(A) In the following areas trawling is restricted in the General Trawling Zone.
(1) Based on National Ocean Service (NOS) chart 11513 (22nd edition, July 12, 1997), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the point on the shoreline on the southwestern end of Hilton Head Island at latitude 32° 07.30' N, longitude 080° 49.50' W; thence following the shoreline of Hilton Head Island to the point on its northeastern end at latitude 32° 14.20' N, longitude 080° 40.65' W; thence northeasterly, following a straight line on a geodetic azimuth of 065 degrees, to the point one-quarter nautical mile seaward from the shoreline; thence southeasterly, southwesterly, and northerly following a line that is one-quarter nautical mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line with the inshore trawl boundary across Calibogue Sound; thence following the inshore trawl boundary easterly to the point of beginning.
(2) Based on NOS chart 11513 (22nd edition, July 12, 1997), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the southernmost point of Fripp Island at latitude 32° 18.40' N, longitude 080° 30.05' W; thence following the shoreline of Fripp Island to its easternmost point at latitude 32° 19.35' N, longitude 080° 27.18' W; thence southeasterly, following a straight line on a geodetic azimuth of 155 degrees, to the point one-quarter nautical mile seaward from the shoreline; thence southwesterly following a line that is one-quarter nautical mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line and a straight line with a geodetic azimuth of 155 degrees from the point of beginning; thence following a straight line northwesterly to the point of beginning.
(3) Based on NOS chart 11513 (22nd edition, July 12, 1997), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the southernmost point of Hunting Island at latitude 32° 20.32' N, longitude 080° 27.28' W; thence following the shoreline of Hunting Island to its northernmost point at latitude 32° 23.50' N, longitude 080° 25.80' W; thence southeasterly, following a straight line on a geodetic azimuth of 100 degrees, to the point one-quarter nautical mile seaward from the shoreline; thence southwesterly following a line that is one-quarter nautical mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line and the inshore trawl boundary across Fripp Inlet; thence following the inshore trawl boundary northerly to the point of beginning.
(4) Based on NOS chart 11521 (22nd edition, January 20, 1996), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the southernmost point (Bay Point) of Edisto Beach at latitude 32° 28.66' N, longitude 080° 20.18' W; thence following the shoreline of Edisto Beach to the point at latitude 32° 30.19' N, longitude 080° 17.78' W (nearest point on the shoreline to where S.C. Highway 174 enters the Town of Edisto Beach); thence southeasterly, following a straight line on a geodetic azimuth of 145 degrees, to the point one-half nautical mile seaward from the shoreline; thence southwesterly and northerly following a line that is one-half mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line and the inshore trawl boundary across the South Edisto River; thence following the inshore trawl boundary easterly to the point of beginning.
(5) Based on NOS chart 11521 (22nd edition, January 20, 1996), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the point on Edisto Beach at latitude 32° 30.19' N, longitude 080° 17.78' W (nearest point on the shoreline to where S. C. Highway 174 enters the Town of Edisto Beach); thence northeasterly following the shorelines of Edisto and Edingsville Beaches and crossing the mouth of Jeremy Inlet to the point on Edingsville Beach at latitude 32° 31.42' N, longitude 080° 16.00' W; thence southeasterly, following a straight line on a geodetic azimuth of 145 degrees, to the point one-quarter nautical mile seaward from the shoreline; thence southwesterly following a line that is one-quarter nautical mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line and a straight line with a geodetic azimuth of 145 degrees from the point of beginning; thence following a straight line northwesterly to the point of beginning.
(6) Based on NOS chart 11521 (22nd edition, January 20, 1996), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the southernmost point of Seabrook Island at latitude 32° 33.55' N, longitude 080° 10.50' W; thence following the shorelines of Seabrook Island and Kiawah Island and crossing the mouth of Captain Sam's Inlet to the point on Kiawah Island (Sandy Point) at latitude 32° 37.18' N, longitude 079° 59.65' W; thence southerly, following a straight line on a geodetic azimuth of 180 degrees, to the point one-quarter nautical mile seaward from the shoreline; thence southwesterly and northwesterly following a line that is one-quarter nautical mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line and the inshore trawl boundary crossing the North Edisto River; thence following the inshore trawl boundary easterly to the point of beginning.
