Commercial shad, herring fisheries now open in S.C.

[Fishhound]

[left]State natural resources officials opened the commercial blueback herring and shad season in many areas for 2007 beginning Feb. 1.

A copy of the complete shad fishing regulations may be obtained by calling the S.C. Department of Natural Resources at the Marine Resources Center at Fort Johnson on James Island in Charleston at (843) 953-9309. [/left] [left]Information on [url "http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/nongamefish.pdf"]licenses[/url], [url "http://www.dnr.sc.gov/licenses/pdf/SumLawsShad0607.pdf"]seasonal information and locations[/url] (pdf file)

Anglers are reminded that, while legal fishing times are set by state law, for safety and security reasons, access to and upstream limits of the Rediversion Canal are set by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers policy, and may be changed depending upon conditions. Fishermen will not be permitted upstream of the CSX railroad trestle over the Rediversion Canal before 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (8 p.m. Daylight Savings Time), and must move downstream of the trestle by midnight. Buoy placement may be altered at the discretion of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the DNR at any time.

All commercial fishermen will be required to fill out reporting forms recording their catch and fishing effort pursuant to their commercial license requirements, but may also be interviewed upon landing by DNR personnel regarding their catch and effort expended.

Commercial fishermen will need to purchase a commercial saltwater fishing license ($25 resident/$300 non-resident) and an equipment license for each type of gear carried on board, and for each piece of gear being used on board during a trip ($10 residenT/$50 non-resident). If fish are being commercially harvested for bait, a bait dealer license should be purchased ($25 resident/$125 non-resident) instead of commercial saltwater fishing license. To sell to the public for human consumption, a fisherman must purchase a wholesale license ($100 resident/$500 non-resident). Fishermen harvesting herring for non-commercial use need only have a freshwater fishing license, but are limited to one bushel.

[url "http://www.dnr.sc.gov/licenses/pdf/ShadorHerringApp0607.pdf"]Download the license[/url] (pdf file)

Commercial Shad Seasons and Controls[/left] [left] [/left] [font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"]Winyah Bay - includes Black River, Sampit River, Great Pee Dee, Little Pee Dee, Lynches River, Waccamaw River, and Winyah Bay:

Pee Dee above US Highway 701, Waccamaw River above entrance of Big Bull Creek, and Black River above county Road 179:
Season: Feb. 1–April 30
Times: Monday Noon–Saturday Noon

Remainder of Winyah Bay, including Sampit River & Big Bull Creek:
Season: Feb. 1–April 15
Times: Monday Noon–Saturday Noon, local time

Methods: No restrictions, except drift nets in Waccamaw River between Butler Island and US Highway 17 restricted to 900 feet.
[/font] [font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"]Santee River—includes below Wilson Dam including the Rediversion Canal below St. Stephen Dam, North Santee River, North Santee Bay, and South Santee River:

Rediversion Canal from St. Stephen Dam seaward to the seaward terminus of the northern dike of the Rediversion Canal—no open season

Rediversion Canal from the seaward terminus of the northern dike of the Rediversion Canal seaward to Santee River:
Season: Feb. 1–April 30
Times: 7 a.m.–7pm, Tuesday and Thursday

Wilson Dam to US Highway 52—no open season

US Highway 52 to SC Highway 41:
Season: Feb. 1–April 30
Times: 7 a.m. –7 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday

SC Highway 41 seaward:
Season: Feb. 1–March 31
Times: Monday Noon–Saturday Noon

[/font] [font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"]Charleston Harbor—includes Wando River and Cooper River to US Highway 17 bridges, Charleston Harbor, and Ashley River.

Tailrace Canal from Wadboo Creek to Jeffries Power Plant: no open season

Cooper River from Wadboo Creek to US Highway 17: no open season

Ashley River to confluence with Popper Dam Creek
Season: Feb. 1–March 31
Times: Wednesday Noon–Saturday Noon

Remainder of Charleston Harbor System (includes Wando River):
Season: Feb. 1–March 31
Times: Wednesday Noon–Saturday Noon
Methods: Drift nets only
[/font] [font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"]Edisto River – includes Edisto River Estuary, Edisto River, North and South Branches (Forks) of the Edisto River.

Above US Highway15 bridge:
Season: Jan. 15–April 15
Times: Tuesday Noon–Saturday Noon
Methods: Any law method and equipment, however nets must have a mesh size no smaller than 5 inches and no larger than 5 and one-half inches.

Seaward of US Highway 15 bridge and above US Highway 17 bridge:
Season: Jan. 15–April 15
Times: Tuesday Noon–Saturday Noon

Below US Highway 17 bridge:
Season: Jan. 1–March 31
Times: Wednesday Noon–Friday Midnight
[/font] [font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"]Ashepoo River –
Season: Feb. 1–March 31
Times: Friday Noon–Saturday Noon
[/font] [font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"]Combahee River—

All tributaries except main stems of Salkehatchie Rivers: no open season.

Remainder of Combahee River, including main stems of Salkehatchie Rivers:
Season: Jan. 15–March 31
Times: Anchored nets: Tuesday Noon–Friday Noon; Drift nets: Monday Noon–Saturday Noon
[/font] [font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"]Coosawhatchie River—no open season
[/font] [font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"]Savannah River—South Carolina portions

New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam to confluence with Spirit Creek: no open season.

Main River above I-95 Bridge:
Season: Jan. 1–April 15
Times: Wednesday 7 a.m.–Saturday 7 p.m.

Tributaries above I-95 bridge – no open season

Seaward of I-95 Bridge:
Season: Jan. 1–March 31 except no anchored nets allowed in Savannah’s Little Back River, Back River, and the north channel of Savannah River downstream from New Savannah Cut.
Times: Tuesday 7 a.m.–Friday 7 p.m.
[/font] [font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"]Atlantic Ocean—no open season
[/font] [font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"]Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion, Diversion Canal, & Intake Canal of Rediversion Canal:
Season: No closed season
Times: No restrictions
Methods: Cast nets and lift nets only
Take limits: 250 pounds of herring and shad combined per boat per day [/font][font "Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica"] [left] [/left][/url][/font]
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