Illinois Compiled Statutes
515 ILCS 5/ - Fish and Aquatic Life Code.
Article 15 - Commercial Fishing

(515 ILCS 5/Art. 15 heading)

(515 ILCS 5/15-5) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-5)
Sec. 15-5. Commercial fisherman; license requirement.
(a) A "commercial fisherman" is defined as any individual who uses any
of the commercial fishing devices as defined by this Code for the taking of
any aquatic life, except mussels, protected by the terms of this Code.
(b) All commercial fishermen shall have a commercial fishing license.
In addition to a commercial fishing license, a commercial fisherman shall also obtain a sport fishing license. All individuals assisting a licensed commercial fisherman in taking aquatic
life, except mussels, from any waters of the State must have a commercial
fishing license unless these individuals are under the direct supervision
of and aboard the same watercraft as the licensed commercial fisherman. An individual assisting a licensed commercial fisherman must first obtain a sport fishing license.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, blind residents or residents with a disability may fish with commercial fishing devices without holding a sports fishing license. For the purpose of this Section, an individual is blind or has a disability if that individual has a Class 2 disability as defined in Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card Act. For the purposes of this Section, an Illinois person with a Disability Identification Card issued under the Illinois Identification Card Act indicating that the individual named on the card has a Class 2 disability shall be adequate documentation of a disability.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a veteran who, according to the determination of the federal Veterans' Administration as certified by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, is at least 10% disabled with service-related disabilities or in receipt of total disability pensions may fish with commercial fishing devices without holding a sports fishing license during those periods of the year that it is lawful to fish with commercial fishing devices, if the respective disabilities do not prevent the veteran from fishing in a manner that is safe to him or herself and others.
(e) A "Lake Michigan commercial fisherman" is defined as an individual
who resides in this State or an Illinois corporation who uses any of the
commercial fishing devices as defined by this Code for the taking of aquatic
life, except mussels, protected by the terms of this Code.
(f) For purposes of this Section, an act or omission that constitutes
a violation committed by an officer, employee, or agent of a corporation
shall be deemed the act or omission of the corporation.

(Source: P.A. 98-336, eff. 1-1-14; 98-898, eff. 1-1-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-10) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-10)
Sec. 15-10.
Commercial musselor; license.
A "commercial musselor" is
defined as any individual who takes mussels by hand, except as provided by
administrative rule, or who uses any of the mussel devices defined by this
Code for the taking of mussels protected by the terms of this Code.
All commercial musselors shall have a commercial mussel license.
All individuals assisting a licensed commercial musselor in taking
mussels from any waters of this State must have a commercial mussel
license.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-15) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-15)
Sec. 15-15. Commercial fishing devices. "Commercial fishing
devices" for the purposes of this Code are defined as follows:
buoyed gangings, set gangings, bank pole and line, throw line
or trot line having more than 50 hooks, seine, pocket seine,
otter trawl, dip net, throw net, gill net, trammel net, basket
trap, hoop net, wing net, pound net, trap net, any watercraft used as a primary collection device, and any and
all other devices considered as commercial devices by the
Department when used in the taking of any aquatic life, except
mussels, protected by the terms of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 98-336, eff. 1-1-14.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-20) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-20)
Sec. 15-20. Commercial fish species designated by the Department; method of taking. Bloater chubs, smelt, and yellow perch may be taken in Lake
Michigan with gill nets or dip nets but no other net shall be used for
taking these fish in Lake Michigan. All trout, including lake trout, salmon, and lake whitefish may not be taken by commercial fishing devices, including gill or pound nets. Any incidental catch of trout, including lake trout, salmon, and lake whitefish taken in legal sized gill or pound nets must be returned immediately to the water. The methods of taking are subject to modification by administrative rule based upon lake-wide scientific assessment data or fishery management need.

