IL SB1251

Changes Section 15-20 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code to allow the Department to designate commercial fish species rather than limiting them to yellow perch, bloater chubs, and smelt.

Permits bloater chubs, smelt, and yellow perch to be taken in Lake Michigan only with gill nets or dip nets; prohibits all other nets for these species.

Prohibits commercial fishing for all trout species, including lake trout, salmon, and lake whitefish using commercial devices such as gill or pound nets.

Requires incidental catches of trout, lake trout, salmon, and lake whitefish in legal-sized gill or pound nets to be immediately returned to the water.

Authorizes the Department to modify fishing methods by administrative rule based on lake-wide scientific assessment data or fishery management needs.

Repeals Section 15-30 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.