Saltwater Fishing Regulations - Shrimp

Shrimp Harvesting Catch Limits for Shrimp

Certain exemptions apply to permitted charter vessels and licensed bait dealers. For information, contact SCDNR, Marine Resources Division, P.O. Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422 or call 843-953-9312.

Taking Shrimp Without Bait

Permits/Licenses:	Saltwater Recreational Fishing License required. See gear exemptions.
Limits:	Daily catch 48 quarts whole or 29 quarts headed per boat, per person if no boat is used, or per seining party.
Seasons:	May 1 through December 15.
Restrictions:	12 dozen dead or live shrimp per boat December 16 through April 30.

Shrimp Baiting

Permits/Licenses:	Shrimp Baiting License and individual pole marker tags required. A license is not required for residents assisting license holders. License available Monday of the second full week in June.
Limits:	Daily catch 48 quarts whole or 29 quarts headed per boat or per person if no boat is used.
Seasons:	60-day period set by SCDNR beginning at 12:00 noon on the last Friday on or before Sept. 15. Call 843-953-9312 for season dates.
Restrictions:	Shrimp caught over bait cannot be sold. No more than 10 poles can be used per license per day. Poles may not exceed 1-inch in diameter and each pole must have a numbered tag attached which corresponds with the shrimp baiting license. Each pole must also be marked with reflective tape. No more than 10 poles can be used per boat. All poles of a licensed set must be within 100 linear yards of each other and sets of poles must be at least 25 yards apart. Poles may not be set within 50 yards of any dock, public landing or boat ramp. Unattended poles will be confiscated. Owners of private docks or persons with written permission may bait from those docks once properly licensed and with numbered tag displayed. Shrimp pots or traps are prohibited. Individuals who are: owners or officers of a corporation which owns a vessel specified on a trawl license; masters of a vessel specified on a trawl license application; licensed to use a channel net; licensed to use a cast net for a commercial purpose; or licensed as a wholesale seafood dealer may not obtain a shrimp baiting license. Cast nets used for taking shrimp over bait must have a minimum mesh size of 1/2-inch square (1-inch stretch).

Shrimp Seines

Permits/Licenses:	Saltwater Recreational Fishing License required.
Season:	No closed season
Restrictions:	Maximum length of shrimp seine 40 feet, maximum depth 6 feet, minimum mesh size, 1/2 inch square (1 inch stretch), maximum mesh size 7/8 inch square (1.75 inch stretch). Tail bags or pockets are not allowed on seines when pulled by hand. Staked seines are considered commercial channel net devices; allowances and restrictions are provided with the purchase of a commercial license. One limit per seine per day.

Trawling

Permits/Licenses:	Commercial Saltwater Fishing License, Vessel Decal and Gear License required.
Restrictions:	Trawling for personal use is restricted to the same license requirements, areas and seasons as commercial trawling. This information is provided with license.

Shrimp Harvesting Regulations information above are in the Saltwater Regulations which is in the Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open the files and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.

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