Lake michigan sportfishing charter operator permit application

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  Lake Michigan Sportfishing Charter Boat Operator Information

  The following steps are necessary to obtain a Sportfishing Charter Boat Operator permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR):

  You must have a current and valid U.S. Coast Guard license. If you do not have one, go to the following website for information for your merchant mariner credential: www.uscg.mil/nmc. Before applying for your USCG license you must have a TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential). You can access this link on the USCG website or go directly to: https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic.

  Please note the requirements for a mariner’s license require you to submit the results of a current physical examination and results from drug testing done by a certified medical review officer (MRO) in good standing. These MROs can be found on the following websites:

  1. www.mrocc.org (All MROs are in good standing)
  2. www.aamro.com (MROs with the purple “In Good Standing,” icon)

  An Operator’s Permit is valid until December 31st of the current year. It is issued without fee to Illinois residents. Nonresident fees are as follows:

  Indiana: $100.00
  Michigan: $100.00
  Wisconsin: $400.00

  Contact the Lake Michigan Program office for nonresidents fees in a state other than those listed above.

  After obtaining an operator’s permit, persons operating sport fishing charter boats in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan must submit daily catch reports to the Lake Michigan Program on forms furnished and in the manner prescribed by the Lake Michigan Program. All daily catch reports for a given month must be submitted, on or before the 15th day of the following month. Charter boat operators who fail to comply shall be subject to penalties as provided in Section 20–35 of the Illinois Fish and Aquatic Life Code, and noncompliance may be grounds for denial of future charter boat permits.