Although the 2013-2014 regulations still state 20 flounder per person, 40 per boat, and 14 inch min, the law has changed to 15 per person, 30 per boat, and the same 14 minch min effective June 1, 2014. The Charleston DNR site told me that over the phone this morning. Of course, I asked them about the current regulations specifically stated on the SCDNR website and the contridiction. Their response was that it is up to the onscene officer to either issue a ticket or a warning. Basically, if you show up to the landing (or on the water) with 20 or 40 flounder, it is up the onscene officer to determine what to do about it.
Just playing the devil’s advocate a little bit, I would think it would be hard to issue a ticket for a broken law that has not been updated to the public via the official DNR regulations. Just putting the information in the news paper, as the Charleston site stated, seems a little lame to me because it is not all that hard to post a new PDF file of with up-to-date information on a website in 2014.
“15 per person per day not to exceed 40 per boat per day except in the waters of Pawleys Inlet north to the northern terminus of Main Creek at Garden City Beach (10 per person per day not to exceed 20 per boat per day)”
I finally found it on the SCDNR website, but it was buried in a different link other than the obviously stated regulations. It seems like they are slow at making updates.
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
After researching, there are several discrepancies with dates along with the already hard to find law change. Because DNR seems to have a hard time updatng information, someone obviously trying to follow the law could easily request a jury trial cand the case would go absolutely nowhere. I think it is kind of dumb to write tickets when they don’t have their own house in order. But, now I know; however, there will be some person who gets caught this way and has to go through the pain of fighting with DNR.
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
Well, it is 2014, and the internet, whether we completely like it or not, is the way information is disitributed these days. I’m sure it does not cost much to make a few electrons replace the current PDF file that has the WRONG information on it. Pure laziness in my book. They point the finger quickly and forget that there are three fingers pointing right back at them. I respect and value the system, but there are certainly times when it is broken. IMO, this is one of them, and it pisses me off to think I could arrive at the landing KNOWING I am legal only to find out that the law changed. They knew about the change since October of last year. 9 months is plenty of time to update a PDF file on the web page. Oh well, we live and learn.
quote:Originally posted by WIGGS
“I just feel DNR can do a much better job of updating the information to the public.”
I agree 100%. The website is currently being updated. Hopefully!
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
Actually, the new flounder bag limit did not go into effect until yesterday, July 1, 2014.
The change was initially part of the 2013 “legislative packet” with the caveat that it would not go into effect until 2014. I’m guessing that’s why it showed up on the website with the incorrect date of Oct. 2013.
And, that is my point. If there is a change, it should be absolutely clear with no doubt of the who, what, when, where, why, and how…and yet, here we are with conflicting information, which is the responsibility of the DNR to inform the pulblic in a timely and efficient manner. Megan from the Charleston DNR site told me personally over the phone yesterday that the official date was 1 June 2014–I asked her twice to make sure. I think the left hand is not talking to the right hand. Either way, now we know, and Thanks Wiggs for the input.
To be perfectly clear, I’m not complainng about the 15 flounder limit. I complaining about the sorry implementation of the law change. It appears to be a shady and purposeful way of writing tickets. Right is still right and wrong is still wrong in 2014 the same as it has always been. By the way, yes, I believe DNR can be wrong in their processes and actions at times because there are humans running it, and they need to be beat up for it too–the same way they would/will write any of us a ticket whether we knew the change or not.
Alright, I’m done.
quote:Originally posted by WIGGS
Actually, the new flounder bag limit did not go into effect until yesterday, July 1, 2014.
The change was initially part of the 2013 “legislative packet” with the caveat that it would not go into effect until 2014. I’m guessing that’s why it showed up on the website with the incorrect date of Oct. 2013.
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
Well, more to follow. Capt Billy Downer out of Columbia says there is NO change at all to the limit. I will pull the thread some more to find out EXACTLY who the top dog is and EXACTLY who knows the truth. I’ll let ya’ll know.
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
2 per person per day and 6 per boats is good for me
Woodfloats?
I glade your not over the rules. If I go out and only catch two flounder then I'd be pissed. Also just because you cant catch but two flounder a day doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to bring out twenty. I can't help if you couldn't catch crabs in a whore house. I honestly am glade that atlest 90% of the people on the water can't catch fish. Because If they could then maybe we could talk about lower limits. If we keep strugging these kind of things off. Then by the time my grandkids get old enough to fish they'll have to do it at the fish market.
S. 559
(A50, R58, S559)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-1705, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FLOUNDER CATCH LIMITS, SO AS TO DECREASE THE MAXIMUM CATCH LIMITS FOR FLOUNDER AND TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO TAKE OR POSSESS MORE THAN FIFTEEN FLOUNDER TAKEN BY MEANS OF GIG, SPEAR, HOOK AND LINE, OR SIMILAR DEVICE IN ANY ONE DAY, NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY FLOUNDER IN ANY ONE DAY ON ANY BOAT.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Flounder catch limits
SECTION 1. Section 50-5-1705(G) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 7 of 2013, is further amended to read:
“(G) It is unlawful for a person to take or possess more than fifteen flounder (Paralichthys species) taken by means of gig, spear, hook and line, or similar device in any one day, not to exceed thirty flounder in any one day on any boat.”
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2014.
Ratified the 4th day of June, 2013.
Approved the 7th day of June, 2013.
I too demand to know who is in charge. The top dog, big enchilada, the person who knows the truth!
I agree, but it is not supposed to be this hard to find information or get the run around from DNR. We are not supposed to feel like we need a lawyer in our boats with us just to go fishing. DNR…they suck again.
Thanks again Wiggs.
quote:Originally posted by Bonzo72
quote:Originally posted by Junkpile
I believe it’s safe to say WIGGS knows what he is talking about when it comes to DNR, regs., etc.