S.C. Code Regs. § 123-124
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
Section 123-124 - Reciprocal Agreement Between the State of Georgia and the State of South Carolina1. The provisions of this agreement shall be applicable to the waters which lie adjacent to or within both the State of South Carolina and the State of Georgia, to wit: All channels of the Savannah River, from its mouth to the confluence of the Tugaloo (Toogaloo) and the Seneca Rivers; the Tugaloo (Toogaloo) River from its mouth to the confluence of the Tugaloo (Toogaloo) and the Chattooga Rivers; and the Chattooga River to the point where such river intersects with the 35th Parallel of North latitude, which is the boundary line between Georgia and North Carolina. This agreement is also applicable to the impoundments of the Clark Hill Dam, the Hartwell Dam, Yonah Lake, Tugaloo (Toogaloo) Lake, Stevens Creek, and the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam, but not applicable to any tributary streams to said impoundments nor tributary streams to the Savannah, Tugaloo (Toogaloo) and Chattooga Rivers.
The purpose and effect of this agreement is that valid freshwater sport fishing licenses and permits issued by the States of Georgia and South Carolina shall be recognized and honored by agents of both States for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of citizens of both States, and further, that residents of both States shall be permitted to launch boats and remove the same as freely as if they were citizens at the point of launching or landing or both.
2. The following provisions, until changed by law, rules and regulations or agreement of the parties hereto, shall govern all fishing in the waters covered by this agreement, as set forth in Paragraph 1 above: (a) Since the laws relating to the requirements for licenses differ in Georgia and South Carolina, it is agreed that all persons holding a valid license and meeting the license requirements of the State of Georgia will be allowed to fish on the banks and in the waters as herein described as being covered by this agreement, without the necessity of obtaining any other license; and, all persons holding a valid license and meeting the requirements for license of the State of South Carolina will be allowed to fish on the banks and in the waters as herein described as being covered by this agreement, without the necessity of obtaining any other license.(b) No person may carry to either state or possess in such state more fish than the laws of that state permit, even though the fish may have been caught in the waters of the other state.(c) The creel and possession limit for the taking of fish from the waters covered by this agreement shall be as follows: Largemouth Bass ............................. | 10 |
Spotted Bass ................................ | 10 |
Coosa Bass .................................. | 10 |
Striped Bass ................................ | 10 |
Striped Bass'White Bass Hybrid .............. | 10 |
White Bass .................................. | 30 |
Trout ....................................... | 8 |
Crappie (White and/or Black) ................ | 30 |
Sunfish (Bream)-All Species ................. | 30 |
Walleye ..................................... | 8 |
Sauger ...................................... | 8 |
It shall be unlawful for any persons to possess more than forty (40) of the above listed species in the aggregate; no more than ten (10) in the aggregate of Largemouth, Spotted, and Coosa Bass; no more than ten (10) in the aggregate of Striped Bass and Striped Bass-White Bass Hybrid; and no more than eight (8) in the aggregate of trout.
(d) During the period from December 1 through March 31 of the following year, the minimum size limit for all species of trout taken from the Hartwell and Clark Hill reservoirs covered by this agreement shall be fourteen (14) inches. There shall be no minimum size limit for trout during the period of April 1 through November 30 of each year. A minimum size of twelve (12) inches for largemouth bass shall apply at all times in all Georgia waters covered by this agreement.(e) Any person using baskets, minnow seines and trot lines for the taking of fish from said waters, regardless of his residence, shall comply with the laws, rules and regulations of the state in which the waters of the herein described area may be located in using such method of taking fish.(f) No person shall have a rifle in his possession nor in a boat in the waters of South Carolina.3. The parties hereto agree that the provisions included shall be published and shall otherwise meet the legal requirements of their state, and the public will be adequately advised of this agreement before it becomes effective so that the citizens and residents of both states may be fully informed on this subject.4. Except as modified or changed herein all prevailing laws, rules and regulations of each state shall remain in full force and effect over all waters lying within the boundaries of the respective states.5. It is mutually understood and agreed that this agreement shall apply only to freshwater sport fishing and shall not apply to freshwater commercial fishing, to saltwater sport fishing, or to saltwater commercial fishing.6. The parties hereto agree that this reciprocal agreement shall become effective immediately after the proper legal requirements have been met.7. The holder of a valid non-resident freshwater sport fishing license issued by either Georgia or South Carolina shall be entitled to fish anywhere in the waters covered by this agreement.8. It is further understood and agreed that either state party to this agreement may abrogate and cancel the same upon ninety (90) days written notice to the other party of such intention to abrogate and cancel, such notice to be delivered to the Director of the Game and Fish Department of the respective state to be so notified.9. It is further understood and agreed that this agreement relates only to the enforcement of fishing laws and regulations in the waters bordering on both the states of Georgia and South Carolina, and that this agreement shall in no way be construed as an interpretation of the boundary line between the States of Georgia and South Carolina; no party hereto shall be deemed to have waived by this agreement any rights or any disputes concerning the boundary line between the States of Georgia and South Carolina.