A Survey of Sport Fishing in the Illinois Portion of Lake Michigan: March through September 2013

A contact creelsurvey was conducted from April 1 to September 30, 2013, 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 382,395angler-hours. Total harvest estimates for major species during the survey period include 53,107yellow perch, 5,015brown trout, 3,154rainbow trout, 2,962lake trout, 36,239coho salmon, and 6,423Chinook salmon. Angler expenditures for boats, motors, trailers and fishing gear were estimated at $1.48million. Anglers traveled an estimated2.18million miles(round trip). The yield value of fishharvested by sport fishingwas approximately $1.88million.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. Anglers from both groups harvested an estimated 1,135yellow perch, 67brown trout, and 47coho salmonin an estimated total of 3,849 hoursof fishing during March. Total expenditures for boats, motors, trailersand fishing gear during March wereestimated at $4,348.