(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) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-45)
Sec. 10-45. Taking of bait fishes. 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. All individuals using either of these devices shall possess a valid sport fishing license.
(Source: P.A. 98-915, eff. 1-1-15.)
(515 ILCS 5/10-47)
Sec. 10-47. Taking of fish by casting net or shad scoop for use as bait. The following fish species 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: bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molotrix). The following fish species 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: 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 molotrix)), and any other fish listed in Section 10-110 of this Code. Any person using casting nets or a shad scoop for the taking of fish under this Section must possess a valid sport fishing license.
(Source: P.A. 98-915, eff. 1-1-15.)
(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. It shall be unlawful to take any aquatic life by 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 gun or gas gun, wire basket, wire seine, wire net, wire trotline, or limb lines of any kind.
(Source: P.A. 87-833.)
(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. Any individual possessing a valid sport fishing license may use a dip net to take carp, buffalo, carpsuckers, or shad for personal consumption. The taking of these fish with a dip net shall not be permitted within 100 feet of the base of any dam. Fish taken by this means 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. 89-66, eff. 1-1-96.)
(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.)