(7) Based on NOS chart 11521 (22nd edition, January 20, 1996), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the southernmost point of Folly Island at latitude 32° 38.40' N, longitude 079° 58.36' W; thence following the shoreline of Folly Beach to the point at latitude 32° 39.28' N, longitude 079° 56.37' W (location of the Folly Beach-Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier); thence southeasterly, following a straight line on a geodetic azimuth of 150 degrees, to the point one-quarter nautical mile seaward from the shoreline; thence southwesterly following a line that is one-quarter nautical mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line and the inshore trawl boundary across Stono Inlet; thence following the inshore trawl boundary northeasterly to the point of beginning.
(8) Based on NOS chart 11521 (22nd edition, January 20, 1996), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the point on the shoreline of Folly Island at latitude 32° 39.28' N, longitude 079° 56.37' W (location of the Folly Beach-Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier); thence northeasterly following the shoreline to the easternmost point of Folly Island at latitude 32° 41.10' N, longitude 079° 53.17' W; thence following the inshore trawl boundary northerly to the point one-half nautical mile seaward of the shoreline; thence southeasterly and southwesterly following a line that is one-half nautical mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line and a straight line with a geodetic azimuth of 150 degrees from the point of beginning; thence following a straight line northwesterly to the point of beginning.
(9) Based on NOS chart 11521 (22nd edition, January 20, 1996), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the point of intersection of the submerged north jetty of Charleston Harbor with the shoreline of Sullivans Island at latitude 32° 45.46' N, longitude 079° 50.40' W; thence northeasterly following the shoreline of Sullivans Island, the seaward edge of the Breach Inlet bridge, and the shoreline of Isle of Palms to its easternmost point at latitude 32° 48.90' N, longitude 079° 43.09' W; thence southeasterly, following a straight line on a geodetic azimuth of 140 degrees, to the point one-half nautical mile seaward of the shoreline; thence southwesterly following a line that is one-half nautical mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line and the inshore trawl boundary (the submerged north jetty of Charleston Harbor); thence following the inshore trawl boundary northerly to the point of beginning.
(10) Based on NOS chart 11535 (11th edition, April 18, 1992), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the southernmost point of Pawleys Island at latitude 33° 23.70' N, longitude 079° 08.48' W; thence following the shorelines of Pawleys Island, Litchfield Beach, and Magnolia Beach and crossing the mouth of Midway Inlet to the point of intersection with the south jetty for Murrells Inlet at latitude 33° 31.60' N, longitude 079° 01.90' W; thence following a straight line northerly across Murrells Inlet to the point on the north jetty at latitude 33° 31.96' N, longitude 079° 01.77' W; thence northeasterly following the shoreline to the point on Garden City Beach at latitude 33° 34.34' N, longitude 079° 00.13' W; thence southeasterly, following a straight line on a geodetic azimuth of 125 degrees to the point one-half nautical mile seaward of the shoreline; thence southwesterly following a line that is one-half nautical mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line and a straight line with a geodetic azimuth of 110 degrees from the point of beginning; thence following a straight line northwesterly to the point of beginning.
(11) Based on NOS chart 11535 (11th edition, April 18, 1992), all that area bounded by a closed line beginning at the point on the shoreline on Garden City Beach at latitude 33° 34.34' N, longitude 079° 00.13' W; thence following the shoreline northeasterly and crossing the mouths of Singleton Swash, White Point Swash, and Hog Inlet to the point of intersection with the south jetty for Little River on the eastern end of Waites Island at latitude 33° 50.91' N, longitude 078° 33.21' W; thence following a straight line easterly across Little River Inlet to the point on the north jetty on Bird Island at latitude 33° 50.97' N, longitude 078° 32.62' W; thence following the shoreline of Bird Island to its intersection with the South Carolina-North Carolina boundary line at latitude 33° 51.09' N, longitude 078° 32.50' W; thence southeasterly following the state-boundary line to the point one-half nautical mile seaward of the shoreline; thence southwesterly following a line that is one-half nautical mile seaward of the shoreline to the point at the intersection of said line and a straight line with a geodetic azimuth of 125 degrees from the point of beginning; thence following a straight line northwesterly to the point of beginning.
