South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 13 - Protection Of Fish
Section 50-13-230. Striped bass limits.

(A) In the following freshwater bodies: the Ashepoo River; Ashley River; Back River in Jasper County and the Back River in Berkeley County; Black River; Black Mingo Creek; Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek; Combahee River; Cooper River system; Coosawhatchie River; Cuckholds Creek; Edisto River; Horseshoe Creek; Lumber River; Lynches River; Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers; Pocotaligo River in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton Counties; Salkehatchie and Little Salkehatchie Rivers; Sampit River; Santee River system except the lower reach of the Saluda River; Tulifinny River; Thoroughfare Creek; Intracoastal Waterway (Horry County); and Waccamaw River from June sixteenth through September thirtieth, it is unlawful to take, attempt to take, or to possess striped bass. Striped bass taken must be returned immediately to the waters from where it came.
(B) On the lower reach of the Saluda River from June sixteenth through September thirtieth, it is unlawful to take or possess striped bass. Striped bass taken must be returned immediately to the waters from where it came.
(C) In the following freshwater bodies: the Ashepoo River; Ashley River; Back River in Jasper County and the Back River in Berkeley County; Black River; Black Mingo Creek; Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek; Combahee River; Cooper River system; Coosawhatchie River; Cuckholds Creek; Edisto River; Horseshoe Creek; Lumber River; Lynches River; Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers; Pocotaligo River in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton Counties; Salkehatchie and Little Salkehatchie Rivers; Sampit River; Santee River system; Tulifinny River; Thoroughfare Creek; Intracoastal Waterway (Horry County); and Waccamaw River from October first through June fifteenth, it is unlawful to take or possess more than three striped bass a day.
(D) In the following freshwater bodies: the Ashepoo River; Ashley River; Back River in Jasper County and the Back River in Berkeley County; Black River; Black Mingo Creek; Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek; Combahee River; Cooper River system; Coosawhatchie River; Cuckholds Creek; Edisto River; Horseshoe Creek; Lumber River; Lynches River; Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers; Pocotaligo River in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton Counties; Salkehatchie and Little Salkehatchie Rivers; Sampit River; Tulifinny River; Thoroughfare Creek; Intracoastal Waterway (Horry County); and Waccamaw River from October first through June fifteenth, it is unlawful to take or possess a striped bass less than twenty-six inches in total length.
(E) In the Santee River system from October first through June fifteenth, it is unlawful to take or possess a striped bass less than twenty-three inches or greater than twenty-five inches, provided that one striped bass taken or possessed may be greater than twenty-six inches.
(F) On Lake Murray and the middle reach of the Saluda River it is unlawful to possess more than five striped bass a day. From June first through September thirtieth, it is unlawful to take, attempt to take, or possess more than five striped bass a day.
(G) On Lake Murray and the middle reach of the Saluda River from October first through May thirty-first, it is unlawful to possess a striped bass less than twenty-one inches in total length. From June first to September thirtieth there is no minimum length.
(H) On Lakes Hartwell and Thurmond it is unlawful to possess more than ten striped bass or hybrid bass or a combination of those a day and only three may be over twenty-six inches in total length.
(I) On Lake Richard B. Russell and the Lake Hartwell tailwater it is unlawful to possess more than two striped bass or hybrid bass or a combination of those a day, and only one may be over thirty-four inches total length.
(J) On the lower reach of the Savannah River it is unlawful to possess more than two striped bass, hybrid bass, white bass, or a combination of these. Any of these fish taken from the lower reach of the Savannah River must be at least twenty-seven inches in total length.
(K) It is unlawful to land striped bass unless the head and tail fin are intact.
(L) The department shall establish the daily possession and size limits for striped bass on all other waters of this State, provided, limits must not be set by emergency regulation.
(M) The department shall make a study of the striped bass fishery on the Santee and Cooper River systems and make recommendations on any needed modifications of this section before January 2022.
HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 237, Section 2, eff May 21, 2008; 2010 Act No. 193, Section 2, eff May 28, 2010; 1976 Code 50-13-221; 2012 Act No. 113, Section 2, eff July 1, 2012; 2018 Act No. 164 (H.3698), Section 3, eff May 3, 2018.

