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Waukegan Harbor

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Illinois, United States

4.4·841 catches

Top fish species at Waukegan Harbor

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Waukegan Harbor fishing reports

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Coho salmon

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Coho salmon

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Largemouth bass

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Freshwater drum

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Coho salmon

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Coho salmon

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General info

Waukegan Harbor is a lake located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is most popular for fishing Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, and Rock bass.

Location

42°21′48.9″N 87°49′22.1″W
Directions

Amenities

Fishing regulations at Waukegan Harbor, IL

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Illinois can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Chinook salmon

Chinook salmon

Regulation boundaryIL Illinois State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size10

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Aggregate limit5

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Special gear

IL Snagging

SNAGGINGa) Sport fishermen are permitted only one pole and line device to which can be attached no more than two hooks. On the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, the maximum treble hook size is 5/0; gaffs may not be used to land Paddlefish. b) Species of Fish and Snagging Harvest Limit. Only the following species of fish and harvest limit may be taken by snagging: Bighead Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limit Black Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limitBowfin – no harvest limitBuffalo – no harvest limitCarpsuckers – no harvest limitCommon Carp – no harvest limitFreshwater Drum – no harvest limitGizzard Shad – no harvest limitGrass Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limitLongnose Gar – no harvest limitPaddlefish – two per day; the maximum length limit for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa is 33-inch eye-fork length (EFL) (all Paddlefish greater than or equal to 33-inch EFL must be imme- diately released back to the Mississippi River); the minimum length limit for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri is 24-inch EFL(all Paddlefish less than or equal to 24-inch EFL must be immedi- ately released back to the Mississippi River). Salmon (Coho and Chinook only) – five fish, in the aggregate, daily harvest limit Shortnose Gar – no harvest limit Silver Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limit Suckers – no harvest limit c) No sorting (i.e., catching more fish than is allowed and putting back some in order to keep larger ones) of snagged Salmon and Paddlefish is permitted, except for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri where sorting is permitted. Every Paddlefish snagged must be included in the daily harvest limit. Every Salmon 10 inches in total length or longer snagged must be taken into immediate possession and included in the daily harvest limit. Once the daily limit of Salmon or Paddlefish has been reached, snagging must cease. d) Waters Open to Snagging and Snagging Season: Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Illinois River, except for the area below the Peoria Lock and Dam where snagging is permitted year round. Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri, except for the Chain of Rocks low water dam at Chouteau Island – Madison County, also known as Dam 27 at the Chain of Rocks – Madison County where no snagging is permitted. Snagging is permitted from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset daily, March 1 through April 15 within a 500 yard downstream limit below locks and dams on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa. Snagging for fish is permitted year-round within a 100 yard limit upstream or downstream of the dam at Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County. Snagging for Chinook and Coho Salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted: Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon.Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). Winnetka Power Plant discharge area. Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors). Disposition of Snagged Salmon and Paddlefish. All snagged Salmon and Paddlefish must be removed from the area from which they are taken and disposed of properly. 

Required licenses
"Inland Trout Stamp" prior to taking of trout from all waters except Lake Michigan."Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp" prior to taking of salmon and trout from Lake Michigan.
Additional information
No statewide size limit. Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate. Statewide regulations are shown herein, but you can access Site-Specific Regulations online. Catchable Trout Program: Various lakes and streams are annually stocked with catchable size (10-11 inches) trout in the spring or fall. Anglers are prohibited from taking (harvesting) trout at any of the stocking sites before the legal season opening. Spring catchable trout season opens at 5 a.m. on the first Saturday of April and the fall catchable trout season opens at 5 a.m. on the 3rd Saturday of October. In addition to the spring and fall catchable trout seasons, select locations have an early catch and release trout season beginning 2 weeks prior to the regular opening day (see https://www.ifishillinois.org for locations). All anglers must release any trout caught during the early catch and release trout season. To legally harvest rainbow and/or brown trout from any waters which receive catchable trout or hatchery stockings of trout, licensed sport fishermen must have an inland trout stamp, unless they are under 16 yearsof age, blind or disabled, or Illinois residents on leave from the Armed Forces. Other anglers may utilize these waters for other species. They are not excluded from fishing.Please review Site-Specific Regulations online.
Synonyms
Chinook, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Season open: year-round
Coho salmon

Coho salmon

Regulation boundaryIL Illinois State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size10

