Saltwater Seasons: No closed season any waters within a state park; except, small General Information Restrictions: hand seines and cast nets for taking The following laws pertain mainly to noncom- • It is unlawful to fish from a boat within 300 are allowed. mercial saltwater fishing, shrimping, crabbing feet of piers extending into and shellfishing for personal consumption. the Atlantic Ocean. Individuals (age 16 and older) harvesting oys- • Fishing from the shore in the waters under Size & Catch Limits ters or clams or individuals fishing for marine or within 50 feet on either side or beyond the finfish from privately owned boats must pur- end of any ocean fishing pier in Horry County for Saltwater Fish chase an annual or temporary Saltwater Recrea- is prohibited. Note: Regulations are subject to tional License. change. Fishing piers and chartered vessels charging a TL=Total Length, FL=Fork Length fee for fishing and those offering fishing boats Permits/Licenses: Saltwater Recreational State Waters extend from the saltwater- for rent must purchase a Marine Recreational Fisheries License. freshwater dividing line to the 3-mile limit. Fisheries license annually. Applications for Pier Restrictions: AIW=Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and Charter Vessel Licenses are available from • It is unlawful to gig red drum or spotted seat- Federal Waters extend from the 3-mile limit the DNR office in Charleston. rout during Dec., Jan. and Feb. to 200 miles offshore (international waters). Any person engaged in selling any fish or fish- • It is unlawful in Georgetown County to gig ery product, including bait, must first obtain a for fish in salt waters from the northern tip of All species in this section must be landed with license from the Marine Resources Division. North Island to the northern tip of Magnolia head and tail intact. Regulations concerning commercial saltwater fish- Beach during daylight hours. ing are provided with commercial licenses and are available through Marine Resources Division Bangsticks Sport Fish at the address below. • It is unlawful to take, have in one’s possession or Red Drum (Channel Bass/Spottail) For more information contact: SCDNR, Marine to land or sell any species of fish taken by means Limit: 2 per person per day (state waters) Resources Division, P.O. Box 12559. Charleston, of a bangstick or similar device. 0 (federal waters) SC 29422, (843) 953-9300. Size: 15-inch minimum (TL) and 24-inch For federal f ishery limits and regulations, con- Cast Nets (Other than Shrimp) maximum (TL) (state waters) tact: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Permits/Licenses: Saltwater Recreational Seasons/Restrictions: One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC Fisheries License. • May be taken only by rod & reel year-round 29407, (843) 571-4366. or by gigging March through November. Seines & Gill Nets • May not be harvested from federal waters. Annual License Fees (Anchor, Set, Stake & Drift Nets) South Carolina native caught fish may not be Saltwater Recreational Fisheries License Permits/Licenses: sold (state waters). Annual Resident License...... $10 • Gill nets, haul seines (except shrimp seines Annual Non-Resident License ...... $35 under 40 ft.), $10 for each 100 net ft. or frac- Spotted Seatrout Temporary Resident License (14 days). $5 tion thereof. Limit: 10 per person per day (state waters) Temporary Non-Resident License • Powerboats transporting nets or other com- Size: 13-inch minimum (TL) (state waters) (14 days) ...... $11 mercial fishing equipment must have vessel Seasons/Restrictions: Shrimp Baiting License decals. • May be taken only by rod & reel year-round or Resident License...... $25 Seasons: No closed season in saltwater; (except by gigging March through November. Non-Resident License...... $500 shad, sturgeon and herring). • South Carolina native caught fish may not be Commercial Pier License (>100)...... $350 Restrictions: sold (state waters). < Commercial Pier License ( 100)...... $150 • Red drum and spotted seatrout may not be taken (Southern & Summer) Charter Vessel License Flounders by nets. Sharks may not be taken by gill nets Limit: Rod & reel or gigging only - 20 per (6 or less passengers)...... $150 • Gill nets no longer than 100 feet with a 3-inch (7-49 passengers) ...... $250 person per day (state