Jim Shell recently embarked on an adventurous quest to catch burbot, a unique and nocturnal fish found in Illinois’ Lake Michigan.
Shell, who annually targets this elusive predator during trips to Red Lake, Ontario, successfully translated his techniques to Illinois waters, making him one of the few to pursue burbot locally.
In an email, Shell expressed his excitement regarding his first attempt in early June, stating that while straggler burbot can be caught accidentally during the day, they are primarily nocturnal.
With a clear plan, he utilized resources from the Illinois Natural History Survey, highlighting the list of reefs identified for fishing at ifishillinois.org/lmich/index.php.
He meticulously chose reefs such as Julian’s, Gumby, and Waukegan, which he believed provided the best chances for a catch.
On his first night out, Shell timed his trip for optimal conditions and, after a long boat ride, began scouting the structure in daylight, catching five lake trout and a coho in the process.
His confidence grew upon discovering lake trout in the area since burbot are known to frequent similar structures.
The first bite came an hour after dark, leading to a productive night where he caught four burbot and two more lake trout, despite missing several others.
Shell has previously learned effective fishing tactics at Red Lake, using jigging spoons and nightcrawlers.
While fishing at the depths, he relies on braided line for better feel, asserting that when burbot strike, anglers definitely know it.
According to “Fishes of the Chicago Region,” burbot, recognized as the only freshwater cod, have a distinctive slimy appearance and unique features including a chin barbel and a long anal fin.
They generally thrive in cold, deep waters and venture closer to shore as winter approaches, leading some anglers to target them successfully.
In a remarkable record-setting catch, Saro Kevorkian caught the Illinois record burbot while night fishing at Diversey Harbor in December 2020.
Afterward, it was kept overnight at Park Bait before being certified, then released back into Montrose Harbor.
Shell’s exploration of burbot fishing has led to a productive June, making four successful trips where he boated burbot each time, with his best outing yielding nine fish and his largest catch weighing in at 7.75 pounds.
Vic Santucci, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Lake Michigan program manager, reassured concerns regarding burbot populations, arguing that recreational fishing likely has minimal impact due to burbot’s natural habits.
“I can’t really envision the case for concern,” wrote Santucci in an email, emphasizing the incidental catches among trout and salmon anglers that target burbot selectively.
He also noted a recent surge in interest among anglers jigging for lake trout offshore, suggesting this might lead to increased burbot catches without threatening their populations significantly.
However, jigging at night remains a challenge, which Santucci recognized when discussing the burbot’s unique standing as one of Lake Michigan’s main native cold-water predators.
Although he has never caught a burbot himself, Santucci has tasted the fish and praised its delicious flavor, acknowledging that it is best consumed fresh as it does not freeze well.
Shell refers to burbot as ‘poor man’s lobster’ for good reason, explaining that he prepares it by boiling with sugar and lemon, then serving it with melted butter.
Noteworthy is the fish’s versatility in cooking methods, with Shell affirming, “There’s no bad way you can make them.”
Burbot has garnered various nicknames over the years.
The Minnesota DNR cites names including eel pout, lawyer, ling, cusk, lush, loche, mudblow, and, of course, poor man’s lobster.
After his fourth trip, Shell looked forward to exploring additional reefs in Lake Michigan, revealing his journey has been full of exploration and fulfilling discoveries.
He encouraged others to venture out and try their luck with burbot fishing and shared his experiences through YouTube videos showcasing his summer nights on the water.
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