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

Roswell, Charles R.; Czesny, Sergiusz J.

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

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

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

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.

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