walleye, or 6 in the aggregate of sauger and
walleye.
(b) In the waters of the Mississippi River between Iowa and Illinois,
all properly licensed individuals shall be permitted to take, in any one
day, no more than 5 northern pike, 10 sauger or walleye, or 10 in the
aggregate of sauger and walleye.
(c) In the waters of the Mississippi River between Missouri and Illinois,
all properly licensed individuals shall be permitted to take, in any one day,
no more than one northern pike, 8 sauger or walleye, or 8 in the aggregate
of sauger and walleye.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-30) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-30)
Sec. 10-30. Bullfrog; open season. Bullfrog open season is found in Section 5-30 of the Herptiles-Herps Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-752, eff. 1-1-15.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-35) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-35)
Sec. 10-35. Daily limit; bullfrogs. Bullfrog daily limit is found in Section 5-30 of the Herptiles-Herps Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-752, eff. 1-1-15.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-40) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-40)
Sec. 10-40.
Taking of smelt.
All individuals taking smelt by any method
or with any device, including small mesh nets, shall have a valid sport
fishing license.
It shall be lawful to take smelt with a seine, gill net, or dip net. A
seine or gill net shall not (1) exceed 12 feet in length, (2) exceed 6 feet
in depth, or (3) have a mesh size greater than 1 1/2 inches diagonal
stretch. A dip net shall not (1) exceed 12 feet in diameter or (2) have a
mesh size less than 1 inch diagonal stretch. No individual shall operate
more than one smelt net device at any one time. Individuals taking smelt as
authorized by this Section are exempt from obtaining a commercial license.
It shall be unlawful to possess any species taken in smelt net devices
other than smelt. All fish taken in smelt net devices other than smelt must
be returned immediately to the water.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-45)
Sec. 10-45. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 98-915, eff. 1-1-15. Repealed by P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-47)
Sec. 10-47. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 98-915, eff. 1-1-15. Repealed by P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-50) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-50)
Sec. 10-50.
Size limit; trout and salmon.
All rainbow trout, lake trout,
brown trout, brook trout, Atlantic salmon, coho salmon, chinook salmon,
pink salmon, or other salmonids when taken or in the possession of a person
after having been taken from the waters of Lake Michigan shall be not less
than 10 inches in length.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-55) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-55)
Sec. 10-55.
Taking of endangered species.
No person shall take or
possess any of the aquatic life listed in the Illinois Endangered Species
Protection Act or subsequent administrative rules, except as provided by
that Act.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-60) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-60)
Sec. 10-60. Taking of turtles or bullfrogs; illegal devices. Taking of turtles or bullfrogs is found in Section 5-30 of the Herptiles-Herps Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-752, eff. 1-1-15.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-65) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-65)
Sec. 10-65. Taking of snakes. Taking of snakes is found in Section 5-25 of the Herptiles-Herps Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-752, eff. 1-1-15.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-70) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-70)
Sec. 10-70.
Aquatic life included in daily limit.
(a) Any aquatic life taken
into actual possession, unless released unharmed immediately, shall be
included in the daily limit of the person having so taken the aquatic life
for the day when taken.
(b) Fish released unharmed by participants in a bona fide
catch-and-release fishing tournament, which requires the participants to have a
boat live well with a pump constantly adding fresh or
recirculating water, shall not be included in the daily limit. However, at no
time may the daily limit be exceeded.

(Source: P.A. 87-833; 88-3.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-75) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-75)
Sec. 10-75.
Application of Article.
This Article 10 shall apply only to
aquatic life in waters and lands wholly or in part within the boundaries of
the State of Illinois.
The provisions of Sections 10-5 through 10-75 are subject to
modification by administrative rule.
Aquatic life legally taken in and transported from other states or
countries may be possessed within the State of Illinois, subject to the
provisions of Sections 15-55 and 15-60 of this Code.
Any aquatic life taken at any time except during an open season
established under this Code, including administrative rules, or of a size
less than the minimum provided by this Code, including administrative
rules, shall be immediately returned, without unnecessary injury, to the
waters from which taken.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-80) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-80)
Sec. 10-80. Illegal methods of taking. Except as otherwise authorized in this Code or administrative rule, it shall be unlawful to take any
aquatic life except by angling methods. Illegal methods include, but are not limited to, the use of electricity or any electrical device; a lime,
acid, medical, chemical, or mechanical compound or dope of any medicated
drug; any drug or any fishberry; any dynamite, giant powder, nitro
glycerine, or other explosives; or by means of a snare, treated grain,
firearms of any kind, air rifle or blow gun, wire basket, wire seine, wire
net, wire trotline, or limb lines of any kind.

(Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-85) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-85)
Sec. 10-85.
Ice fishing.
Fish may be taken through the ice by the use of
not more than
3 poles and lines or 3 tipups at any one time and there may
be not more than 2 hooks attached to each line. Any hole cut in the ice
for the purpose of taking fish shall be not more than 12 inches in
diameter. Any shelter placed or used on ice of any of the public waters of
this State shall be a portable fishing shelter constructed of a frame-work
of metal or wood covered with canvas, paper, wood, plastic material, or any
similar material and that shelter shall have the name and
address of the
owner attached to it. Following March 1 of each ice fishing season the
shelter must be removed at the end of each fishing day and shall not be
left unattended at any time after that date.
All fishing devices placed through the ice shall be attended and kept
under the observation of the person having so placed the device at all
times.

(Source: P.A. 91-66, eff. 7-9-99.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-90) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-90)
Sec. 10-90.
Snag line or pole.
It shall be unlawful to use, set, place,
or control any snag line or snag pole, meaning any line, cord, or pole to
which a fish hook, a number of fish hooks, or clusters of fish hooks of any
kind or description are attached and designed to be placed in, or drawn
through, the water for the purpose of catching by drawing the hooks into
the body of the fish except as may be otherwise provided by administrative
rule.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-95) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-95)
Sec. 10-95.
Number of hooks; untagged devices.
Any individual possessing
a valid sport fishing license may take aquatic life by hand, or may use
pole and line, bank pole and line,
throw line, trotline, buoyed ganging devices, or other legal devices not
exceeding 50 hooks in the aggregate, however, any individual at any one
time is allowed to use under his or her immediate control only 2 untagged
sport fishing devices and any additional devices up to the aggregate of 50
hooks must be tagged with his or her name and mailing address. It shall be
unlawful to sell or barter any aquatic life or parts thereof taken by
sport fishing devices.
A dip net for non-commercial smelt fishing in Lake Michigan may be used
subject to the provisions of Section 10-40.
Any sport fishing device, including trot line device, bank pole, and
throw line or buoyed ganging devices, left unattended must be tagged with
the name and mailing address of the operator. All required tags shall be in
a position to be at all times exposed to public view.
A sport fishing license permits the holder to seine for minnows, provided
that minnows are not sold. The seine shall not be longer than 20
feet, deeper than 6 feet, or contain mesh larger than 1/2 inch bar measurement.

(Source: P.A. 89-66, eff. 1-1-96.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-100) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-100)
Sec. 10-100. Release of aquatic life.
(a) It shall be unlawful to
release any aquatic life
into the wild in this State without first securing permission of the
Department to do so, except that the owner of a body of water may release
aquatic life indigenous to the State of Illinois into waters wholly upon his or her property. The Department shall have the authority to promulgate
necessary rules and regulations, under the Illinois Administrative
Procedure Act, regulating the possession, transportation, and shipping of
aquatic life not indigenous to the State of Illinois. All aquatic life may be
immediately returned unharmed from where they were taken. A violation of this subsection (a) is a Class B misdemeanor.
(b) It is unlawful to possess, transport, or release any live specimen or viable gametes of any species listed as injurious by administrative rule, unless authorized by that rule. A violation of this subsection (b) is a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 98-1044, eff. 1-1-15.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-105) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-105)
Sec. 10-105.
Fish importation permits.
Live fish, viable fish eggs, or
viable sperm of any species or hybrid of salmon or trout may be imported
into the State only by the holder of a fish importation permit and other
required State permits. Importation permits shall be issued at no charge to
a person who has applied on a Department special permit form, no less than
15 days nor more than 30 days before shipment, provided that the shipment
is not considered detrimental to the fishery resource of the State.
An importation permit shall be issued only if the source hatchery is
inspected and found free of those diseases designated by administrative
rule of the Department, or any other diseases, that may be detrimental to
the fishery resource of the State. Inspections may be carried out only by
persons recognized by the Department as competent in the diagnosis of fish
diseases. An importation permit may be granted by the Department for
extended periods of up to 6 months from the date the source hatchery is
certified as being disease free. A permit may be cancelled upon the
diagnosis of a disease at the source hatchery that may be detrimental to
the fishery resource of the State. A letter of disease free certification,
including date of examination, must be provided by the applicant.
A copy of the fish importation permit shall accompany shipment. Fish,
eggs, or viable sperm imported under this permit are subject to inspection
by employees of the Department and may include taking samples for
biological examination. Shipment of live fish, viable fish eggs, or viable
sperm of salmon or trout into the State without a fish importation permit
shall be considered detrimental to the fishery resource and shall be seized
and disposed of by means found suitable to the Department.
This Section does not apply to salmon or trout in transit through the State
that will not be released from their original containers.
Failure to comply with this Section is grounds for revocation of the
aquaculture permit or fish dealers license, or both.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-110) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-110)
Sec. 10-110. Taking carp, catfish, buffalo, suckers, gar, bowfin, shad, and drum.
(a) Carp, catfish,
buffalo, suckers, gar, bowfin, shad, and drum may be taken by means of a pitchfork,
underwater spear gun, bow and arrow or bow and arrow device, including a sling shot bow, spear, or gig.
Each person taking fish by these means shall possess a valid sport fishing
license. Fish taken by these means shall not be sold or bartered except as authorized by the Department. The daily take, harvest limits, or additional species are subject to and set forth in administrative rule.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take aquatic life as provided in subsection (a) along, upon, across, or from any public right-of-way or highway in this State.
(Source: P.A. 102-369, eff. 1-1-22.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-115) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-115)
Sec. 10-115. Taking of turtles. Taking of turtles is found in Section 5-30 of the Herptiles-Herps Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-752, eff. 1-1-15.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-120) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-120)
Sec. 10-120.
Taking of mussels; illegal devices.
It is unlawful for any
person to take mussels by means of basket dredges or mechanical or suction
devices.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-125) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-125)
Sec. 10-125.
Device attached to tree.
Any hook and line or sport fishing
device for the purpose of taking or attempting to take fish, if attached to
a tree, must be attached only to the main tree trunk below the water line.