Editor's Note
Prior Laws: Former Section 50-13-230, was entitled "Authority to change daily creel limits on striped bass or rockfish" and was derived from 1962 Code Section 28-593; 1961 (52) 152; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1263; repealed by 2008 Act No. 237, Section 5.
Effect of Amendment
The 2012 amendment renumbered and rewrote this section.
2018 Act No. 164, Section 3, in (A), in the first sentence, inserted "Intracoastal Waterway (Horry County);" following "Thoroughfare Creek;", and substituted "June sixteenth through" for "June first to"; in (B), in the first sentence, substituted "June sixteenth through" for "June first to"; in (C) and (D), inserted "Intracoastal Waterway (Horry County);" following "Thoroughfare Creek;", and substituted "June fifteenth" for "May thirty-first"; inserted (E), and redesignated (E) to (L) as (F) to (M); in (M), substituted "January 2022" for "January, 2015"; and made a nonsubstantive change.

Structure South Carolina Code of Laws

South Carolina Code of Laws

Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft

Chapter 13 - Protection Of Fish

Section 50-13-5. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 1, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-10. Definitions.

Section 50-13-11, 50-13-12. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 1, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-20. Scope of chapter.

Section 50-13-25. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 1, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-30. Penalties for violation of chapter.

Section 50-13-40. Consent to inspection of creels.

Section 50-13-50. Unlawful use or possession of fishing devices or gear designed to take fish.

Section 50-13-60. Unlawful possession of fish; penalties.

Section 50-13-65. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 1, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-70. Closed season for the temporary protection of a species.

Section 50-13-80. Taking fish by snagging.

Section 50-13-90. Repealed by 2008 Act No. 286, Section 11, eff June 11, 2008.

Section 50-13-100 to 50-13-120. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 1, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-200. Permissible numbers of game fishing devices.

Section 50-13-210. Daily possession limits for game fish.

Section 50-13-220. Unlawful possession of crappie.

Section 50-13-221, 50-30-222. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 2, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-230. Striped bass limits.

Section 50-13-235. Repealed by 2008 Act No. 237, Section 5, eff May 21, 2008.

Section 50-13-236 to 50-13-237. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 1, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-240. Unlawful possession of largemouth bass.

Section 50-13-250. Unlawful possession of smallmouth bass.

Section 50-13-260. Season for possessing, taking, and retaining trout from specified waters in order to establish a catch and release fishery.

Section 50-13-270. Season for unlawful possession of lure or bait in certain waters.

Section 50-13-271. Trout size and limits in Lake Jocassee.

Section 50-13-272. Regulations.

Section 50-13-280 to 50-13-285. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 1, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-310. Game fish caught with nets or other nongame fishing devices must be returned to water.

Section 50-13-315. Traps; inspection.

Section 50-13-320. Traps and eel pots; crab pots; crayfish traps; minnow traps.

Section 50-13-325. Nongame gill nets; season; size and placement; sturgeon.

Section 50-13-330. Hoop nets.

Section 50-13-335. Pump nets and skimbow nets.

Section 50-13-340. Minnow seine.

Section 50-13-350 to 50-13-370. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 1, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-385 to 50-13-400. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 1, eff July 1, 2012; repealed by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 8, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-510. Unlawful taking of freshwater mussels.

Section 50-13-520. Unlawful taking of saltwater crabs.

Section 50-13-580. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 2, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-610. Application of article.

Section 50-13-615. Nongame fishing devices and methods which may be used for taking nongame fish in freshwaters.

Section 50-13-620. Floating markers for certain fishing devices; tags; penalty.

Section 50-13-625. Taking nongame fish with lawful devices.

Section 50-13-630. Fishing devices prohibited from being used, placed, set, or fished constituting hazard to boating or public safety.

Section 50-13-635. Permissible fishing devices and methods for recreational fisherman of nongame fish.

Section 50-13-640. Possession of blue catfish.

Section 50-13-645. Taking limits of eels for recreational fisherman.

Section 50-13-650. Commercial trotlines.

Section 50-13-655. Set hooks placement and removal.

Section 50-13-660. Jug fishing devices.

Section 50-13-665. Bait which may be used with trotlines, set hooks, and jugs; penalties.