(Source: P.A. 100-168, eff. 1-1-18.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-25) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-25)
Sec. 15-25.
Making holes in ice.
Holes cut in ice for the purpose of
seining and netting shall be marked so as to be clearly visible.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-30) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-30)
Sec. 15-30.
(Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-833. Repealed by P.A. 100-168, eff. 1-1-18.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-32) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-32)
Sec. 15-32. Lake Michigan commercial licenses.
(a) The Department may issue a maximum of 5 commercial licenses for taking from the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan yellow
perch, bloater chub, and other commercial fish species designated by Department rule.
All licenses issued under this Section shall be valid for a period of 3 years.
The catch limits established by the Department for the taking of yellow
perch, bloater chub, and other designated commercial fish species shall be the same for all active licensees.
(b) At times determined by the Director, the Department shall advertise a public drawing to accept new qualified commercial fishing candidates and establish a ranking order for these new candidates to fill open Lake Michigan commercial fishing licenses. This ranking order shall continue to be used until the list of eligible candidates is exhausted.
(Source: P.A. 100-169, eff. 1-1-18.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-35) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-35)
Sec. 15-35.
Mussels; open season.
Mussels may be taken only during the
period of April 1 to September 30, both inclusive, and then only
from
sunrise to sunset and only by means of crowfoot bars or hand picking, with
or without the aid of air breathing apparatus. Mussels may be taken from the
Mississippi, Ohio,
Wabash, and Illinois rivers. Mussel fishing is permitted in other waters only
upon written authorization from the Department.

(Source: P.A. 90-490, eff. 8-17-97.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-40) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-40)
Sec. 15-40.
Mussels; size limit.
All mussels taken shall be not less
than 2 1/2 inches on the shortest line from the center of the hinge side
and at a right angle across the shell to the outer edge.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-45) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-45)
Sec. 15-45.
Commercial possession.
Any person operating commercial
fishing or mussel devices shall have in his or her possession only those
species of aquatic life specified in administrative
rules.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-46)
Sec. 15-46. Taking of roe-bearing species by commercial device.
(a) All commercial fishermen shall procure a commercial roe harvest permit in addition to their commercial fishing license before taking roe-bearing species with commercial fishing devices from the waters of the State legally open to commercial fishing. Any person found guilty of a violation of this subsection (a) is subject to the penalties provided in Section 20-91 of this Code.
(b) Any incidental catch of aquatic life not authorized for taking with commercial devices must be returned immediately without harm to the water. Any person found guilty of a violation of this subsection (b) is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 95-147, eff. 8-14-07.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-50) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-50)
Sec. 15-50.
Regulation.
Except as provided in Section 20-90
no person shall buy, sell or barter, or offer to buy, sell or
barter, nor shall any commercial institution or any regularly
operated refrigerated storage establishment have in its possession,
aquatic life protected by this Code except those species taken
under the conditions and of the size described in Sections 15-55
and 15-60 and administrative rules pertaining to the taking of
commercial fish or mussels. Any person who is found guilty of
violating this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-55) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-55)
Sec. 15-55.
Aquatic life taken outside State and brought into State.
When legally taken from waters wholly outside the jurisdiction of the
State of Illinois and legally transported into the State of Illinois, any
aquatic life of a legal size in the place of origin shall be deemed to be
of legal size in the State of Illinois if all containers in which the
aquatic life are contained or transported are clearly labeled with the
State and county of origin and also bear the name and mailing address of
the party having transported the aquatic life into the State of Illinois.
Any aquatic life not labeled as provided in this Section is prima facie
evidence that protected aquatic life has been taken in the State of Illinois.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-60) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-60)
Sec. 15-60.
Legal size; various species.
When taken from waters wholly
or in part within the boundaries of the State of Illinois, except from the
Ohio River, the following
species shall be not less in size than provided in this Section: channel
catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, or white catfish, 15 inches in
length undressed or 12 inches in length dressed.

(Source: P.A. 90-57, eff. 1-1-98.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-65) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-65)
Sec. 15-65.
Modification by rule.
The provisions of Sections 15-20
through 15-60 are subject to modification by administrative rule.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-70) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-70)
Sec. 15-70.
Proof of taking in another state.
Failure to establish proof
that aquatic life protected by this Code was legally acquired in another
state and then imported into the State of Illinois is prima facie evidence
that the aquatic life was taken within the State of Illinois.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-75) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-75)
Sec. 15-75. Record of catch; inspection of record. Commercial fishermen, musselors, and commercial roe harvesters shall keep an accurate record of their catch. This record,
showing the species and number of pounds of fish, mussels, or roe taken, type of
commercial devices used, and location from which taken, shall be open for
inspection by the employees of the Department at all times. This
information shall be submitted to the Department on forms furnished for
that purpose by the Department and at intervals prescribed by the
Department. Failure to submit reports, as required, shall be grounds for
license suspension or revocation.