waters) minimum stretched mesh size may be used only Size: 12-inch minimum (TL) (state waters) (50 or more passengers) ...... $350 in unrestricted areas of the Atlantic Ocean. Gill Rental Boat License ...... $40 nets no longer than 100 yard with 3-inch mini- Seasons/Restrictions: mum stretched mesh size may be used only in • Size limits apply to both recreational & com- special designated inshore areas. mercial fishing. • Gill nets must be marked with one end bouy Striped Bass Saltwater Fishing that is international orange in color with the Limit: 10 per person per day except 5 per day name and address of owner. Operator must be in Wando & Cooper rivers and Santee River Methods & Devices within 500 feet of the net and have visual contact downstream to the AIW. Hook and Line with the net at all times when deployed. Size: None in salt waters, except 21-inch Permits/License: Saltwater Recreational Fish- • Nets may not be set more than halfway across minimum in the Wando & Cooper rivers and eries License required when fishing from any waterway at any time. Santee River above the AIW. privately owned boats or when transporting • Stationary or fixed nets, including gill nets, Seasons/Restrictions: catch in privately owned boats. Federal Highly may not be set or placed within 600 feet of a • May be taken only by rod & reel year-round Migratory Species Permit required when fish- net previously set. & may not be sold (state waters). ing for sharks in federal waters, or when fishing • Gill net users must be within 500 feet or hail- • Unlawful to take in saltwaters of the for tuna, billfish and swordfish in both state and ing distance of the net at all times. Savannah River. federal waters. • It is unlawful to use any seine or gill net in 24 SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations • 2004-2005 SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations • 2004-2005 25 Bluefish Bigeye, Bluefin Tuna Black Seabass Limit: 15 per person per day (all waters) Limits: Check current Federal Regulations Limit: 20 per person per day Size: No size limit by calling 1-888-USA-TUNA or checking Size: 10-inch minimum (TL) (all waters) Seasons/Restrictions: No closed season www.nmfspermits.com. Seasons/Restrictions: King Mackerel Size: 27-inch minimum (FL) • No closed season Limit: 3 per person per day (all waters) Seasons/Restrictions: Grouper Tilefish Combinations Size: 24-inch minimum (FL) (all waters) • Check current Federal Regulations by Gag & Black 24-inch minimum (TL) Seasons/Restrictions: calling 1-888-USA-TUNA or checking Grouper • January 1 to December 31, fishery may be www.nmfspermits.com. • Federal Permit required. Scamp, Red, 20-inch minimum (TL) closed to all harvest if total allowable catch is Yellowfin & exceeded (state & federal waters). Albacore, Skipjack Yellowmouth Groupers Spanish Mackerel Limit: None Snowey Grouper Limit: 15 per person per day (all waters) Size: No size limit Yellowedge Grouper Size: 12-inch minimum (FL) (all waters) Seasons/Restrictions: Golden Tilefish No size limit Seasons/Restrictions: • Federal Permit required. Sand Tilefish • January 1 to December 31, fishery may be Blueline Tilefish closed to all harvest if total allowable catch is Porgies & Snappers Limits: exceeded (state & federal waters). Red Porgy • 5 per person per day from this group, and no Seasons/Restrictions: more than 2 Gag or Black Groupers may be in- Cobia cluded in the total (state & federal waters). Limit: 2 per person per day (all waters) • 1 per person per day. • 14-inch minimum (TL). Restrictions: Size: 33-inch minimum (FL) (all waters) • No closed season Seasons/Restrictions: Vermilion Snapper • No closed season Limit: 10 per person per day (all waters) Warsaw, Speckled Hind Tarpon (recreational) Groupers Limit: 1 per person per day (state waters) Size: 11-inch minimum (TL) recreational size Limit: 1 warsaw and 1 speckled hind per ves- Size: No size limit limit; 12-inch minimum (TL) commercial size sel per trip Seasons/Restrictions: limit Size: No size limit • May be taken only by rod & reel & may not Seasons/Restrictions: Seasons/Restrictions: be sold. • No closed season • No closed season. Greater Amberjack Other Snappers Nassau Grouper, Goliath Limit: 1 per person per day (all waters) (Excluding Vermilion) Limit: Possession is prohibited Size: 28-inch minimum (FL) (all waters) Red