Island Spear Co.

Regulations Illinois

Spearfishing Regulations in Illinois

Checked against the primary source (IDNR) on July 5, 2026state

Governing agency: Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Division of Fisheries. Last verified July 5, 2026 by independent primary-source check.

Summary

Illinois has no ocean or saltwater; its only shoreline is freshwater Lake Michigan, so there is no marine spearfishing. In fresh water, spearfishing is legal but restricted to a specific list of rough/nongame fish (carp, buffalo, suckers, gar, bowfin, gizzard shad, freshwater drum, catfish and a handful of invasive species) plus American bullfrog and common snapping turtle, taken by underwater spear gun, spear, gig, pitchfork or bow and arrow. Popular game fish (bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, northern pike, muskie, perch, trout and salmon) may NOT be speared or bowfished. Anyone 16 or older needs an Illinois sport fishing license, which the state genuinely issues and enforces.

License

What you need to be legal

LegalA license is required
License
Illinois Sport Fishing License
Who needs it
Anyone taking aquatic life by pitchfork, underwater spear gun, bow and arrow, spear or gig must hold a valid Illinois sport fishing license (the same license required for hook-and-line angling). Residents 16 and older and all non-residents 16 and older need one; residents under 16 are exempt. 123
Resident cost
Resident annual sport fishing license $15.00; resident 24-hour $5.50; resident senior (ages 65-74) $7.75; resident super-senior (75+) $1.50. The 2026 license year runs March 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. 34
Non-resident cost
Non-resident annual $31.50; non-resident 3-day $15.50; non-resident 24-hour $10.50. 34
Where to buy
Online at the IDNR licensing portal (dnr.illinois.gov/lpr.html) or ExploreMoreIL.com, and from license vendors statewide. 34

Exemptions

  • Residents under 16 years of age (and non-residents under 16) 3
  • Resident persons declared legally disabled or blind 3
  • Illinois-resident active-duty military members home on leave 3
  • Owners or tenants who reside on the land may fish in waters wholly contained on their own property 3
  • IDNR periodically designates Free Fishing Days when no license is required (verify current-year dates with IDNR)

The full story

The full story

Illinois is often pictured as a 'coastal' state because of Chicago's lakefront, but Lake Michigan is a freshwater Great Lake, not a sea. There is no marine or saltwater spearfishing in Illinois at all. Every spearfishing question here is a freshwater one.

In fresh water, Illinois follows the classic rough-fish-only pattern. State law (515 ILCS 5/10-110(b)) and the DNR's Part 810 rule lump underwater spear guns, spears, gigs, pitchforks and bows together as 'Bowfishing (Archery/Spear Methods)' and allow them ONLY for a defined list of nongame/rough fish - carp, buffalo, suckers, carpsuckers, gar, bowfin, gizzard shad, freshwater drum and catfish - plus a set of invasive species (Asian carps, northern snakehead, round goby, sea lamprey, tilapia, white catfish) and two native reptiles/amphibians (American bullfrog and common snapping turtle). The rule then states plainly that 'no other aquatic life may be taken by these means.' That means the state's popular game fish - bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, northern pike, muskie, yellow perch, trout and salmon - are strictly off-limits to a spear or bow; they are rod-and-reel only.

On the license there is no law-vs-practice gap: Illinois genuinely issues and enforces a sport fishing license, and the spear/bow rule expressly requires one. At $15 for a resident annual it is one of the cheapest in the country, and residents under 16, legally blind or disabled residents, resident active-duty military on leave, and resident landowners on their own water are exempt.

Two practical cautions. First, WHERE you can spear matters as much as WHAT: the open-waters list in the rule enumerates specific rivers and site-specific waters, catfish may be speared only in rivers and boat-accessible backwaters, and any water posted '2 Pole and Line Fishing Only' bars spearing unless specifically authorized. Whether Lake Michigan itself is an open water for spearing the listed species is not clearly established in the consulted primary sources and is listed as unverified. Second, the fishing rules do not set a statewide SCUBA/dive-flag standard for spearfishing (they simply list 'underwater spear gun' as legal), while some individual waters prohibit underwater breathing devices - so always read the Site Specific Regulations for the exact water you plan to dive.

Where it's legal

Saltwater & freshwater

Saltwater

Not permitted

Illinois has no marine or saltwater waters. Its only large shoreline is Lake Michigan, which is a freshwater Great Lake, so there is no ocean/saltwater spearfishing. All spearfishing in Illinois is freshwater.