(12) Based on NOS chart 11532 (18th edition, June 1, 1996), all that area of North Santee Bay bounded by a closed line beginning at the point on the shoreline of Cedar Island at latitude 33° 08.36' N, longitude 079° 14.71' W; thence following a straight line northerly across the North Santee River to the southernmost point of Cane Island at latitude 33° 08.92' N, longitude 079° 14.92' W; thence following the eastern shoreline of Cane Island and crossing the mouth of an unnamed creek to the easternmost point of Crow Island at latitude 33° 10.04' N, longitude 079° 15.34' W; thence following a straight line northeasterly across North Santee Bay to the point on South Island at the south side of the mouth of Beach Creek at latitude 33° 10.43' N, longitude 079° 14.60' W; thence following the shoreline of South Island to its southernmost point (Santee Point) at latitude 33° 08.06' N, longitude 079° 14.38' W; thence following a straight line northwesterly across the North Santee River to the point of beginning.
(13) Based on NOS chart 11532 (18th edition, June 1, 1996), all that area of Winyah Bay bounded by a closed line beginning at the point where the shoreline of Sand Island intersects the south jetty for Winyah Bay at latitude 33° 11.43' N, longitude 079° 11.00' W; thence following the shorelines of Sand and South Islands to the point on South Island at latitude 33° 13.82' N, longitude 079° 12.16' W; thence following a straight line easterly passing approximately through the charted positions of a green light buoy marked "15" and a red nun or conical buoy marked "16" to the point on North Island at latitude 33° 14.00' N, longitude 079° 11.32' W; thence following the shoreline of North Island southerly and easterly to its intersection with the north jetty for Winyah Bay at latitude 33° 12.53' N, longitude 079° 10.43' W; thence following a straight line southwesterly across the entrance to Winyah Bay to the point of beginning.
(B) Those areas described in subsections (A)(1) through (11) are closed to trawling from May 1 through September 15, inclusive.
(C) Reserved.
(D) Those areas described in subsections (A)(12) and (A)(13) are closed to trawling from December 16 through August 31 inclusive.
(E) A person who violates this section by trawling in a restricted area during the open season is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 26; 2019 Act No. 78 (H.4239), Section 1, eff May 16, 2019.
Effect of Amendment
2019 Act No. 78, Section 1, in (B), substituted "(A)(1) through (11)" for "(A)(1) through (A)(10)"; and reserved (C), which provided that the area described in subsection (A)(11) was closed to trawling year round.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft
Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act
Section 50-5-10. Citation of chapter.
Section 50-5-17. Flounder Population Study Program.
Section 50-5-20. Jurisdiction of Department of Natural Resources.
Section 50-5-25. Powers and duties; deposit of revenues.
Section 50-5-30. Promulgation of regulations; civil offenses; penalties; suspension of permit.
Section 50-5-40. Unauthorized tagging or marking and releasing of saltwater fish; penalty.
Section 50-5-50. Prosecutions for violations of chapter.
Section 50-5-60. Conspiracy to violate provision of chapter.
Section 50-5-65. Seizure and disposition of contraband; separate offense defined.
Section 50-5-70. Sale of confiscated device; redemption by owner.
Section 50-5-75. Common areas for taking of fish.
Section 50-5-80. Dividing line between salt and fresh water on rivers.
Section 50-5-85. General Trawling Zone; subzones.
Section 50-5-95. Unlawful taking of saltwater fish; penalty.
Section 50-5-100. Knowingly obtaining saltwater fishery product taken or sold unlawfully.
Section 50-5-105. Unlawful activities affecting others; penalty.
