A Survey of Sport Fishing in the Illinois Portion of Lake Michigan: March through September 2014

Acontact creel survey was conducted from April 1 to September 30, 2014, coveringall legal sport fishing during that period (both by pedestrians and anglers fishing from boats),excluding fishing from chartered boats and smelt fishing. 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 fishingfor the Illinois portion of Lake Michigan. Total fishing effort for pedestrians and boaters for the survey period was estimated at 363,053angler-hours. Total harvest estimates for major species during the survey period include 54,475yellow perch, 6,086brown trout, 6,832rainbow trout, 4,293lake trout, 30,314coho salmon, and 5,012Chinook salmon. Angler expenditures for boats, motors, trailers and fishing gear were estimated at $7.26million. Anglers traveled an estimated2.00million miles(round trip). The yield value of fishharvested by sport fishingwas approximately $1.60million.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 harvestedan estimated73brown trout, 15 rainbow trout, and 1,369coho salmonin an estimated total of 6,408hoursof fishing during March. Total expenditures for boats, motors, trailersand fishing gear during March wereestimated at $300,340