What's New for 2012 - 2013 Rules and Regulations
The information contained in this brochure is provided as summary information. The specific laws governing Fish, Wildlife and Boating may be found in Title 50 SC Code.
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H.3864 & H.3865 Fisheries Chapter 13 Rewrite Effective Date 07/01/12 Sponsor: Rep. Hardwick — Act No. 113 & 114
These Acts made extensive changes to the Freshwater Fisheries law of South Carolina. Please see the Freshwater Fisheries section which will reflect these changes.
H.3873 Herring ASMFC Compliance Effective Date 02/01/12 Sponsor: Rep. Vick — Act No. 112
This Act made changes to bring South Carolina’s Commercial Blueback herring Fishery in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission management plan. In doing so the Commercial Herring fishery is closed in the Savannah River seaward of the Augusta Diversion Dam and in all rivers in the Winyah Bay River System except for the Great Pee Dee River. Please note that Herring fishing is also prohibited within 100 feet of the fish lift exit channel at St. Stephens Powerhouse. For more information visit: summary of laws for commercial herring fishing with legal references.
**Online rules will be updated to reflect changes for 2013**
S.512 Prohibits hunting migratory waterfowl on Lake Moultrie within 200 yds. of a dwelling. Effective Date 06/07/12 Sponsor: Sen. Grooms — Act No. 219
This Act makes it unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl on Lake Moultrie within 200 yards of a dwelling without written permission of the owner and occupant. As used in this provision, Lake Moultrie means all waters impounded by the Pinopolis Dam, including the Diversion Canal and those waters of the Re-diversion Canal within the Santee Cooper project area.
S.741 Night hunting of feral hogs and coyotes Effective Date 06/18/12 Sponsor: Sen. Shane Martin — Act No. 228
This Act made extensive changes to the Night Hunting Law of South Carolina. Please see Private Property Night Hunting Notice and Registration which will reflect these changes.
S.1029 Enumerates & Clarifies Geographic Boundaries for certain bodies of water Effective Date 06/07/12 Sponsor: Sen. Larry Martin — Act No.206
This Act provides a numerical designation given to each body of water listed in Section 50-1-50; clarifies geographical boundaries for Lake Monticello, Lake Russell and Saluda Lake in Pickens and Greenville counties and corrects longitude and latitude coordinates.
S.1087 Allows the SCDNR to designate “free fishing days”, as July Fourth and Memorial Day; Authorizes the Release of seized property to innocent owner; Effective Date 07/01/12 Sponsor: Sen. Jackson — Act No. 245
This Act provides that a resident is not required to possess a license or permit for recreational fishing in the freshwaters of this State on July Fourth and National Memorial Day. This Act also requires the SCDNR to designate two days a year as 'free hunting days' during which state residents may hunt without procuring the necessary licenses and permits. Additionally, this Act allows the SCDNR to release a vehicle, boat, motor, or fishing device seized from a person charged with a violation of Title 50 to an innocent owner or lien holder of the property.
S.1231 Classifies Cobia as a saltwater game fish; Revises, seasons, times, methods and equipment, and size and take limits for commercial fishing for shad Effective Date 06/18/12 Sponsor: Rep. Hardwick — Act No. 249
This Act classifies Cobia as a saltwater game fish and makes it unlawful to sell, purchase, trade, or barter or attempt to sell, purchase, trade, or barter cobia taken from state waters.
This Act made changes to bring South Carolina’s commercial American shad fishery in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission management plan. The commercial American shad fishery is closed in the Waccamaw River (from Big Bull Creek to N.C. state line), the Sampit River, the Charleston Harbor (which includes the Wando River and Cooper River to US Highway 17 bridges), the Ashley River, the Ashepoo River and the Savannah River (Spirit Creek to Highway-301). The season changes in some rivers. Details available in literature upon purchase of commercial shad license.
**Online rules will be updated to reflect changes for 2013**
S.1364 Provides lawful size and catch limits for Sheepshead Effective Date 06/07/12 Sponsor: Sen. Cromer — Act No. 210
This Act makes it unlawful for a person to take or possess more than 10 Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) in any 1 day, not to exceed 30 Sheepshead in any 1 day on any boat. Additionally, this Act makes it unlawful to take, possess, land, sell, purchase, or attempt to sell or purchase Sheepshead of less than 14 inches in total length.
H.3113 Horry County Relocated to Game Zone 5 Effective Date 06/07/12 Sponsor: Rep. Clemmons — Act No. 195
Please refer to Game Zone Map
H.3730 Trapping Legislation Effective Date 06/18/12 Sponsor: Rep. Munnerlyn — Act No. 257
This Act made multiple changes in that law that governs the regulations pertaining to Trapping and Commercial Fur Harvest. The changes to the regulations are available in a separate publication. Some Highlights are as follows: Coyotes are now defined as furbearing animals, but there is no closed season for hunting or taking coyotes with weapons; size of traps for use in water sets increased to 7.25; Body gripping traps in water sets or other traps used in 'submersion sets' must be checked every 48 hours; A person under the age of 16 can purchase a Commercial Fur Harvest (trapping) License without purchasing the required hunting license if they successfully complete an approved Trapper's Education Course and the fur processor's license was reduced from $500 to $200.
H.4054 Unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl on Lake Keowee, Broadway Lake in Anderson County and Lake Moultrie within 200 yards of a dwelling Effective Date 06/07/12 Sponsor: Rep. Sandifer — Act No. 196
This Act makes it unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl on Lake Keowee within 200 yards of a dwelling. As used in this provision, Lake Keowee includes all waters of Keowee River impounded by the Little River Dam at Newry and the Keowee Dam to Jocassee Dam. This includes all waters upstream of the Little River Dam to the confluence of Cane Creek and Little Cane Creek on Cane Creek, to S. C. State Highway S-37-175 on Crooked Creek, to S. C. State Highway S-37-24 (Burnt Tanyard Road) on Little River, and to S. C. State Highway S-37-200 on Stamp Creek in Oconee County. This includes all waters upstream of the Keowee Dam to the confluence of Eastatoe River and Little Eastatoe Creek on the Eastatoe River; S. C. State Highway 133 on Cedar, Crowe, and Mile Creeks in Pickens County.
It is unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl on Broadway Lake in Anderson County within 200 yards of a dwelling without written permission of the owner and occupant.
It is unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl on Lake Moultrie within 200 yards of a dwelling without written permission of the owner and occupant. As used in this section, Lake Moultrie means all waters impounded by the Pinopolis Dam, including the Diversion Canal and those waters of the Re-diversion Canal within the Santee Cooper project area.
H.4983 Relating to bird sanctuaries and the use of firearms within their borders, so as to revise the boundaries of certain bird sanctuaries in York county Effective Date 04/23/12 Sponsor: Rep. Pope — Act No. 150
This Act revises the boundaries of certain bird sanctuaries in York County. The reference to River Hills Plantation is removed and the following boundaries are established:
- the area in York County, embracing the Country Club Estates, the Rock Hill Country Club, the Oakdale School property, a portion of the Drennan property, and being bounded on the north by the Fewell property, on the east by the Fewell and Parrish properties, on the south by the old Mount Holly Road, and on the west and north by State Highway No. 72.
- the area in York County consisting of all waters and tributaries impounded by the Lake Wylie Dam located within the boundaries of the State of South Carolina. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, waterfowl may be hunted during any appropriate migratory waterfowl season on all waters of Lake Wylie with the following restrictions: it is unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl on Lake Wylie within 200 yards of a dwelling, school or business without written permission of the owner and occupant.
The What's New for 2012-2013 Rules and 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.
