2011 - 2012 Freshwater Fishing Regulations

Methods and Devices

Game fish may be caught with only hook and line, fly rod, casting rod, pole and line or hand line. Not more than 2 of these devices may be used by any fisherman at the same time, except when fishing in a boat. An unlimited number of lawful fishing devices may be used if every boat occupant (who would normally be required to have a fishing license) possesses a valid fishing license.

Bows and arrows for taking nongame fish only and cast nets for catching nongame bait fish may be in possession while fishing for game fish. Possession of cast nets is prohibited in Game Zone 1 except on Lake Keowee, Lake Hartwell and Twelve Mile Creek.

Game fish may be used as bait to catch fish recreationally but must be included in daily bag limit.

Seasons - No closed freshwater game fish season except in the following areas:

• There are no closed seasons for striped bass except as described below in Game Fish table.
• All watercraft and fishing are prohibited Nov. 1 through Feb. 28 on Cantey Bay, Black Bottom and Savannah Branch in Lake Marion.
• Portions of Howard, Corbin and Devil's Fork Creeks in Oconee County are closed to fishing from Nov. 1– Mar. 30, and a portion of Thompson River in Oconee County is closed to fishing from Nov. 1– Mar. 30. Closed sections will be marked with signs.
• Hatchery WMA on Lake Moultrie is closed to fishing each Sat. until 12:00 noon and all day the last Sat. of the waterfowl season.
• Potato Creek Hatchery Waterfowl Area is closed to public access and fishing one week prior to and two weeks after the Federal Waterfowl Season.

Prohibited Practices: Game or nongame fish may not be attracted or taken by explosives, electrical devices, poison or similar means.

Selling and Importing

No freshwater game fish may be sold in this state except by a:

1. SCDNR permitted aquaculturist,
2. SCDNR wholesale aquaculture licensee,
3. SCDNR aquaculture game fish retail licensee,
4. Private pond owner selling less than $2,500 in product annually.

It is illegal to possess, import or sell any fish species that is not native to SC waters without a SCDNR permit.

Sterile grass carp may only be sold, purchased or possessed under a SCDNR permit.

