Skipjack Herring in Illinois
Where skipjack herring swim in Illinois, and what may be kept.
- no statewide rowlimit
- 2 lbs 10.4 ozrecord
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Sizing up Illinois skipjack herring
IDNR prints no statewide row of its own for skipjack herring in the 2026 digest. Check the site-specific entry for the water you fish, since those can still bind it.
In 2022, Illinois River produced the hook and line record of 2 lbs 10.4 oz.
Heaviest skipjack herring on the Illinois list
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 2 lbs 10.4 oz | Illinois River | LaSalle County | May 11, 2022 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Camera views of the water by Skipjack Herring
Photo: Richie Diesterheft, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Jakes, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Alan Light, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Illinois anglers ask about skipjack herring
How many skipjack herring may I keep in Illinois?
IDNR sets no statewide line for it; look up the lake in the site-specific list.
How heavy is the Illinois skipjack herring record?
2 lbs 10.4 oz, landed at Illinois River in 2022. The list names no angler.
Where do skipjack herring live in Illinois?
This site ties it to no Illinois water page yet.
Are there site-specific rules for skipjack herring?
It has no named local entry; each water's all-fish rules still hold.
Do Illinois hatcheries raise skipjack herring?
The IDNR stocking table for 2021 to 2026 has no row for it.
Is one IDNR license enough for skipjack herring?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Which record divisions does IDNR keep for skipjack herring?
The list has a hook and line side and a bow and arrow side. It has 1 record row.
Where does IDNR rate skipjack herring best?
IDNR outlook tables here do not rate it.
Go after Illinois skipjack herring
Pick one of those Illinois waters and its page lays out the launches.