Section 50-5-110. Use of poison, explosive, or bang stick to take marine resources; penalty.
Section 50-5-115. Responsibility for determining location of commercial fishing vessel.
Section 50-5-125. Use of vessel within 300 feet of public fishing pier; penalty.
Section 50-5-305. Requirements for obtaining resident license; penalty.
Section 50-5-310. Commercial saltwater fishing license for nonresidents; fee; striker exception.
Section 50-5-315. Saltwater fishing without a license prohibited; penalty.
Section 50-5-320. State Shellfish Ground licenses; fees.
Section 50-5-335. Channel net licenses; restrictions.
Section 50-5-345. Commercial license a condition of permit; exceptions; revocation.
Section 50-5-355. Bait dealer licenses; fees; inspections; penalties.
Section 50-5-367. Sale, offer, or purchase of shrimp taken over bait; penalty.
Section 50-5-375. Records of wholesale seafood dealers; inspection by department; penalties.
Section 50-5-385. Expiration of licenses and permits.
Section 50-5-390. Denial of or limitations on nonresident licenses.
Section 50-5-500. Use of nets; penalties.
Section 50-5-505. Net use requirements and restrictions; mariculture impoundment net use permit.
Section 50-5-520. Channel net violations; forfeiture of license; seizure of equipment.
Section 50-5-525. Unlawful deployment of net; penalty.
Section 50-5-540. Use of seine or gill net in state park; shrimp net exception.
Section 50-5-545. Commercial blue crab traps; escape vent requirements; peeler trap exemption.
Section 50-5-560. Blue crab traps on Cooper River.
Section 50-5-565. Time restrictions for placement of commercial traps.
Section 50-5-570. Use of live bait on lines with more than three hooks.
Section 50-5-580. Gigging for fish in saltwaters of Georgetown County.
Section 50-5-581. Gigging for flounder.
Section 50-5-700. Trawling prohibited.
Section 50-5-705. Trawling Zone established.
Section 50-5-715. Trawling restriction areas within General Trawling Zone.
Section 50-5-720. Disposal of trawl bycatch; penalty.
Section 50-5-725. Trawling waters description references.
Section 50-5-730. Trawling near public fishing pier; penalty.
Section 50-5-735. Night trawling; finfish exception.
Section 50-5-745. Blue crab taken by legal shrimp trawlers.
Section 50-5-750. Crab trawling equipment restrictions; penalty.
Section 50-5-760. Illegal trawling.
Section 50-5-765. Use of turtle excluder devices; penalty.
Section 50-5-770. Shrimp trawl requirements; penalties.
Section 50-5-900. Commercial shellfish culture or mariculture permits; term.
Section 50-5-905. Permit applications; fee.
Section 50-5-920. Mitigation of adverse impacts on shellfish bottoms and waters.
Section 50-5-925. Publication of notice of application.
Section 50-5-935. Fees; late payment penalty.
Section 50-5-945. Permit to take shellfish for replanting or use in mariculture; conditions.
Section 50-5-950. Specification of other terms and conditions.
Section 50-5-960. Rules governing recreational shellfish bottom harvests.
Section 50-5-970. Mechanical harvest permits; penalties.
Section 50-5-980. Erection and maintenance of signs; penalty.
Section 50-5-995. Shellfish mariculture operation permits.
Section 50-5-997. Shellfish mariculture permittees; out-of-season harvest permits.
Section 50-5-1005. Shellfish importation permits; conditions; penalties.
Section 50-5-1015. Unlawful removal of shell; penalty.
Section 50-5-1100. Lawful and unlawful taking of shrimp; penalties.
Section 50-5-1102. Persons who may not obtain or hold shrimp baiting license; penalty.
Section 50-5-1105. Catch limits; bait dealer taking and possession requirements; penalties.
Section 50-5-1110. Mesh size and stretch measure for shrimp cast nets.
Section 50-5-1300. Taking of sponge crabs prohibited; import permits; penalties.
Section 50-5-1305. Blue crabs; commercial taking at night prohibited; penalties.
