By HEATHER RUPPE
With warmer weather coming to us, fishermen in fresh and salt waters need to be aware of the state’s guidelines for how to fish, what to catch and how big the fish must be to keep it. Please see below for all of this information, which was taken from resources at the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
General fishing rules for South Carolina waters
The following laws pertain to recreational saltwater fishing, shrimping, crabbing and shellfishing:
Individuals (age 16 and older) harvesting marine resources, including finfish, oysters, clams, shrimp and crab must purchase an annual, temporary or 3 Year Saltwater Recreational Fishing License, unless fishing on a licensed public fishing pier; fishing on a licensed charter/headboat vessel while under hire; or using 3 or fewer drop nets, 3 or fewer fold up traps, or 3 or fewer handlines with no hooks.
Fishing piers and chartered vessels charging a fee for fishing must purchase an annual Public Fishing Pier or Charter/Headboat Vessel license, respectively.
Any person engaged in selling any fish or fishery product, including bait harvested in SC state waters, must first obtain the appropriate license.
To qualify for a resident commercial saltwater fishing license, one must have been a resident of this state for the past 365 consecutive days and furnish proof to SCDNR at the time of application.
Regulations for Saltwater Fishing Methods & Devices
Bush Lines / Pole Lines: A Saltwater Recreational Fishing License required.
Hook & Line: Saltwater Recreational Fishing License required.
Gigging (Gig, Spear, & Bow & Arrow): Saltwater Recreational Fishing License required.
Gigging Restriction:
It is unlawful to gig for flounder in salt waters during daylight hours. For the purposes of this section, gigging does not include underwater spear fishing.
It is unlawful to gig for sharks.
It is unlawful to gig red drum or spotted seatrout during Dec., Jan. and Feb.
Cast Nets (Other than Shrimp Baiting): Saltwater Recreational Fishing License required.
Seines & Gill Nets: Saltwater Recreational Fishing License and Gill Net Equipment License required.
Fishing Restrictions for Nets Include:
SC gamefish (cobia, red drum, spotted seatrout, tarpon, and striped bass) may not be taken by nets. Sharks may not be taken by gill nets.
No more than one lawful gill net can be used recreationally.
Gill nets no longer than 100 feet with a 3-inch minimum stretched mesh size may be used only in unrestricted areas of the Atlantic Ocean.
Gill nets no longer than 100 yards with 3-inch minimum stretched mesh size may be used only in special designated inshore areas.
Gill nets must be marked with one end buoy that is international orange in color with the name and address of the owner. Operator must be within 500 feet of the net, be within hailing distance and have visual contact with the net at all times when deployed.
Nets may not be set more than halfway across any waterway at any time.
Stationary or fixed nets cannot be set or placed within 600 feet of a net previously set.
It is unlawful to use any seine or gill net in any waters within a state park; except, small hand seines and cast nets for taking shrimp are allowed.
Edisto is labeled a SPECIAL MANAGEMENT ZONES
The following artificial reefs have been declared “Special Management Zones” and are protected by federal regulations:
BP-25, Beaufort 45, Betsy Ross, Bill Perry, C.J. Davidson, Cape Romain, Capers, CCA-McClellanville, Charleston 60, Comanche, Eagles Nest, Edisto 40, Edisto 60, Edisto Offshore, Fripp Island, Georgetown, Greenville, Hilton Head, Hunting Island, Kiawah, Little River Offshore, Lowcountry Anglers, North Inlet, Paradise, Pawleys Island, Pop Nash, Ron McManus Memorial, Ten Mile, Vermillion, Wayne Upchurch, Will Goldfinch and Y-73.
Fishing may be conducted only with handheld hook and line gear and spearfishing gear (excluding powerheads). The use of fish traps, longlines, gill nets and trawls is prohibited.
Three SSMZs (Devil’s Hole, Area 51 and Area 53) and four MPAs (Snowy Grouper Wreck, Northern SC, Edisto and Charleston Deep Artificial Reef) are located off the SC coast. Fishing for or possession of (unless gear is appropriately stored) snapper grouper species is prohibited.
Prohibited Fishing Practices
The following are illegal in South Carolina waterways:
Harvest of red drum from federal waters (3-200 miles offshore) is prohibited.
The use of dynamite, gun powder, lime or any other explosive in or about any waters of this state is unlawful.
It is unlawful to take, have in one’s possession or to land or sell any species of fish taken by means of a bangstick or similar device.
The commercial sale of diamondback terrapins is prohibited.
Harvest and possession of horseshoe crabs is prohibited without a commercial permit. A permit is not required to possess a castoff or molted shell of a horseshoe crab.
It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale any sea turtles or to offer for sale, sell or destroy any sea turtle eggs. Sea turtles are protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act.
It is unlawful to display, feed, net, trap, harpoon, molest or otherwise interfere with the well-being or normal activity of marine mammals of the orders Cetacea, Sirenia and Pinnipedia, including but not limited to bottlenose dolphin, spotted dolphin, common dolphin, manatee, porpoise, harbor seal and any species of whale in any waters of the state. Marine mammals are also protected by federal law.
It is unlawful to buy, sell, possess or ship Shortnose Sturgeon and Atlantic Sturgeon.