(Source: P.A. 95-147, eff. 8-14-07.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-80) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-80)
Sec. 15-80.
Otter trawl.
It is unlawful for any person to use any otter
trawl or modified bag seine used in the manner of an otter trawl in any of
the waters within the jurisdiction of this State. In the waters of Lake
Michigan under the jurisdiction of the State of Illinois, however, an otter
trawl or other developmental commercial fishing gear operated by suitable
boat or launch may be used in accordance with regulatory provisions
provided by the Department as a cooperative measure with other States
bordering the Great Lakes, including United States and Canadian governmental
agencies.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-85) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-85)
Sec. 15-85. Dragging nets. It shall be unlawful to pull, drag, haul, or
draw to, towards, or near the shore of any body of water, or to or against
a backstop, a net device of any kind except a seine. Nothing in this Section, however, shall prohibit the use of a trammel or gill net attached to a single boat while the net is being placed, set, or adjusted.

(Source: P.A. 95-147, eff. 8-14-07.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-90) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-90)
Sec. 15-90.
Nets or seines in Lake Michigan.
It shall be unlawful to
set, drift, or drag any net or seine except a minnow seine in Lake Michigan
within 1,000 yards of any pier or pillar or of the low water mark on the
shore line.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-95) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-95)
Sec. 15-95.
Dragging trot, set, or throw lines.
It shall be unlawful to
drag, pull, or move through the water any trot, set, or throw line in a
manner that snares or causes hooks to be drawn into the body of the fish.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-100) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-100)
Sec. 15-100.
Length and mesh size of seine.
Except as provided in
Sections 20-5 through 20-25, any person may use a single seine not
exceeding 100 yards in length of 1 1/2 inch bar measurement. In all seines
over 100 yards in length it shall be unlawful at any time to use any mesh
less than 2 inch bar measurement except that all seines over 100 yards in
length may have a section of the seine not more than 300 feet in length of
1 1/2 inch bar measurement. No seine shall be more than 1500 yards in
length. If seines are more than 200 yards in length they must be operated
with a backstop constructed of vertical slats not less than 1 1/4 inches
apart or 3 inch bar measurement netting or of chicken wire or metallic
cloths of not less than 1 1/2 inches square and shall not be dragged or
otherwise operated in less than 2 feet of water.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-105) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-105)
Sec. 15-105. Devices near spillways, fishways, lakes, and dams.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful to use or operate any commercial devices within
300 yards above or below all spillways, fishways, or locks or dams of any
type or in a manner that obstructs more than one-half the width of any
stream or watercourse.
(b) A commercial fisherman may obstruct more than one-half the width of any stream or watercourse if: (i) the commercial fisherman is within sight of his or her gear and available to prevent boaters from contacting his or her nets; and (ii) the commercial fisherman places at least 2 fluorescent orange buoys that are at least 2 feet in diameter on the opposite side of the net from which the commercial fisherman is working to warn boaters of the presence of the commercial fisherman's nets.
(Source: P.A. 102-724, eff. 1-1-23.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-110) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-110)
Sec. 15-110.
Seines for minnows or crayfish.
It is unlawful to use a
seine for the taking of minnows or crayfish that has mesh larger than 1/2
inch bar measurement or is larger than 20 feet in length or 6 feet in
depth. Minnow seines used in waters designated by the Department by
administrative rule for commercial fishing, however, may be of any length
but not more than 6 feet in depth with a bag not more than 6 feet in length.
Minnow traps are unlawful if they are more than 24 inches in width or
diameter or 36 inches in length or use a mesh more than 1/2 inch bar
measurement. Minnow dip nets shall be unlawful if they are more than 48
inches in width or diameter.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-115) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-115)
Sec. 15-115.
Basket traps and hoop nets.
Except as provided in Section
20-25, it is unlawful to use any basket trap other than a basket trap
constructed of wood or plastic slats. A legal trap must have an
unobstructed opening or openings in the rear end of the trap not less than
1 1/2 inches square. It is unlawful to use a hoop net of mesh less than 1
inch bar measurement, or attached wings and leads of a material smaller
than number 9 twine.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-120) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-120)
Sec. 15-120.
Mesh size of dip nets.
It shall be unlawful to use any dip
net having a mesh less than 1 1/2 inches bar measurement or more than 15
feet square or in diameter.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-125) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-125)
Sec. 15-125.
Live box or live net.
All live boxes and live nets in which
any aquatic life protected by this Code is held shall be plainly labeled
with the name and address of the owner.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-130) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-130)
Sec. 15-130. Gill or trammel net. It shall be unlawful to use a gill or
trammel net except in the Mississippi River, in the Ohio River, and in the
Illinois River from
its mouth up to the Illinois River bridge, Highway Route 89, including
adjacent backwaters but not above the mouth of any stream, ditch, or
tributary connected to these backwaters. No gill or trammel net shall be less than 100 feet in length.
All gill or trammel nets that are set in any body of water shall be under
the immediate supervision of the operator, who may be the licensee or his
or her employee, except (i) from May 1 to September 30, (ii) when the nets
are set under the ice, (iii) from sunset to sunrise, or (iv) as specified by administrative rule. Immediate
supervision shall be defined as the operator being on the waters where the
nets are set to be readily available to identify the nets to law
enforcement officers empowered to enforce this Code. It shall be unlawful
for any employee on any one day to lift or attend nets of more than
one licensee.
All gill or trammel nets set under the ice shall be at a distance of not
less than 100 yards from any natural opening in the ice.
A net shall be defined as a "trammel net" for the purposes of enforcing this Code if: (i) there are no less than 3 panels of mesh tied to a single float and lead line; (ii) the outer panels of mesh are constructed of a number 9 or larger diameter twine; (iii) the outer panels of mesh are diamond shaped and no greater than 40 inch bar measure; and (iv) the inner panel of mesh is not less than 2 inches bar measure.
A net shall be defined as a "gill net" for the purposes of enforcing this Code if it is constructed of a single panel of mesh that is not less than 3 inches bar measure that is tied to a single float and lead line.
The Department may modify provisions of this Section as provided in
Section 1-135.