Section 50-5-1310. Size limitations for blue crabs; peeler crab and clam mariculture exceptions.
Section 50-5-1315. Importation of undersize blue crabs; penalties.
Section 50-5-1320. Identification of vessels taking blue crabs by trap; buoy colors; penalty.
Section 50-5-1325. Stone crabs; claw size, removal and sale limitations; penalty.
Section 50-5-1330. Horseshoe crab permits, taking and handling requirements; penalty.
Section 50-5-1335. Use of blue crab traps in certain locations.
Section 50-5-1340. Repealed by 2012 Act No. 7, Section 12, March 22, 2013.
Section 50-5-1500. Regulation of devices for taking shad, herring, or eels.
Section 50-5-1505. Taking of shad, herring, or sturgeon.
Section 50-5-1510. Special provisions as to shad and herring.
Section 50-5-1515. Shad hook and line catch limits.
Section 50-5-1520. Herring catch limits.
Section 50-5-1525. Unlawful taking of Atlantic sturgeon; penalties.
Section 50-5-1530. Receiving Atlantic sturgeon; record keeping requirements; penalties.
Section 50-5-1535. Taking of shortnose sturgeon prohibited; penalty.
Section 50-5-1540. Net placement.
Section 50-5-1545. Removal of nets during off times and periods; penalties.
Section 50-5-1550. Seizure of net or seine containing decomposed fish.
Section 50-5-1555. Commercial eel taking permits; conditions; penalty.
Section 50-5-1556. Striped bass.
Section 50-5-1557. Shad, herring, or eel sale requirements.
Section 50-5-1705. Catch limits.
Section 50-5-1707. Repealed by 2009 Act No. 47, Section 1, eff June 2, 2009.
Section 50-5-1710. Size limits.
Section 50-5-1711. Repealed by 2007, Act No. 85, Section 4, eff June 15, 2007.
Section 50-5-1713. Cobia limits established.
Section 50-5-1900. Article title.
Section 50-5-1905, 50-5-1910. Repealed by 2009 Act No. 15, Section 10, eff July 1, 2009.
Section 50-5-1915. Charter fishing vessel and public pier logs; penalties.
Section 50-5-1920, 50-5-1925. Repealed by 2009 Act No. 15, Section 10, eff July 1, 2009.
Section 50-5-1935. Commemorative stamps authorized.
Section 50-5-1940. Creation and design of stamps, licenses, prints, and related articles.
Section 50-5-1945. Repealed by 2009 Act No. 15, Section 10, eff July 1, 2009.
Section 50-5-2017. Repealed by 2010 Act No. 140, Section 3, eff March 31, 2010.
Section 50-5-2100. Mariculture permits; penalty for failure to acquire.
Section 50-5-2300. Taking and possessing diamond-backed terrapins; penalty.
Section 50-5-2305. Permit to remove live wild rock; penalty.
Section 50-5-2310. Display of dolphins and whales prohibited; penalty.
Section 50-5-2500. Point values for suspension of saltwater privileges; relation to other penalties.
Section 50-5-2505. Point system administration.
Section 50-5-2510. Suspension of saltwater privileges for accumulation of points.
Section 50-5-2515. Notice of suspension; request for review.
Section 50-5-2517. Mammalian dolphin or porpoise; prohibited activities; penalty.
Section 50-5-2525. Points cleared when suspension expires; concurrent running of suspensions.
Section 50-5-2530. Administering of article.
Section 50-5-2535. Engaging in prohibited activities while under suspension; penalties.
Section 50-5-2536. Other violations while under suspension.
Section 50-5-2540. Activities prohibited while under commercial suspension.
Section 50-5-2545. Prior points and suspensions.
Section 50-5-2700. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact; members; term; vacancies.
Section 50-5-2705. Powers of Compact Commission and commissioners.
Section 50-5-2710. State officials to cooperate and furnish information.
Section 50-5-2715. Records, reports, and recommendations.
Section 50-5-2730. Federal fishing regulations declared to be law of State; exceptions.