Snapper 20-inch minimum (TL) Seasons/Restrictions: Seasons/Restrictions: No closed season • No open season • Commercial harvest restrictions during Lane Snapper 8-inch minimum (TL) All Other Snapper Grouper April. Prohibits sale of fish harvested under No closed season bag limit when season is closed. Complex Species Combined Black Snapper No size limit Species: Including but not limited to: Gray, Sheepshead, Spadefish No closed season Queen and Ocean Triggerfish; Whitebone, Catch Limit: No more than 20 per person per Blackfin, Cubera, 12-inch minimum (TL) Knobbed, Jolthead, Saucereye, Grass and day in aggregate with the snapper grouper com- Longspine Porgies; Scup, Sheepshead, plex species listed on this page. Dog, Yellowtail, No closed season Gray, Mahogany, Almaco, Bar, Crevalle and Yellow Jacks; Lesser Seasons/Restrictions: Amberjack; Banded Rudderfish; Bluestripe, • Bluerunners and tomtates are excluded from Silk, Schoolmaster White, Smallmouth, French and Spanish grunts; the bag limit. & Queen Snapper Black Margate; Margate; Porkfish; Cottonwick; Mutton Snapper 16-inch minimum (TL) Dolphin Sailors Choice; Spadefish; Puddingwife; Bank No closed season Limits: 10 per person or 60 per boat per day Sea Bass; Rock Sea Bass (all waters); headboats have no boat limit. Limit: Limit: 20 per person per day from this group Size: No size limit • 10 per person per day from this group (includ- Size: No size limit Seasons/Restrictions: No closed season ing all snapper species except Vermilion), and no Seasons/Restrictions: more than 2 Red Snapper may be included in • Bluerunners and tomtates are excluded from Wahoo the total (state & federal waters). Limits: 2 per person per day the bag limit. Size: No size limit Hogfish • No closed season. Seasons/Restrictions: No closed season Limit: None Size: 12-inch minimum (FL) (all waters) Sharks Atlantic Tunas Seasons/Restrictions: Permits/Licenses: Federal Highly Migratory Yellowfin Tuna • No closed season Species Permit required in federal waters. Limit: 3 per person per day. Dogfish(Spiny & Smooth) Size: 27-inch minimum (FL) Sea Bass, Grouper Limit: None (all waters) Seasons/Restrictions: Size: No size limit • Federal Permit required. & Tilefish

24 SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations • 2004-2005 SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations • 2004-2005 25 powder, lime or any other explosive in or about • No closed season for with Atlantic Sharpnose any waters of this state is unlawful. castnet or hook & line, including rod & reel. Limit: 1 per person per day (federal waters) It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale any sea Skimbow nets allowed Feb. 1 through Apr. 30. 2 per person per day (state waters) turtles or to offer for sale, sell or destroy any Gill nets allowed as for commercial use. Size: No size limit sea turtle eggs. Sea turtles are protected by the Bonnethead Federal Endangered Species Act. It is unlaw- Limit: 1 per person per day (all waters) ful to display, feed, net, trap, , molest or Shrimp Harvesting Size: No size limit otherwise interfere with the well-being or nor- Catch Limits for Shrimp mal activity of marine mammals of the orders Certain exemptions apply to permitted charter Sandbar, Silky, Blacktip, Cetacea, Sirenia and Pinnipedia, including but vessels and licensed bait dealers. For information Spinner, Bull, Tiger, Lemon, not limited to bottlenose dolphin, spotted dol- contact SCDNR, Marine Resources Division, Nurse, Scalloped Hammerhead, phin, common dolphin, manatee, porpoise, har- P.O. Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422 or call bor seal and any species of whale in any waters 843-953-9300. Great Hammerhead, Smooth of the state. Marine mammals are also protected Hammerhead, Blacknose, by federal law. Taking Shrimp Without Bait Permits/Licenses: None for personal use Finetooth, Shortfin Mako, Limits/Seasons: resher, Porbeagle, Oceanic Billfish • 48 quarts whole or 29 quarts headed shrimp Whitetip and Blue Sharks Federal Highly Migratory Species Permit required per boat, or per person per day if no boat is used Limit: 1 shark per boat per trip from this group. Blue Marlin or among seining parties. May 1 - Dec. 15. Size: 54-inch minimum (FL) Size: 99-inch minimum (FL) (all waters) • 12 dozen dead or live shrimp per boat Dec. Sand Tiger, Bigeye Sand