In addition to other provisions of law, the following provisions govern seasons, times, methods, equipment, size limits, and take limits in commercial fishing for herring in the waters of this State:
(a) Black River, Little Pee Dee River, Lynches River, Sampit River, and the Waccamaw River from its northern ocean outlet at Little River to Winyah Bay, and Winyah Bay: Season: No open season.
(b) Great Pee Dee River: (1) Season: February 15 through April 15;(2) Times: 7:00 a.m. Wednesday to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, local time;(3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.(c) Santee River below Wilson Dam including the Rediversion Canal below St. Stephen Dam, North Santee River and Bay, South Santee River, and all tributaries and distributaries as follows:(i) Santee River below the cable and buoys marking the seaward boundary of the Wilson Dam Sanctuary designated by the department seaward to Wilson Dam Boat Landing: (1) Season: February 15 through April 30, for herring only;(2) Times: Sunrise Monday to sunset Thursday, as locally published;(3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and seine net. A seine may not exceed one hundred yards in total length. The mesh of the seine must not be less than one-half inch square. All fish except those used for live bait must be containerized in one bushel units before landing;(4) Size and take limits: Ten U.S. bushels each boat each day including lawful incidental catch; harvest must not be transferred between boats; and an additional boat must not be used to increase a person's daily take.(ii) Rediversion Canal: (1) Season: March 1 through April 30;(2) Times: 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST, or 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. DST;(3) Methods and equipment: Circular drop nets with a maximum six-foot diameter, lift nets, and cast nets allowed; other equipment prohibited; nets must be operated by hand; trawling prohibited; culling prohibited; all fish, except those used for live bait, must be containerized in units of one hundred pounds maximum weight before landing; all fishing is prohibited within one hundred feet of the fish lift exit channel at St. Stephen Powerhouse, except with hook and line from March 1 through April 15;(4) Size and take limits: Ten U.S. bushels each boat each day including lawful incidental catch; harvest must not be transferred between boats; and an additional boat must not be used to increase a person's daily take.(iii) Santee River seaward of Wilson Boat Landing: Season: No open season.
(d) Charleston Harbor System including Wando River and Cooper River seaward to the U.S. Highway 17 bridges, Charleston Harbor, Ashley River, and all tributaries and distributaries as follows: (i) Tailrace Canal from CSX Railroad Bridge to the Jefferies Power Plant Sanctuary line: (1) Season: March 1 through April 30;(2) Times: Sunrise as locally published to 10:00 p.m.;(3) Methods and equipment: Circular drop nets with a maximum six-foot diameter, lift nets, and cast nets allowed; other equipment prohibited; nets must be operated by hand; trawling prohibited; culling prohibited; all fish, except those used for live bait, must be containerized in units of one hundred pounds maximum weight before landing;(4) Size and take limits: Ten U.S. bushels each boat each day; harvest must not be transferred between boats and an additional boat must not be used to increase a person's daily take.(ii) Cooper River from CSX Railroad to U.S. Highway 17 bridges: Season: No open season.
(iii) Charleston Harbor system excluding Tailrace Canal and Cooper River seaward to U.S. Highway 17 bridges: (1) Season: February 15 through April 15;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.(e) Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion, Diversion Canal, Intake Canal of Rediversion Canal, and all tributaries and distributaries as follows: (1) Season: No closed season;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Cast net, lift net, and hook and line;(4) Size and take limits: Two hundred fifty pounds each boat each day combined catch of shad and herring and other lawful incidental catch.(f) Lake Jocassee and all tributaries and distributaries as follows:(1) Season: No closed season;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Hook and line;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.(g) Lake Keowee and all tributaries and distributaries as follows:(1) Season: No closed season;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.(h) Lake Hartwell and all tributaries and distributaries as follows: (1) Season: No closed season;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.(i) Lake Richard B. Russell and all tributaries and distributaries as follows: (1) Season: No closed season;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.(j) Lake J. Strom Thurmond and all tributaries and distributaries as follows: (1) Season: No closed season;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.(k) Savannah River and all tributaries and distributaries as follows: Seaward of the Augusta Diversion Dam
Season: No open season.
(l) Lake Secession, Stevens Creek Reservoir, and all tributaries and distributaries as follows: (1) Season: No closed season;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.(m) Lake Greenwood, Lake Murray, Saluda River between Buzzards Roost (Lake Greenwood Dam) and S.C. Highway 121, and all tributaries and distributaries as follows: (1) Season: No closed season;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.(n) Catawba River impoundments, including Lake Wylie and Lake Wateree, and all tributaries and distributaries as follows:(1) Season: No closed season;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.(o) Lake Monticello and all tributaries and distributaries as follows: (1) Season: No closed season;(2) Times: No restrictions;(3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;(4) Size and take limits: No limits.Amended by 2012 S.C. Acts, Act No. 112 (HB 3873), s 1, eff. 2/1/2012.2002 Act No. 342, Section 34.