Section 50-13-670. Possession of game fish while possessing or using nongame devices prohibited.

Section 50-13-675. Nongame fishing devices or gear permitted in certain bodies of freshwater.

Section 50-13-680. Inspection; reports of sales volume; seizure.

Section 50-13-685. Penalties for violation of article; suspension of license, tags, or permits.

Section 50-13-690. Seizure and sale of fish or fishing devices; confiscation and sale of items of persons charged with unlawful use or possession of gill net or hoop net; suspension of licenses.

Section 50-13-695. Unlawful use of nongame fishing devices owned and tagged by another person; penalties for stealing or tampering with nongame fishing device.

Section 50-13-730. Repealed by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 4, eff July 1, 2012; Omitted by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 2, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-980 to 50-13-1020. Repealed by 2008 Act No. 286, Section 11, eff June 11, 2008.

Section 50-13-1110 to 50-13-1126. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 4, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-1130, 50-13-1135. Repealed by 2010 Act No. 200, Section 15, eff May 28, 2010.

Section 50-13-1145. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 4, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-1150 to 50-13-1160. Repealed by 2010 Act No. 200, Section 15, eff May 28, 2010.

Section 50-13-1165 to 50-13-1199. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 4, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-1210. Permanent obstruction to migration of fish prohibited; destruction of obstruction.

Section 50-13-1220. Fishways in dams.

Section 50-13-1230. Construction of certain fishways or ladders.

Section 50-13-1240. Designation of fish sluices; obstruction of sluices constitutes public nuisance.

Section 50-13-1250. Fish sluices designated not more than once yearly.

Section 50-13-1260. Fish sluices not to be designated through certain dams.

Section 50-13-1410. Pollution of waters injuring fish and shellfish unlawful; enforcement.

Section 50-13-1415. Importation, possession, or placing water hyacinth and hydrilla in waters of State.

Section 50-13-1420. Poisoning waters, or producing electric currents or physical shocks to catch fish unlawful.

Section 50-13-1430. Casting impurities in waters prohibited.

Section 50-13-1440. Using explosives to take fish unlawful.

Section 50-13-1450. Repealed by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 8, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-1460. Penalty for conviction of use of explosives to take fish.

Section 50-13-1470. Failure to report use of explosives to take fish.

Section 50-13-1480. Informers not subject to criminal prosecution or civil suit.

Section 50-13-1610. Sale or traffic in certain game fish unlawful; penalties.

Section 50-13-1615. Freshwater nongame fish sale requirements.

Section 50-13-1630. Importing, possessing, or selling certain fish unlawful; special permits for research; Department to issue rules and regulations; penalties.

Section 50-13-1635. Release of aquatic species and nonindigenous fish into waters.

Section 50-13-1660 to 50-13-1760. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 5, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-1910. State assent to act of Congress providing aid in fish restoration and management projects; funding.

Section 50-13-1920. Acquisition of land for fish hatcheries or nurseries, generally.

Section 50-13-1930. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 6, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-1935. Fees charged for stocking fish in private water bodies and nonnavigable waters.

Section 50-13-1936. Fees for operation of Walhalla Fish Hatchery.

Section 50-13-1940. Permits to collect freshwater fish for scientific purposes.

Section 50-13-1950. Establishment of fish sanctuaries.

Section 50-13-1960. Designation and marking of fish sanctuaries in rivers and streams.

Section 50-13-1970 to 50-13-1980. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 6, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-1990. Penalties for fishing or trespassing upon fish sanctuaries; jurisdiction of magistrates.

Section 50-13-1995. Fish culture and scientific investigations by the federal government.

Section 50-13-2010. Repealed by 2012 Act No. 113, Section 4, eff July 1, 2012 and omitted by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 6, eff July 1, 2012.

Section 50-13-2011. Repealed by 2014 Act No. 234, Section 2, eff June 2, 2014.

Section 50-13-2015. Fish sanctuary in St. Stephen Rediversion Canal.

Section 50-13-2016. Prohibition of herring fishing at St. Stephens Powerhouse.

Section 50-13-2020. Omitted by 2012 Act No. 114, Section 6, eff July 1, 2012.