Tiger, Seasons/Restrictions: 16 through April 30 Whale, Basking, White, Dusky, • May be taken only by rod & reel and may Shrimp Baiting not be sold. Permits/Licenses: Shrimp Baiting License Bignose, Galapagos, Night, White Marlin and pole marker tags required. A license is not Caribbean Reef, Narrowtooth, Size: 66-inch minimum (FL) (all waters) required for residents assisting license holders. Caribbean Sharpnose, Smalltail, Seasons/Restrictions: Permits available after August 1. Atlantic Angel, Longfin Mako, • May be taken only by rod & reel and may Seasons: 60-day period set by SCDNR begin- not be sold. ning at 12:00 noon on the last Friday on or Bigeye resher, Sevengill, before Sept. 15. Sixgill and Bigeye Sixgill Sharks Sailfish Limits: Limit: None Limit: Possession is prohibited • 48 quarts whole or 29 quarts headed shrimp Size: 63-inch minimum (FL) (all waters) Seasons/Restrictions: per boat, or per person per day if no boat is Seasons/Restrictions: • No open season. Sharks from this group may used or among seining parties. • May be taken only by rod & reel-no sale not be kept. If caught, sharks from this group Restrictions: must be released immediately. Swordfish • Shrimp caught over bait cannot be sold. Limit: 1 per person per day up to 3 per vessel • No more than 10 poles can be used per day. Special Information per trip Poles may not exceed 1-inch in diameter, and Special Management Zones - The following Size: 47-inch minimum from lower jaw (FL) must have a numbered tag attached which cor- Artificial Reefs have been declared "Special (state & federal waters) responds with the shrimp baiting license. Each Management Zones" and are protected by Seasons/Restrictions: pole must also be marked with reflective tape. federal regulations: BP-25, Beaufort 45, Betsy • May be taken only by rod & reel. • All poles must be set within 100 yards, and Ross, Bill Perry, C.J. Davidson, Cape Romain, Recreationally taken fish may not be sold the distance between each set of poles must be Capers, Charleston 60, Comanche, Eagles Nest, at least 25 yards. Poles may not be set within Edisto 40, Edisto 60, Edisto Offshore, Fripp 50 yards of any dock, public landing or boat Island, Georgetown, Greenville, Hilton Head, ramp. Unattended poles will be confiscated. Hunting Island, Kiawah, Little River Offshore, Sturgeon & Shad • The owner of a private dock or person with North Inlet, Paradise, Pawley's Island, Ten Mile, Shortnose sturgeon written permission may bait from that dock Vermilion, Wayne Upchurch, Will Goldfinch and Limit: Possession is prohibited once properly licensed. Y-73. Fishing may be conducted only with hook Seasons/Restrictions: • Shrimp pots or traps are prohibited. and line gear and gear (excluding • Unlawful to catch, buy, sell, possess or ship. • Individuals who are: 1) officers of a corpora- powerheads). The use of fish traps, longlines, Classified as an endangered species. gill nets, and trawls is prohibited. Powerheads tion which, owns a vessel specified on a trawl (bangsticks) are prohibited except for safety Atlantic sturgeon license, 2) masters of a vessel specified on a purposes. It is unlawful to possess, land, or sell Limit: Possession is prohibited (state waters) trawl license application; 3) licensed to use a any species of fish taken with a bangstick (reef Seasons/Restrictions: channel net; 4) licensed to use a for a and non-reef areas). • No open season until further notice. commercial purpose; or 4) licensed as a whole- Unlawful to Sell Gamefish - The following Unlawful to catch, buy, sell, possess or ship. sale dealer may not obtain a shrimp species have been declared gamefish and native American Shad, Herring baiting license. caught fish may not be sold; red drum (channel •Cast nets used for taking shrimp over bait must Limit: 10 Shad per person per day except in have a minimum mesh size of 1⁄2 inch square. bass), spotted seatrout, striped bass and tarpon. Santee River and Rediversion canal (20 per The purchase, barter, trade, or sale of billfish, in- person per day). Shrimp Seines cluding marlin, sailfish and spearfish, is unlawful 1 U.S. bushel of Herring per person per day. Permits/Licenses: None for personal use regardless of where taken or landed. Swordfish Size: No size limit Seasons: No closed season may be sold under commercial laws only. Seasons/Restrictions: