University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A Survey of Sport Fishing in the Illinois Portion of Lake Michigan: March through September 2023

Roswell, Charles R.; Czesny, Sergiusz J.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125005

Description

Title
A Survey of Sport Fishing in the Illinois Portion of Lake Michigan: March through September 2023
Author(s)
  • Roswell, Charles R.
  • Czesny, Sergiusz J.
Issue Date
2024-11-04
Keyword(s)
  • Sport Fish
  • Creel Survey
  • Anglers
  • Fishing
  • Lake Michigan
Date of Ingest
2024-11-04T16:33:52-06:00
Geographic Coverage
Illinois
Abstract
A contact creel survey was conducted from April 1 to September 30, 2023, covering all legal sport fishing during that period (both by pedestrians and anglers fishing from boats), excluding fishing from chartered boats and smelt netting. The intent of the survey was to provide reliable estimates of sport fishing activity, sport fish harvest, expenditures for sport fishing, and the quality and distribution of sport fishing for the Illinois portion of Lake Michigan. Total fishing effort for pedestrians and boaters for the survey period was estimated at 228,932 angler-hours. Total harvest estimates for major species during the survey period include 830 yellow perch, 384 brown trout, 2,961 rainbow trout, 4,144 lake trout, 49,722 Coho salmon, and 3,785 Chinook salmon. Angler expenditures for boats, motors, trailers and fishing gear were estimated at $1.5 million. Anglers traveled an estimated 1.85 millionmiles (round trip). The yield value of fish harvested by sport fishing was approximately $2.03 million. An additional early-season survey was conducted during March 1 to March 31 at Waukegan Harbor, Montrose Harbor, and Calumet Park for pedestrian anglers and Waukegan Harbor and Calumet Park for launched-boat anglers. In total, anglers harvested an estimated 2,506 Coho salmon in an estimated total of 10,068 hours of fishing during March. Another additional survey of sport fishing was conducted during October 2023-February 2024 at multiple sites in Chicago. Yellow perch anglers harvested an estimated 21,601 yellow perch in an estimated 48,057 hours of angling in the fall and winter period of 2023-2024
Publisher
Illinois Natural History Survey
Series/Report Name or Number
INHS Technical Report 2024 (21)
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
technical report
Language
eng
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
Federal Aid Project F-196 R-7
Copyright and License Information
This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Reports produced by INHS staff, usually as deliverables for assessment projects funded by federal or state agencies or non-governmental organizations.