Freshwater

Legal

Freshwater spearfishing is legal but method- and species-restricted. Under Illinois law (515 ILCS 5/10-110(b)) and 17 Ill. Adm. Code Part 810, only the fish, reptile and amphibian species on the approved 'Bowfishing (Archery/Spear Methods)' list may be taken by pitchfork, underwater spear gun, bow and arrow or bow and arrow device, spear or gig. A valid sport fishing license is required, aquatic life so taken may not be sold or bartered, and no other aquatic life may be taken by these means. Statewide length and daily-harvest limits apply. Waters open to these methods are enumerated in the rule (public rivers and streams in 17 Ill. Adm. Code Part 3704 Appendix A, plus site-specific waters in Section 810.45); catfish may be taken by these methods only in rivers and connected boat-accessible backwaters. Waters posted '2 Pole and Line Fishing Only' do NOT permit spearing/bowfishing unless specifically authorized in the Site Specific Regulations. 12

Gear

What you can carry

Speargun
Legal. The rule expressly lists 'underwater spear gun' as a permitted device for taking the approved species. Speared fish may not be sold or bartered. 12
Pole spear
A hand-held 'spear' is expressly named as a legal method for taking the approved species, so pole spears fall within the permitted 'spear' methods. 12
Hawaiian sling
Not named by name in Illinois regulations. As a hand-powered spear device it would fall under the permitted 'underwater spear gun / spear' methods for the approved species, but it is neither expressly authorized nor prohibited by that name; confirm with IDNR before relying on it. 12
Spearfishing on SCUBA
The statewide fishing rules name 'underwater spear gun' as a legal device but do not set a statewide SCUBA or dive-flag standard for spearfishing. Some individual/site-specific waters expressly prohibit the use and aid of underwater breathing devices; check the Site Specific Regulations for the exact water. 2

Gear restrictions

  • Only the listed approved fish/reptile/amphibian species may be taken by these methods; taking any other aquatic life (e.g. game fish) by spear, gig, bow or pitchfork is unlawful 12
  • It is unlawful to take or attempt to take aquatic life by these means along, upon, across or from any public right-of-way or highway (515 ILCS 5/10-110(b)) 12
  • Aquatic life taken by these means may not be sold or bartered 12
  • No live possession of the listed non-native (invasive) fish species except common carp and goldfish 12
  • Statewide and site-specific length and daily-harvest limits apply to speared/bowfished fish 2

Do not spear

Prohibited species

  • All game fish are off-limits to spear/gig/bow methods. Only species on the approved Bowfishing (Archery/Spear Methods) list may be taken; everything else is prohibited. 12
  • Largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, white, striped and hybrid striped bass 12
  • Walleye and sauger 12
  • White, black and hybrid crappie 12
  • Bluegill and other sunfish 12
  • Northern pike and muskellunge 12
  • Yellow perch 12
  • Trout (rainbow, brown, etc.) and salmon (Chinook, Coho) 12
  • Paddlefish and sturgeon 12
  • Any of the 80+ species on the Illinois Endangered and Threatened Aquatic Life list (may not be taken for any purpose), which for spear/bow methods most notably includes River Redhorse, Greater Redhorse, Lake Sturgeon and Mudpuppy 2

Where you can't

Area restrictions

  • Waters posted '2 Pole and Line Fishing Only' prohibit spearing/bowfishing unless specifically authorized in that water's Site Specific Regulations 12
  • Catfish species may be taken by spear/bow/gig ONLY in rivers and connected public (boat-accessible) backwaters, not in general lakes 12
  • The rule enumerates specific rivers open to these methods (Mississippi, Illinois, Wabash, Embarras, Sangamon, Kaskaskia, Little Wabash, Big Muddy, Skillet Fork, Cache, Saline, Ohio and others) with named exclusions for U.S. Fish & Wildlife refuge waters and certain state fish & wildlife areas 12
  • Many individual waters set their own standoff distances (e.g., site rules barring bow/gig/spear take within a set distance of a boat ramp, dock, beach, dam or developed recreation area) and some prohibit underwater breathing devices; check the Site Specific Regulations for the exact water 2
  • Taking aquatic life by these means from or across any public right-of-way or highway is prohibited 12