Prohibited Practices - The use of dynamite, gun 26 SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations • 2004-2005 SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations • 2004-2005 27 Restrictions: • Removal of tail at sea prohibited. • Maximum length of shrimp seine, 40 feet; • No harvest of berried females is allowed. minimum mesh size, 1/2 inch square • No explosives, poisons, spears, or piercing Crab & Shellfish mesh nylon (9/16 inch square mesh cotton). devices other than fishing hooks are allowed. • Tail bags or pockets are not allowed on seines Methods & Devices when pulled by hand. Oysters Crab Pots (Traps) • Staked seines are considered commercial Limit: 2 U.S. bushels per person per day from Permits/Licenses: None for up to two pots. A channel net devices, and allowances and re- public or state shellfish grounds. No person may Commercial Fishing License, Boat Decal, and strictions are provided with the purchase of a harvest oysters recreationally on more than two Gear License are required for over two pots. commercial license. calendar days per any seven day period. No boat (Other information is provided with licenses.) • One limit per seine per day. or vehicle, or boat and vehicle combination may Seasons: No closed season contain more than three personal limits regard- Restrictions: less of the number of persons on the boat or in • If unattended, each pot must bear name or Permits/Licenses: Commercial Fishing, Boat the vehicle. In order to possess three personal license number of owner. Decal, and Gear License required. limits there must be three persons on the boat or • No crab pot shall be left unattended in coast- Restrictions: Trawling for personal use is re- in the vehicle. If there are four or more persons al waters more than 5 days. stricted to the same license requirements, areas on the boat or in the vehicle there is a maximum • No or pot may be set within 100 yards and seasons as commercial trawling. This infor- possession limit of three personal limits. of a public boat landing or launching area or set mation is provided with license. Size: No Limit so as to be left dry at low tide. Restrictions: • A float attached to a crab pot or trap must be • Season typically Sept. 16 through May 14; may made of solid, buoyant material which does not Crab, Lobster & be shortened or extended by the DNR. sink upon being punctured or cracked. The floats • A person may harvest recreationally no more must be constructed of plastic, PVC Spongex, Shellfish Harvesting than two days per seven day period. plastic foam, or cork. The primary float for a rec- Blue crabs Permits/Licenses: Saltwater Recreational reational pot or trap must be yellow in color and at Limit: None (state waters) Fishing License required. least ten inches in length if rectangular, cylindrical, Size: 5-inch minimum carapace width (point or conical and at least five inches in diameter or to point) Clams width. Round or spherical floats must be at least Restrictions: Limit: 1⁄2 U.S. bushel per person per day from six inches in diameter. Buoy lines for crab pots • Female blue crabs with egg mass (sponge) public or state shellfish grounds. No person may must be made of nonfloating material. must be returned to water unharmed harvest clams recreationally on more than two immediately. calendar days per any seven day period. No boat Gathering Shellfish • Not more than two pots or traps per person, or vehicle, or boat and vehicle combination may (Oysters & Clams) with owner’s name attached to a yellow float, contain more than three personal limits regard- Permits/Licenses: Saltwater Recreational for recreational purposes. less of the number of persons on the boat or in Fisheries License the vehicle. In order to possess three personal Seasons: Typically Sept. 16 through May 14 (1⁄2 Stone crabs limits there must be three persons on the boat or hour before sunrise to 1⁄2 hour after sunset) Limit: None (state waters) in the vehicle. If there are four or more persons Restrictions: Size: Claws must be 23⁄4-inch minimum fore- on the boat or in the vehicle there is a maximum • It is unlawful to use scoops, scrapes tongs, or arm (propodus) possession limit of three personal limits. dredges to take shellfish without a permit. Restrictions: Size: 1-inch minimum thickness • Shellfish may be harvested recreationally • Only the