(Source: P.A. 89-66, eff. 1-1-96.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-130) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-130)
Sec. 10-130.
Trolling; number of poles.
It shall be unlawful for any
individual to troll for fish with more than 3 poles and lines with more
than 2 hooks or 2 lures attached to each device.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-135) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-135)
Sec. 10-135.
Sport fishing charter boats.
A "charter boat" is defined
as any boat used in the business of carrying sport fishermen for hire into
the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan for the purpose of sport fishing.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a sport fishing charter
boat in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan without having first obtained
a permit to do so from the Department. A permit is valid for a period of
one year and expires each year on December 31. A charter boat permit shall
be issued without fee to any Illinois resident and to any non-resident
whose state of residence issues a charter boat permit without fee to
Illinois residents. If, however, the state of residence of a non-resident
charges a fee to Illinois residents for a charter boat permit,
a fee shall be charged in Illinois for a permit to a non-resident
in an amount equal to the fee charged to Illinois residents by the
non-resident's state.
All persons operating sport fishing charter boats in the Illinois waters
of Lake Michigan must submit daily catch reports to the Department on forms
furnished and in the manner prescribed by the Department. All daily catch
reports for a given month must be submitted to the Department on or before
the 15th day of the following month. Charter boat operators who fail to
comply with this Section shall be subject to penalties as provided in
Section 20-35 of this Code and noncompliance with this Section may be
grounds for denial of future charter boat permits.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-140) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-140)
Sec. 10-140. Dip nets, casting nets, and shad scoops.
(a) Any individual possessing a valid sport fishing
license may use a dip net, casting net, or shad scoop to take certain species. The taking of aquatic life with a dip net, casting net, or shad scoop shall not be
permitted within 100 feet of the base of any dam.
(b) Dip nets may be used to take carp, buffalo, carpsuckers, or shad for personal consumption.
(c) Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) may be taken with a casting net or shad scoop and used for bait on the body of water where they are collected if they are killed immediately.
(d) Mooneye (Hiodon tergisus), goldeye (Hiodon alosoides), skipjack herring (Alosa chrysochloris), carp (other than bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)), and any other fish listed in Section 10-110 of this Code may be taken with a casting net or shad scoop and used for live or dead bait on the body of water where they are collected.
(e) All casting nets shall not be (1) larger than 24 feet in diameter or (2) of a mesh larger than 1 inch bar measurement. All shad scoops shall not be (1) larger than 30 inches in diameter, (2) of a mesh not larger than 1/2 inch bar measurement, or (3) longer than 4 feet in length.
(f) Fish taken by means listed in this Section
shall not be sold or bartered. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the taking of game fish by dip net without a commercial
license shall be a petty offense punishable by a minimum fine of $100, plus
confiscation of illegally used equipment under Article 1 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-150)
Sec. 10-150. Fishing limits; private property. The limits established in this Article 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.

(Source: P.A. 99-532, eff. 7-8-16.)