Worth knowing

Notable rules, seasons & limits

  • Illinois has no saltwater; Lake Michigan is a freshwater Great Lake, so all spearfishing is freshwater
  • Spearfishing/bowfishing is a rough-fish method only: it is legal for carp, buffalo, suckers, carpsuckers, gar, bowfin, gizzard shad, freshwater drum, catfish and listed invasives, plus American bullfrog and common snapping turtle - NOT for any game fish 12
  • The same devices are grouped together in law: pitchfork, underwater spear gun, bow and arrow or bow and arrow device, spear or gig 12
  • A valid sport fishing license is required and is genuinely enforced; speared fish may not be sold or bartered 12
  • Live possession of listed invasive fish (Asian carps, snakehead, round goby, sea lamprey, tilapia, white catfish) is prohibited except common carp and goldfish 12
  • Bullfrogs and common snapping turtles taken by spear/gig/bow must be during the appropriate season and are subject to their own rules; some counties prohibit bowfishing for common snapping turtles 2

What divers here typically use

Gear up for Illinois spearfishing

Where spearfishing is allowed in Illinois, this is the core kit divers assemble before their first day in the water. Our honest guide to the Beginner Spearfishing Gear List walks through what to look for — curated from published specs and community consensus, not paid placement.

If you break them

Penalties

Taking fish without a required sport fishing license, taking a species or using a method not authorized, or selling/bartering speared fish, violates the Illinois Fish and Aquatic Life Code (515 ILCS 5) and 17 Ill. Adm. Code Part 810. Violations are enforced the same as statutory offenses and can carry fines, license suspension and seizure of gear and catch. Exact dollar amounts are set by statute and were not enumerated on the consulted IDNR pages.

Not yet independently confirmed — verify directly

  • Whether Lake Michigan proper is an 'open' water for spearing/bowfishing the listed rough species - the statewide open-waters list in the Part 810 rule enumerates specific rivers/streams and site-specific waters, and does not clearly list Lake Michigan for these methods.
  • Exact statutory penalty/fine dollar amounts for spearing without a license or taking an unauthorized species/method (set in 515 ILCS 5 and Part 810; not enumerated on the consulted IDNR pages).
  • Any statewide SCUBA or dive-flag requirement specific to spearfishing - the fishing rules name 'underwater spear gun' as legal but do not set a statewide standard; some individual waters prohibit underwater breathing devices.
  • The exact current-year Illinois Free Fishing Days dates (IDNR designates them periodically; dates vary by year).
  • Whether a Hawaiian sling specifically is treated as a legal 'spear' device - it is not named by name in Illinois regulations.

Confirm these points directly with Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Division of Fisheries before you rely on them.

Primary sources

Sources

Every fact above is drawn from these official sources. Each was retrieved on the date shown; regulations can change after that date.

  3. Source 3: Illinois DNR (eRegulations) - Illinois Fishing Licenses (fees, exemptions, where to buy)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://www.eregulations.com/illinois/fishing/fishing-licenses

  4. Source 4: Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Fishing Licenses & Fees (official IDNR page)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://dnr.illinois.gov/lpr/fishinglicensesfees.html

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is spearfishing legal in Illinois?
Saltwater spearfishing is restricted in Illinois, and it is permitted in fresh water, subject to license, gear, species, and area rules. Illinois has no marine or saltwater waters. Its only large shoreline is Lake Michigan, which is a freshwater Great Lake, so there is no ocean/saltwater spearfishing. All…
Do you need a license to spearfish in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois requires the Illinois Sport Fishing License. Resident cost: Resident annual sport fishing license $15.00; resident 24-hour $5.50; resident senior (ages 65-74) $7.75; resident super-senior (75+) $1.50. The 2026 license year runs March 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. Non-resident cost: Non-resident annual $31.50; non-resident 3-day $15.50; non-resident 24-hour $10.50.
Can you spearfish on scuba in Illinois?
The statewide fishing rules name 'underwater spear gun' as a legal device but do not set a statewide SCUBA or dive-flag standard for spearfishing. Some individual/site-specific waters expressly prohibit the use and aid of underwater breathing devices; check the Site Specific…
What can't you spear in Illinois?
Protected or no-take species you may not spear in Illinois include: All game fish are off-limits to spear/gig/bow methods. Only species on the approved Bowfishing, Largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, white, striped and hybrid striped bass, Walleye and sauger, White, black and hybrid crappie, Bluegill and other sunfish, Northern pike and muskellunge, Yellow perch, Trout. Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Division of Fisheries.

Stay current

Get an email when Illinois's size & bag limits change

Regulations shift between seasons. We re-check Illinois's rules against the primary source and send a short note when the limits, seasons, or licensing move — nothing else.

No spam. Regulations updates, gear data drops, and the launch of the guide.

Last verified July 5, 2026. Regulations change — always confirm the current rules with Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Division of Fisheries before you dive.

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