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Aggregate limit5

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Special gear

IL Snagging

SNAGGINGa) Sport fishermen are permitted only one pole and line device to which can be attached no more than two hooks. On the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, the maximum treble hook size is 5/0; gaffs may not be used to land Paddlefish. b) Species of Fish and Snagging Harvest Limit. Only the following species of fish and harvest limit may be taken by snagging: Bighead Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limit Black Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limitBowfin – no harvest limitBuffalo – no harvest limitCarpsuckers – no harvest limitCommon Carp – no harvest limitFreshwater Drum – no harvest limitGizzard Shad – no harvest limitGrass Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limitLongnose Gar – no harvest limitPaddlefish – two per day; the maximum length limit for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa is 33-inch eye-fork length (EFL) (all Paddlefish greater than or equal to 33-inch EFL must be imme- diately released back to the Mississippi River); the minimum length limit for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri is 24-inch EFL(all Paddlefish less than or equal to 24-inch EFL must be immedi- ately released back to the Mississippi River). Salmon (Coho and Chinook only) – five fish, in the aggregate, daily harvest limit Shortnose Gar – no harvest limit Silver Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limit Suckers – no harvest limit c) No sorting (i.e., catching more fish than is allowed and putting back some in order to keep larger ones) of snagged Salmon and Paddlefish is permitted, except for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri where sorting is permitted. Every Paddlefish snagged must be included in the daily harvest limit. Every Salmon 10 inches in total length or longer snagged must be taken into immediate possession and included in the daily harvest limit. Once the daily limit of Salmon or Paddlefish has been reached, snagging must cease. d) Waters Open to Snagging and Snagging Season: Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Illinois River, except for the area below the Peoria Lock and Dam where snagging is permitted year round. Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri, except for the Chain of Rocks low water dam at Chouteau Island – Madison County, also known as Dam 27 at the Chain of Rocks – Madison County where no snagging is permitted. Snagging is permitted from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset daily, March 1 through April 15 within a 500 yard downstream limit below locks and dams on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa. Snagging for fish is permitted year-round within a 100 yard limit upstream or downstream of the dam at Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County. Snagging for Chinook and Coho Salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted: Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon.Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). Winnetka Power Plant discharge area. Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors). Disposition of Snagged Salmon and Paddlefish. All snagged Salmon and Paddlefish must be removed from the area from which they are taken and disposed of properly. 

Required licenses
"Inland Trout Stamp" prior to taking of trout from all waters except Lake Michigan."Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp" prior to taking of salmon and trout from Lake Michigan.
Additional information
No statewide size limit. Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate. Statewide regulations are shown herein, but you can access Site-Specific Regulations online. Catchable Trout Program: Various lakes and streams are annually stocked with catchable size (10-11 inches) trout in the spring or fall. Anglers are prohibited from taking (harvesting) trout at any of the stocking sites before the legal season opening. Spring catchable trout season opens at 5 a.m. on the first Saturday of April and the fall catchable trout season opens at 5 a.m. on the 3rd Saturday of October. In addition to the spring and fall catchable trout seasons, select locations have an early catch and release trout season beginning 2 weeks prior to the regular opening day (see https://www.ifishillinois.org for locations). All anglers must release any trout caught during the early catch and release trout season. To legally harvest rainbow and/or brown trout from any waters which receive catchable trout or hatchery stockings of trout, licensed sport fishermen must have an inland trout stamp, unless they are under 16 yearsof age, blind or disabled, or Illinois residents on leave from the Armed Forces. Other anglers may utilize these waters for other species. They are not excluded from fishing.Please review Site-Specific Regulations online.
Edibility
Very good
Synonyms
Oncorhynchus kisutch, Silver Salmon
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Local laws and licenses

Illinois fishing license

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Reviews of Waukegan Harbor

4.4
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36 ratings

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Cities nearby

Waukegan

2.5 miles away

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Buffalo Grove

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Kenosha

15.6 miles away

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Wauconda

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Fox Lake

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FAQ about Waukegan Harbor fishing

📍 Where is Waukegan Harbor located?
Waukegan Harbor is a lake located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. Its coordinates are:
42°21′48.9″N 87°49′22.1″W
.
🎣 Where on Waukegan Harbor is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Waukegan Harbor by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Waukegan Harbor?
The most common species in Waukegan Harbor are:
  • Chinook salmon - 97 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Coho salmon - 79 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Rock bass - 41 members reported to have caught this fish
📢 What are the latest Waukegan Harbor fishing reports?
The latest Waukegan Harbor fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Waukegan Harbor?

Fishing in Illinois requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include resident, non-resident, annual, short-term, and combination licenses, purchasable online or at licensed agents.

In Illinois, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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