Illinois Spear/Bow and Arrow Fishing State Records
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has inaugurated state record recognition awards for spearing and bowfishing in designated Illinois' waters. Archery and spearing harvest of eligible fish species has grown dramatically in the past decade and the Department wants to acknowledge those angler's and their sport. Spearing and archery rules are listed in the Illinois Fishing Information booklet available online at ifishillinois.org, department offices and at participating license vendors. Those rules are summarized below:
- Fish must be legally harvested using spear or gig, pitchfork, underwater spear gun, bow and arrow or archery devise. Spearing and bowfishing is not permitted in waters listed in Site Specific Regulations as "2 Pole and Line Fishing Only" (except as listed by notation). Those waters are listed in the Illinois Fishing Information booklet.
- All certification rules and procedures in place for hook and line state record acknowledgement apply for spearing/bowfishing. See Rules for Sport Fishing Awards in the Illinois Fishing Information booklet.
- To be considered for a Spearing/Bowfishing State Record Award, the fish must
be an eligible species and exceed the minimum weight requirement or the current
record.
For eligible species and minimum weight requirements click here.
For award information click here.
The sites below provide a wealth of information on Bowfishing in Illinois.
Bowfishing
Association of Illinois
Illinois Bowfishers
Bowfishing Association of Southern Illinois
Northern Illinois Bowfishing Association
Contact: Gary Ostrowski @ 847-409-3103