larger of two claws may be kept. Restrictions: from State shellfish grounds and Public shell- • It is unlawful to possess any stone crab body, • Season typically Sept. 16 through May 14; may fish grounds. Most Public and State shellfish live or dead. be shortened or extended by the DNR. grounds are marked with signs. Recreational har- • No claw may be removed from a female with • A person may harvest recreationally no more vesting is allowed on Culture permit grounds egg mass. than two days per seven day period. (formerly leases), but only when the harvester Spiny lobster Permits/Licenses: Saltwater Recreational has in possession, written permission from the Limit: 2 per person per day (all waters) Culture permit holder. License must be in pos- Fishing License required. session while harvesting. Size: Carapace must be over 3 inches Maps of areas where oysters and clams may be Restrictions: gathered in season for recreation may be found on the • No closed season. web at www.dnr.state.sc.us or by writing Marine Resources at PO Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422. SHRIMP BAITING LICENSE APPLICATION Note: Applications with incomplete South Carolina Department of Natural Resources information will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant. Social Security No. ______Name ______Residents: Submit $25.00 check or money order Mailing Address ______payable to SCDNR with application. (Non-residents, $500.00 City/State/Zip ______Cashiers Check or Money Order only.) County ______Telephone ______SCDNR License Office: PO Box 11710 Drivers License No. ______State ______Columbia, SC 29211 Date of Birth ______Sex (M) (F) Race ______(803) 734-3833 I understand that persons whose recreational privileges are suspended are not eligible to apply for, hold, or use SCDNR recreational licenses, permits, stamps, or tags. Signature ______Date ______Please complete the above information, sign and return with the appropriate fee to the mailing address above.

26 SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations • 2004-2005 SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations • 2004-2005 27 2004 Saltwater Recreational Fisheries License Report Introduction manage freezers in several locations where participating anglers can donate specimens for science. During 2003 staff visited 7 During 2002/03, the program underwent some major changes. fishing tournaments and were able to obtain information on 638 Effective 1 July, 2002 the cost and structure of the saltwater fish representing 6 species. Anglers also donated 429 additional license was changed by the SC Legislature to mirror the State’s fish in the freezer program. Another popular program that has Freshwater license. is gives residents and out-of-state anglers been given a boost from the saltwater license is SCDNR’s red a variety of license options to choose from. It also provided a drum stocking program. Most of this work goes on behind doubling of the revenues which are being used for activities of closed doors. It takes time and patience to manage a healthy importance to the State’s saltwater recreational anglers. Another brood stock and condition them to spawn on cue. Larvae significant event was the end of the saltwater stamp and print that are produced must then be carefully maintained in ponds program. Due mainly to dwindling sales, the decision was made or tanks, marked with a chemical agent, so they can later be to cancel the annual art contest after it’s tenth season. e final identified as hatchery fish and them transported to the stocking and tenth edition to the art series was won by Florida artist Tom area. During 2003 approximately 547,000 juvenile red drum Krause. To commemorate this final edition the species that was were released into the North Edisto River and 625,000 fish featured was the most popular saltwater inshore gamefish in the released in the May River. ese juvenile red drum were about State and also the species chosen on the First of State saltwater 1” in length and it is hoped that fish able to survive the riggers print done back in 1992, the “red drum”, locally known as the of life in the salt marsh will be available to the anglers by spottail bass. fall/winter 2004. - $467K Since it’s effective date of 1 July 1992, we estimate that the program has sold approximately 1,066,877 stamps/licenses