Fishing near Waukegan, IL
Set on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Lake County, Waukegan is a working Great Lakes fishing port. Waukegan Harbor is one of three Illinois sites where IDNR stocks Chinook and Coho Salmon each May, and local charter operators call it the 'Coho capital of Illinois.' Offshore, Waukegan Reef holds a strong Lake Trout population with documented natural reproduction. A short drive west, the Fox Chain O'Lakes adds more than 7,100 acres of inland fishing.
Top waters to fish near Waukegan
Species & education
Learn what type of fish are in Waukegan, Illinois and what's needed to catch them.
Find which waters have the species you want to catch
Alewife
Alosa pseudoharengus
Arctic Grayling
Thymallus arcticus
Atlantic Salmon
Salmo salar
Bigmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus cyprinellus
Black Buffalo
Ictiobus niger
Black Bullhead
Ameiurus melas
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Black Redhorse
Moxostoma duquesnei
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Bluegill Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus
Bowfin
Amia calva
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Brown Bullhead
Ameiurus nebulosus
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Bull Trout
Salvelinus confluentus
Fishing guides near Waukegan
Book a trip with a local fishing guide through Guidesly.
Mike Pjevach
Leisure Time Charters
5.0 (6 reviews)
Lake Michigan fishing with Leisure Time Charters
Book on Guidesly, opens in new tab
James Cooper
Halligan Outdoors Guide Service
5.0 (2 reviews)
Southern Wisconsin fishing adventures
Book on Guidesly, opens in new tab
Steve McClone
Moonpie Outdoors LLC
5.0 (1 review)
Experience The Top East Dundee Fishing Charters
Book on Guidesly, opens in new tab
Greg Windau
Hold'em Sportfishing
5.0 (1 review)
Best Time for Salmon Fishing is Here
Book on Guidesly, opens in new tab
Dale Helgeson
The Outdoor Experience Guide Service
4.0 (1 review)
Guided Walleye Fishing in Southeast Wisconsin
Book on Guidesly, opens in new tab
Bill Koch
MKE Fishing Charters
Lake Michigan Freshwater Salmon Charter
Book on Guidesly, opens in new tab
Fish smarter with real-time insights
Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.
Illinois licenses and regulations
Explore Waukegan
Top fishing waters
Loading top waters...
Popular Cities
Loading popular cities...
Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.
onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.