(Source: P.A. 102-724, eff. 1-1-23.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-135) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-135)
Sec. 15-135. License in possession.
(a) It is unlawful, for the purposes of operation of fishing or musseling devices, (i) for licensed commercial fishermen or

musselors to
loan licenses to any other individual, or (ii) for any person to possess the license of another.
(b) It shall be unlawful to disturb in any manner the licensed devices
of another person without consent of that person.

(Source: P.A. 95-147, eff. 8-14-07.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-140) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-140)
Sec. 15-140.
Spacing of hooks.
All trot lines, throw lines, or similar
devices except trolley or power lines used in Lake Michigan shall have
hooks spaced at intervals of not less than 24 inches.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-145) (from Ch. 56, par. 15-145)
Sec. 15-145.
Tagging commercial devices.
It shall be the
responsibility of each person licensed as a commercial fisherman or
musselor to furnish and attach to each commercial device being used a metal
tag inscribed with the name and address of the licensee. Absence of this
tagging shall be prima facie evidence that the commercial fishing or mussel
device or devices are illegally used and the devices shall be confiscated
and disposed of as directed by the Department.

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

(515 ILCS 5/15-150)
Sec. 15-150. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-833. Repealed by P.A. 95-147, eff. 8-14-07.)

(515 ILCS 5/15-155)
Sec. 15-155. Watercraft used as a primary collection device for commercial fishes. Any person licensed as a commercial fisherman who wishes to use his or her watercraft as a primary collection device for commercial fishes must first obtain a commercial watercraft device tag. All watercraft used as a primary collection device must be legally licensed by the State and be in compliance with all Coast Guard boating regulations. This Section does not apply to any person taking Asian Carp by the aid of a boat for non-commercial purposes.

(Source: P.A. 98-336, eff. 1-1-14; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)