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TO AMEND SECTIONS 50-5-1705 AND 50-5-1710, BOTH AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO LAWFUL SIZE AND CATCH LIMITS FOR CERTAIN FISH, SO AS TO PROVIDE LAWFUL SIZE AND CATCH LIMITS FOR SHEEPSHEAD (ARCHOSARGUS PROBATOCEPHALUS).
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 50-5-1705 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 169 of 2010, is further amended to read:
"Section 50-5-1705. (A) As used in this article, a day means sunrise on one day to sunrise on the following day.
(B) It is unlawful for a person to take or have in possession more than ten spotted seatrout in any one day.
(C) It is unlawful for a person to take or have in possession more than three red drum in any one day.
(D) It is unlawful for a person to take or have in possession more than one tarpon in any one day.
(E) It is unlawful for a person to take or have in possession more than five black drum Pogonias cromis in any one day.
(F) It is unlawful for a person to take or possess more than twenty flounder (Paralichthys species) taken by means of gig, spear, hook and line, or similar device in any one day, not to exceed forty flounder in any one day on any boat.
(G) It is unlawful for a person to take or have in possession more than one weakfish Cynoscion regalis in any one day.
(H) It is unlawful for a person to take or possess more than ten sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) in any one day, not to exceed thirty sheepshead in any one day on any boat.
(I) It is unlawful to take or possess Hardhead Catfish Ariopsis felis or Gafftopsail Catfish Bagre marinus.
(I)(J) It is unlawful to gig for spotted seatrout or red drum from December first, through the last day of February inclusive.
(J)(K) The possession limits do not apply to the possession or sale of properly identified fish imported by seafood dealers or produced by permitted mariculture operations, or to possession as allowed under permit authorized by this chapter."
SECTION 2. Section 50-5-1710(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 85 of 2007, is further amended to read:
"(A) Except as provided in Article 21, it is unlawful to take, possess, land, sell, purchase, or attempt to sell or purchase:
(1) spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) (winter trout) of less than fourteen inches in total length;
(2) flounder (Paralichthys) of less than fourteen inches total length;
(3) red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) (channel bass or spottail bass) of less than fifteen inches in total length, or more than twenty-three inches in total length;
(4) black drum Pogonias cromis of less than fourteen inches or more than twenty-seven inches in total length; or
(5) weakfish Cynoscion regalis of less than twelve inches in total length; or
(6) sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) of less than fourteen inches in total length."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on March 22, 2012 at 11:40 AM