Burnham Harbor Fishing
A Lake Michigan harbor in Cook County on the IDNR harbor maps.
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Burnham Harbor, measured out for Illinois anglers
Burnham Harbor in Cook County appears on the IDNR list of Lake Michigan harbors. Its map marks public bank fishing in red.
Boaters use Burnham Harbor in Burnham Park and Northerly Island: 3 lanes, 37 trailer stalls.
IDNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan entry of the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. Point: USGS GNIS Bay feature 405242 (Burnham Park Harbor).
Ramp details for Burnham Harbor
- Burnham Harbor in Burnham Park and Northerly Islandmarina on the IDNR Lake Michigan list
- Location (IDNR)12th Street (1200 South), Chicago
- OperatorChicago Park District
- Phone(312) 747-7009
- IDNR line3 boat launching lanes on west side
- IDNR line37 parking spaces for car and trailer on west side
- IDNR linefuel
- IDNR linerestrooms
- IDNR linefish cleaning station
- IDNR linesanitary pump-out
- IDNR line$26 (daily)
- IDNR lineRamp is open May 1 to October 31
- IDNR lineNo launching after 8 PM
- IDNR lineMaximum boat length 23 feet
Putting a boat into Burnham Harbor
- Lake Michigan Burnham Harbor Boat RampFee required to launch
Lane counts, fees and seasons above are IDNR lines as printed for Burnham Harbor; call the marina before relying on them.
IDNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan entry of the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Offshore bars and park lagoons near Burnham Harbor
- Oakland ShoalBar, 3 miles
- Morgan ShoalBar, 4 miles
- Hyde Park ShoalsBar, 5 miles
- Clemson ShoalBar, 5 miles
Lagoon fishing near Burnham Harbor
- Auburn LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
- Columbus LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
- Douglas LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
- Garfield LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
- Gompers LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
- Humboldt LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
- Jackson Park lagoonsChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
- Marquette LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
- McKinley LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
- Sherman LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
- Washington LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
IDNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan entry of the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. Shoals: USGS GNIS domestic names (Illinois stream points), read November 4, 2026.
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| Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| All Fish | All devices used for sport fishing on Lake Michigan must be attended at all times |
| Lake Trout | 2 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Lake Whitefish or Round Whitefish | 12 Fish Daily Harvest Limit, singly or in the aggregate |
| Large or Smallmouth Bass | 21 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Trout and Salmon | 10 inch Minimum Length Limit; 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit, singly or in the aggregate, except for Lake Trout |
| Yellow Perch | 15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit (6); Closed May 1 through June 15 |
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026). The digest also requires the $6.50 Salmon Stamp to take salmon or trout in Lake Michigan.
IDNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan entry of the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. IDNR license fees (ifishillinois.org), read November 4, 2026.
Inside a cornfield drive of Burnham Harbor
More harbors up the shore from Burnham Harbor
- Diversey Harbor5 miles
- Belmont Harbor6 miles
- Jackson Park Harbor6 miles
- Montrose Harbor7 miles
- Calumet Harbor11 miles
Bait counters on the drive to Burnham Harbor
- Westrec Marinamarina, Chicago, under a mile
- Canal Street Marinamarina, Chicago, 1 mile
- Marina Westrec Management Incmarina, Chicago, 2 miles
- Wentworth Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Chicago, 2 miles
- Du Sable Harbormarina, Chicago, 2 miles
No rod? Loaner sites near Burnham Harbor
- Richard J. Daley Branch – Chicago Public LibraryChicago, 3 miles
- McKinley Branch – Chicago Public LibraryChicago, 4 miles
- Blackstone Branch – Chicago Public LibraryChicago, 4 miles
- Douglass Park Branch – Chicago Public LibraryChicago, 5 miles
Burnham Harbor, cut along Illinois county lines
- Cook County
- Lake Michigan
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
A Piscifun reel lineup for a day on Burnham Harbor
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How the shoreline by Burnham Harbor looks
Photo: edward stojakovic, CC BY 2.0
Photo: uptowner, CC BY 2.0
Photo: D.L, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Burnham Harbor, sorted out question by question
Which banks of Burnham Harbor are public?
Follow the red line IDNR draws for public bank access.
Is Burnham Harbor a launch harbor or a walk-in harbor?
Boaters use Burnham Harbor in Burnham Park and Northerly Island: 3 lanes, 37 trailer stalls.
What do IDNR fees run for a day on Burnham Harbor?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026). The digest also requires the $6.50 Salmon Stamp to take salmon or trout in Lake Michigan.
When are perch closed at Burnham Harbor?
Yellow perch are closed May 1 through June 15 in Illinois waters of Lake Michigan, with a 15 fish daily limit the rest of the year.
How many salmon can I keep at Burnham Harbor?
Trout and salmon combined: 5 a day with a 10-inch minimum, lake trout 2; black bass 1 a day at 21 inches or longer; lake whitefish 12; every device must be attended.
Which shoals lie near Burnham Harbor?
Nearest GNIS shoal: Oakland Shoal, 3 miles.
Which harbor is closest to Burnham Harbor?
Diversey Harbor sits 5 miles away.
Where do Burnham Harbor anglers buy tackle?
Westrec Marina, under a mile away, is first on our list.
Try the shoreline at Burnham Harbor
Buy the license and Salmon Stamp first.