Freshwater Fish Size and Possession Limits
A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day. This total shall not exceed more than the limits or exceptions listed below. Special limits and regulations apply to SCDNR managed lakes. Check with state parks, city reservoirs or county parks for special limits and regulations that apply to those areas.
Species	Blue Catfish
Limit	No more than one blue catfish over 36-inches can be taken from Lakes Marion and Moultrie per person in one day.
Species	Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, Redeye & Spotted)
Limit	10 fish combined total per day / no statewide length limits
Exceptions	Lake Wallace: it is illegal to harvest largemouth bass. Slade’s Lake: 2 largemouth bass per day no less than 12 inches and not more than 15 fish combined total per day. Lake Wylie, and the Georgia waters of the Savannah River and all its reservoirs: no bass less than 12 inches. Lakes Marion, Moultrie and the upper Santee River: 5 largemouth bass per day no less than 14 inches; black bass must be landed with the head and tail fin intact.
Species	Striped Bass and/or Hybrids
Limit	10 fish per day
Exceptions	The Saluda River from Lake Greenwood Dam downstream to the Lake Murray Dam – 5 fish per day and 21-inch minimum size limit. In Lake Murray during July and August, two of the five striped bass creel limit may be less than 21 inches. In the inshore waters (except that portion of the Savannah River defined below); the territorial sea; 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 (which includes all waters and tributaries, including the Tailrace Canal, of the Cooper River from its point of origin seaward to the freshwater/saltwater dividing line); Coosawhatchie River; Cuckholds Creek; Edisto River; Horseshoe Creek; Lumber River; Lynches River; Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers; Pocotaligo in Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties; Salkehatchie and Little Salkehatchie River; Sampit River; Lower Santee River system (which includes all waters and tributaries seaward of the Lake Murray Dam, the Columbia Canal Diversion Dam, and the Lake Wateree Dam to the freshwater/ saltwater dividing line on the North Santee River and the South Santee River, including Lakes Marion and Moultrie); Tulifinny; Thoroughfare Creek; and Waccamaw River – it is unlawful to take or attempt to take any striped bass from Jun. 1st through Sept. 30th. Any striped bass taken must be returned immediately to the waters from where it came. From Oct. 1st through May 31st – 3 fish per day, 26-inch minimum size limit, fish must be landed with head and tail intact. In the Savannah River and its tributaries and distributaries and the lands immediately adjacent to them from the J. Strom Thurmond Lake dam downstream to the mouth of the Savannah River. Defined by a line from Jones Island, SC (also known as Oysterbed Island) point at N32.03833°, W80.88917°; across Cockspur Island, Georgia, point at N32.03278°, W80.88222° to Lazaretto Creek, Georgia, point at N32.01722°, W80.88083°. Unlawful to possess more than 2 striped bass, striped bass hybrids, white bass, or any combination of these species. Any lawfully possessed fish of each of these species must be a minimum of 27 inches. Lake Russell from Lake Hartwell Dam and Lake Secession Dam, including all tributaries of Lake Russell – 2 fish per day, no more than one greater than 34 inches in length.
Species	Cold Water Trout
Limit	10 fish per day, 10 in possession.
Exceptions	Saluda River - not more than five trout may be taken in any one day from that portion of the lower Saluda River between the Lake Murray Dam and the confluence of the Broad River. Chattooga River (SC Highway 28 upstream to Reid Creek), and Cheohee Creek (SC Forestry Commission property) - 0 trout per day, 0 in possession (catch and release only) from Nov. 1 through May 14. Chattooga River (except SC Highway 28 upstream to Reid Creek), Lakes Tugaloo, Yonah and Hartwell, Lake Hartwell Tailwater and Lake Russell - 8 trout per day, 8 in possession. Whitewater River in Oconee County, Eastatoe River (Heritage Preserve lands) in Pickens County, Middle Saluda River (lower foot bridge at Jones Gap Park upstream to Highway 276), and Matthews Creek (upstream of Caesar’s Head State Park) in Greenville County - 7 trout per day, 7 in possession. Middle Saluda River (Hugh Smith Road upstream to lower foot bridge at Jones Gap State Park) - 0 trout per day, 0 in possession (catch and release year round). Lake Jocassee - 5 trout per day, 5 in possession. Size limit & exceptions: 15-inch minimum.
Bait/tackle restrictions	Artificial lures and bait can be used when fishing for trout.
Bait/tackle Exceptions	Matthews Creek (from lower boundary of Caesars Head State Park) and Middle Saluda River (Jones Gap State Park lower foot bridge to Highway 276) in Greenville County, Eastatoe River (Heritage Preserve lands) in Pickens County and Whitewater River in Oconee County - Artificial lures only. Lake Jocassee - It is unlawful to fish with corn, cheese, fish eggs or imitations of them as bait on Lake Jocassee. Chattooga River from SC 28 upstream to Reid (Big) Creek and Cheohee Creek within the property boundary of Piedmont Forestry Center (as posted) between Nov. 1 and May 14. Only artificial lures with single hook may be used. Middle Saluda River (Hugh Smith Rd. to the lower foot bridge at Jones Gap State Park), artificial lures with single hook (no treble hooks).
Seasons	Cold water trout can be fished for year-round unless stated otherwise.
Season Exceptions	Howard Creek (from Corbin Creek upstream to Limberpole Creek), Corbin Creek (from Howard Creek upstream to SC 130), and Devils Fork Creek in Oconee County are closed to fishing from Nov. 1 through Mar. 30. Chattooga River from SC 28 upstream to Reid (Big) Creek and Cheohee Creek within the property boundary of Piedmont Forestry Center (as posted). All coldwater trout caught between Nov. 1 and May 14 must be released and cannot be harvested. Middle Saluda River (catch and release area) open for fishing only on Mon., Wed., and Sat. during daylight hours with a special daily permit obtained on-site. Cheohee Creek (Forestry Center lands) open to fishing only on Mon., Wed., and Sat. from Nov. 1 through May 14 and June 15 through June 22 of each year during daylight hours.
Species	Crappie, bream (including bluegill, flier, redbreast, warmouth, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, redear and spotted sunfish), white bass, chain pickerel, redfin pickerel, yellow perch, walleye and sauger
Limit	30 fish per day
Exceptions	Walleye and sauger - 8 fish per day on Lakes Tugaloo, Yonah, Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond and the Chattooga River. Crappie - 20 fish per day, 8 inch minimum size on Lake Murray.

Information on Public Fishing Lakes

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The 2011-2012 Freshwater Fishing Regulations are provided in the Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open this file and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.