Atlantic Salmon in Illinois
Illinois atlantic salmon: limit, record, stocking and waters.
- 5 a daylimit
- 18 lbs 11.25 ozrecord
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atlantic salmon across Illinois water
Look for "Trout and Salmon" in the digest table to find the atlantic salmon limit. Its text opens: "Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate." The row lumps several fish together under one number when a cap applies.
IDNR lists 18 lbs 11.25 oz as the hook and line mark, taken at Lake Michigan in 1979.
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| Row as printed | Daily | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Trout and Salmon | 5 (combined) | no statewide size limit printed |
Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate.
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR) page 10, read November 4, 2026.
The Lake Michigan line on atlantic salmon
| Species as printed | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Trout and Salmon | 10 inch Minimum Length Limit; 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit, singly or in the aggregate, except for Lake Trout |
Lake Michigan rules and stamps
IDNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan entry of the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.
Record atlantic salmon on the IDNR list
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 18 lbs 11.25 oz | Lake Michigan | Cook County | May 26, 1979 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Other Illinois fish beside atlantic salmon
- Brook Trout5 a day
- Brown Trout5 a day
- Chinook Salmon5 a day
- Coho Salmon5 a day
- Lake Trout5 a day
- Pink Salmon5 a day
- Rainbow Trout5 a day
- Steelhead5 a day
- Tiger Trout5 a day
Timber, cornfield and water around Atlantic Salmon through a lens
Photo: Alaina McDavid, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: edward stojakovic, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Charles Fulton, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
atlantic salmon questions from cornfield ponds to the big river
What does IDNR allow per day for atlantic salmon?
Per the digest: 5 combined a day, no statewide size limit printed. Check the site-specific list for the lake you fish.
Does IDNR list a record atlantic salmon?
18 lbs 11.25 oz from Lake Michigan, 1979. Angler names are not printed.
Which Prairie State lake holds atlantic salmon?
The Illinois lake and river pages here leave it off for now.
Do any Illinois waters set their own atlantic salmon rule?
The site-specific list leaves it alone, apart from all-fish gear entries.
Were atlantic salmon stocked in Illinois recently?
The IDNR stocking table leaves it out.
How much is an Illinois license to fish for atlantic salmon?
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.
Is there a bow record for atlantic salmon in Illinois?
IDNR runs two lists: hook and line and bow and arrow. Its entries: 1 record row.
What does the IDNR outlook say about atlantic salmon?
No IDNR fishing outlook on a lake page here rates it.
Line up a day on Illinois atlantic salmon
Each water above lists its ramps and site-specific rules on its own page.