to Oysters –. Over 28,660 bu of shell were planted on 6 public fishermen and 48,557 stamps to collectors. Art collectors and grounds during 2003 including two sites on the Folly River, conservationists have purchased approximately 12,891 limited Leadenwah Creek, Johnson Cr.. Pinckney Is and Clam Bank edition and medallion prints by artists such as Diane Peebles, Flats in Murrell’s Inlet. Two new shell drop off facilities were Tom Krause and South Carolina’s own Barnie Slice and Matt build for shell recycling, one on St. Helena Is. and the other Constantine. by the Hwy. 17 bridge in Georgetown. We are also testing During the period July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 new and better ways to enhance and restore some of our local approximately $1.15M total was generated by the program. e shellfish beds. Staff are testing different ways to place shell on law stipulates that no more than 25% of the revenues generated banks, covering some of the shell with different materials to for a given year may be used for administration and law reduce erosion and using volunteers to build and monitor oyster enforcement activities. In addition, all “new” monies generated reefs in different areas and under different conditions. Shellfish by the fee increase will be used for projects and activities that maps are available to the public free of charge by writing: support recreational saltwater fishing and shellfishing in SC Recreational Shellfish Maps, Office of , only is means that $27,941 was set aside to administer the SCDNR, P.O. Box 12559, Charleston S.C. 29422-2559 or by program, $111,763 was provided for coastal law enforcement, calling (843) 953-9854 or from the SCDNR Web site (HTTP: leaving approximately $1M to fund eligible coastal saltwater //WWW.DNR.STATE.SC.US) - $249K projects and activities (see below). Education and Information – A new saltwater 2003 Activities license website has been developed (HTTP:// SALTWATERFISHING.SC.GOV) to keep the public Artificial Reefs –Seventeen offshore artificial reef construction updated on a number of issues including changes in the rules projects were completed on twelve different permitted sites as and regulation, saltwater fishing related news and related of January 2004. is included the sinking of 100 subway cars, information. e website averages about 30,000 hits per 500 concrete reef cones, tons of concrete rubble, 13 submarine month. Educational activities and outreach programs including camels and the dispersal of pieces and parts of what was once of presentations and trips on the Educational Vessel Discovery, the old Limehouse Bridge onto three different reef sites. Nine continue to be a popular activity with local clubs and schools damaged or missing buoys were replaced. In addition, work and allow us to display the benefits of the License Program. - began on moving the reef program inshore. Two inshore reef $40K sites have been permitted in the Winyah Bay area and another application is pending for a site in St. Helena Sound - $230K Marine Fish – SCDNR’s Marine Gamefish Tagging Program continues to promote angler ethics and conservation with the support of license funds. Last year, 622 participants tagged 4,024 fish. We received information from 495 recaptured fish, the top two species were red and black drum. An effort to specifically tag dolphinfish continued this year. A total of 1,700 dolphin have been tagged so far and 34 recaptured. e most notable was a fish tagged in the Florida Keys and recovered 93 days later off the New Jersey coast, 995 miles to the north. Another important component in SCDNR’s effort to maintain high quality fishing opportunities are our efforts to monitor and track stocks of recreationally important species. In this regard, we have staff assigned to collect size, age and reproductive information from a variety of species. We do this by using our own gear to catch and record this data in a standardized repeatable fashion using long lines to catch large adult red drum offshore, trammel nets to catch the smaller juvenile red and black drum, flounders, sheepshead and seatrout inshore and even electroshocking. Staff also visit fishing tournaments and

28 SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations • 2004-2005 SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations • 2004-2005 29