St. Clair River Fishing
Michigan launches, harbors, bays, limits and charters on St. Clair River.
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A first look at St. Clair River for anglers
St. Clair River is the connecting water from Port Huron down to the St. Clair Flats, carrying Lake Huron into Lake St. Clair. Michigan anglers fish it for walleye, smallmouth bass, lake sturgeon and yellow perch.
Launches here sit in Sanilac County and St. Clair County. This page counts 7 public launches, 1 harbor, 2 named bays, 0 river mouths and 3 charter listings on the Michigan side.
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Launch sites serving St. Clair River
- Algonac Municipal Boat Accessboat ramp, Sanilac County
- St. Clair Municipal Boat Accessboat ramp, Sanilac County
- Algonac State Park1 lane, 8 trailer spaces, Recreation Passport, St. Clair County
- Ames Boat Access1 lane, 9 trailer spaces, toilet, Recreation Passport, St. Clair County
- Marine City Boat Access4 lanes, 59 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport, St. Clair County
- North Channel Boat Access on St. Clair River8 lanes, 120 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport, St. Clair County
- Snooks Boat Access1 lane, 8 trailer spaces, toilet, Recreation Passport, St. Clair County
Where to dock on St. Clair River
- Saint Clair Charles F. Moore HarborSt. Clair County, grant in aid
Pier fishing on St. Clair River
- Port Huron Township, St. ClairShore, pier, boat, fee: No
MDNR boat access sites, MDNR harbors layer, MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Where streams meet St. Clair River
Smaller named bays: Grande Pointe Cut and South Channel.
USGS GNIS bays and stream mouths assigned to the nearest Michigan Great Lakes assessment unit.
Level stations on St. Clair River
US Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (CWMS) reading for North Channel Station, recorded October 22, 2026; retrieved October 22, 2026. Values are provisional.
NOAA CO-OPS Great Lakes water levels reading for Algonac (IGLD85), recorded October 22, 2026; retrieved October 22, 2026. Values are provisional.
NOAA CO-OPS Great Lakes water levels reading for St. Clair State Police (IGLD85), recorded October 22, 2026; retrieved October 22, 2026. Values are provisional.
NOAA CO-OPS Great Lakes water levels reading for Dry Dock (IGLD85), recorded October 22, 2026; retrieved October 22, 2026. Values are provisional.
Limits and seasons on St. Clair River
| Species | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | All waters except Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and Detroit River (and the Beaver Island Archipelago waters in Note 2) | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, Detroit River | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: 3rd Sat. in June – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye | Upper Peninsula Great Lakes and inland waters, and St. Marys River | 5; minimum 15 inches | May 15 – March 15 |
| Walleye | Lower Peninsula Great Lakes (except as noted) | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| Walleye | Lake Erie, Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River | 6 (through April 30, 2026; updated by May 1 annually); minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| Northern pike | Upper Peninsula Great Lakes and inland waters, and St. Marys River | 2; minimum 24 inches | May 15 – March 15 |
| Northern pike | Lower Peninsula Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and Detroit River | 2 (up to 5 pike 24 inches or greater on Lake St. Clair, St. Clair R. and Detroit R.) | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | Statewide | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | Statewide | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Muskellunge (including tiger muskellunge) | All Great Lakes and inland waters and St. Marys River | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Muskellunge (including tiger muskellunge) | Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and Detroit River | Only 1 per angler per license year; mandatory harvest registration; minimum 42 inches | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | Statewide (except as noted) | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfishes (black and white crappie, bluegill, green and hybrid sunfish | Statewide | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| White bass | Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair, St. Marys River, St. Clair River and Detroit River | 25 | Open all year |
| Cisco, lake whitefish, round whitefish | Great Lakes, connecting waters and Type F lakes | 10 in any combination (Lake Superior: up to 10 additional round whitefish) | Open all year |
| Smelt | Statewide | 2 gallons | Open all year (see General Netting Regulations) |
| Burbot | Statewide | 5 | Open all year |
| All other species | Statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered) | No possession limit | Open all year |
| Trout and salmon (Atlantic, Chinook, coho and pink salmon; brook, brow | Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair, St. Marys River, St. Clair River and Detroit River | 5 total in any combination; no more than 3 of any one species, except up to 5 coho, Chinook or pink salmon. St. Marys River: 5 additional pink salmon from last | Open all year (lake trout and splake by management unit) |
One Michigan all-species license covers the Great Lakes and connecting waters too: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents or $10 for a single day.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), Great Lakes and connecting waters tables. All Michigan limits.
Guided trips on St. Clair River
- Northbay Charterscharter, Casco, (586) 727-4991
- lake St Clair Fishing Guide Servicecharter, Goodells, (810) 531-2191
- Michigan Honey Hole Fishing Charterscharter, Lexington, (810) 242-2495
Where to slip a boat on St. Clair River
- Sassy MarinaAlgonac
- Eds Auto & Boat ServiceAllenton
- Cuthbertson MarineClay
- Mayea MarinaFair Haven
- Art Cook Marine ServicesHarsens Island
- Castaway Bay MarinaHarsens Island
- Emerald City Harbor IncHarsens Island
- Middle Channel MarinaHarsens Island
- Tashmoo MarinaHarsens Island
- Walkers Landing IncHarsens Island
- Bouvier Bridge MarinaIra
- Buoy Bay MarinaIra
- Swan Creek HarborIra
- Terry's MarinaIra
- Belle River MarinaMarine City
- Marine City MarinaMarine City
- Bridge Harbour Marina Service IncPort Huron
- Desmond MarinePort Huron
- Great Lake Maritime CtrPort Huron
- Great Lakes JetdockPort Huron
- Jay CooperPort Huron
- River's Bend MarinaSaint Clair
- St Clair City Boat HarborSaint Clair
- Bark Shanty MarinaSandusky
Yellow Pages listings; charters matched by name or shore county.
More Great Lakes pages beyond St. Clair River
- Lake Superiorgreat lake
- Lake Michigangreat lake
- Lake Hurongreat lake
- Lake Eriegreat lake
- Lake St. Clairconnecting water
- St. Marys Riverconnecting water
- Detroit Riverconnecting water
Piscifun spinning and baitcasting picks for St. Clair River
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Photographed water a drive from St. Clair River
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
Photo: Ian Rastall, CC0 1.0
Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, CC BY-SA 2.0
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St. Clair River questions Michigan anglers ask
What license is needed on St. Clair River?
One Michigan all-species license covers the Great Lakes and connecting waters too: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents or $10 for a single day.
Which launches put boats onto St. Clair River?
7 public launches and 1 harbor are listed on this page, busiest counties St. Clair and Sanilac.
Which species draw boats to St. Clair River?
Walleye, smallmouth bass, lake sturgeon and yellow perch.
Which streams reach St. Clair River?
No Michigan stream mouths are listed for it on this page.
Do any fishing guides work St. Clair River out of Michigan ports?
3 charter listings, mostly out of Casco, Goodells and Lexington.
What walleye rules apply on St. Clair River?
6 (through April 30, 2026; updated by May 1 annually); minimum 15 inches; Open all year.
How high is St. Clair River right now?
4 level stations on this page show dated readings from NOAA or the Corps of Engineers.
Which species does the MDNR plant in St. Clair River?
No plants are logged for it in the MDNR table for 2024 to 2026.
Is St. Clair River a Great Lake or a river?
A connecting water: the connecting water from Port Huron down to the St. Clair Flats, carrying Lake Huron into Lake St. Clair.
Book a day on St. Clair River
Check the level and the rules, then launch.