Chapter 515 — FISH

(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 …

(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, poc…

(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 (Repealed).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 Repealed by P.A. 95-147, eff. 8-14-07.)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 watercr…

(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…

(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 (Repealed).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 Repealed by P.A. 100-168, eff. 1-1-18.)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 designate…

(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 …

(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…

(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, pr…

(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…

(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 lega…

(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…

(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 aquat…

(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 …

(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 t…

(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, s…

(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. (Sour…

(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-…

(515 ILCS 5/20-10) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-10) Sec. 20-10. Salmon stamp. Any individual taking or attempting to take salmon in Lake Michigan shall, in addition to any other license required by this Code, first obtain a salmon stamp authorized by the Department and affix it to his o…

(515 ILCS 5/20-100) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-100) Sec. 20-100. Scientific collector's permit. Permits may be granted by the Department to properly accredited individuals of the age of 18 years and older permitting the collection for strictly scientific purposes of any aquatic life p…

(515 ILCS 5/20-105) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-105) Sec. 20-105. Revocation and suspension; refusal to issue. (a) Whenever a license or permit is issued to any person under this Code and its holder is found guilty of any misrepresentation in obtaining the license or permit or of a vio…

(515 ILCS 5/20-11) Sec. 20-11. Inland trout stamp. Any individual taking or attempting to take trout in all waters except Lake Michigan shall, in addition to any other license required by this Code, first obtain an inland trout stamp authorized by the Department. Individuals not …

(515 ILCS 5/20-110) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-110) Sec. 20-110. Possession of license, permit, or stamp. Every person holding any license, salmon stamp, inland trout stamp, or permit issued under this Code shall have it in his or her possession for immediate presentation for inspecti…

(515 ILCS 5/20-115) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-115) Sec. 20-115. Form of licenses, stamps, and permits. Licenses, salmon stamps, inland trout stamps, and permits authorized to be issued under this Code shall be prepared by the Department and shall be in the form prescribed by the Depa…

(515 ILCS 5/20-120) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-120) Sec. 20-120. Designation of agents; liability; bond. The Department of Natural Resources has the authority to designate agents to sell licenses, stamps, and permits on behalf of the Department. Any person receiving licenses from the …

(515 ILCS 5/20-125) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-125) Sec. 20-125. Records; reports; receipts. (a) Any person engaged in the buying, selling, or shipping of aquatic life in the State, under Sections 20-70, 20-75, 20-80, 20-91, and 20-92 of this Act, shall maintain the following minimum …

(515 ILCS 5/20-15) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-15) Sec. 20-15. Owners fishing own land; exemption. The owners or bona fide tenants of lands, actually residing on the lands and their children, parents, brothers, and sisters actually permanently residing with them have the right to take …

(515 ILCS 5/20-20) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-20) Sec. 20-20. Non-resident licenses. Any individuals 16 years of age or older not residents of the State of Illinois shall, before taking or attempting to take any aquatic life protected by this Code by any means whatever in the State of…

(515 ILCS 5/20-25) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-25) Sec. 20-25. Persons controlling artificial lakes. The owners or tenants residing on, or members of private clubs that own or control by lease, lands encompassing artificial lakes of less than 30 acres that belong to the property and ar…

(515 ILCS 5/20-30) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-30) Sec. 20-30. Application; issuance of license. No license shall be issued to use sport fishing or trot line devices, or any other fishing devices, until application has been made to the Department, to any county, city, village, township…

(515 ILCS 5/20-35) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-35) Sec. 20-35. Offenses. (a) Except as prescribed in Section 5-25 and unless otherwise provided in this Code, any person who is found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this Code, including administrative rules, is guilty of a p…

(515 ILCS 5/20-40) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-40) Sec. 20-40. (Repealed). (Source: Repealed by P.A. 88-91.)

(515 ILCS 5/20-45) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-45) Sec. 20-45. License fees for residents. Fees for licenses for residents of the State of Illinois shall be as follows: (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, for sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or spearing d…

(515 ILCS 5/20-47) Sec. 20-47. Military members returning from mobilization and service outside the United States. (a) After returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the Illinoi…

(515 ILCS 5/20-5) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-5) Sec. 20-5. Necessity of license; exemptions. (a) Any person taking or attempting to take any fish, including minnows for commercial purposes, turtles, mussels, crayfish, or frogs by any means whatever in any waters or lands wholly or in …

(515 ILCS 5/20-50) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-50) Sec. 20-50. Salmon stamp fee. The fee for a salmon stamp shall be $6 for both resident and non-resident licensees. The fee for a salmon stamp shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age. Every person shall sign the salmon stamp …

(515 ILCS 5/20-51) Sec. 20-51. Inland trout stamp. The fee for an inland trout stamp shall be $6 for both resident and nonresident licensees. The fee for an inland trout stamp shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age. These stamps shall expire on March 31 of each year. …

(515 ILCS 5/20-55) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-55) Sec. 20-55. License fees for non-residents. Fees for licenses for non-residents of the State of Illinois are as follows: (a) For sport fishing devices as defined by Section 10-95, or spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, non-r…

(515 ILCS 5/20-56) Sec. 20-56. First-time fishing license. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, for sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, any resident of Illinois who is 26 years of age or older who has not purch…

(515 ILCS 5/20-60) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-60) Sec. 20-60. Reciprocal fishing agreements. The Department of Natural Resources may in its discretion enter into reciprocal fishing agreements with the States of Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Indiana to permit persons license…

(515 ILCS 5/20-65) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-65) Sec. 20-65. Tags for devices. Each licensee of any of the devices or boats named in this Code, other than a sport fishing device, shall receive from the person issuing the license a tag, furnished by the Department. The tag shall be at…

(515 ILCS 5/20-70) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-70) Sec. 20-70. Non-resident and resident aquatic life dealers. (a) Non-resident aquatic life dealers. Any person not a resident of Illinois who sells or ships to other wholesalers, retailers, or consumers any of the aquatic life protected…

(515 ILCS 5/20-75) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-75) Sec. 20-75. Mussel dealer permits; fees; violations. Any person, before receiving, buying, or offering to do so, or acting as an agent or broker in receipt or purchase of mussels, within the State of Illinois, shall first obtain a perm…

(515 ILCS 5/20-80) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-80) Sec. 20-80. Minnow dealers license; penalties. Any resident who, within the State of Illinois, sells or offers for sale, to any other wholesaler or retailer or for consumption, live minnows, whether from waters within or without the St…

(515 ILCS 5/20-82) Sec. 20-82. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 96-452, eff. 8-14-09. Repealed internally, eff. 1-1-11.)