The Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs committee has this bill on their agenda for Thursday morning of this week…
H. 4876 – Reps. V.S. Moss, Corley, Knight, Southard, Ott, Chumley, Hiott, Hixon and Hodges:
A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-1-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH
CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES FOR CERTAIN
BODIES OF WATER, SO AS TO PROVIDE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES FOR THE
PORTION OF THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY LOCATED IN HORRY COUNTY AND
TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CHANGE; TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-1556, RELATING TO LOCATIONS WHERE STRIPED BASS MAY BE TAKEN, SO AS TO REVISE THE
PERIODS OF TIME WHEN STRIPED BASS MAY BE TAKEN IN VARIOUS BODIES OF WATER; AND TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-230, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE TAKING OF STRIPED BASS WITHIN VARIOUS BODIES OF WATER, SO AS TO REVISE THE PERIOD OF TIME WHEN STRIPED BASS MAY BE TAKEN WITHIN VARIOUS BODIES OF WATER, TO PROVIDE FOR LIMITS FOR THE TAKING OF STRIPED BASS WITHIN VARIOUS BODIES OF WATER, TO PROVIDE FOR THE TAKING OF STRIPED BASS IN THE SANTEE RIVER, AND TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE STRIPED BASS FISHERY ON THE SANTEE AND COOPER RIVER SYSTEMS.
The subcommittee recommended changing the boundaries specific to the santee River system which in includes the lakes. I think they are going to decrease the closed season to June 15 thru sept 15. Give us a couple weeks back. Also something about opening the lower saluda. The big take away will be a proposed slot limit now 23-25" and 1 over 36". This is all a proposal and I doubt the senate will agree anyway, so voice your concerns now.
The proposed changes are in the very early stages …
NOTHING is likely to change for this year …
These changes are NOT CURRENTLY IN EFFECT …
ADDED
(56) ‘Intracoastal Waterway (Horry County)’ means all waters of the Intracoastal Waterway from its confluence with the Waccamaw River upstream to U.S. Highway 17.
REVISED
SECTION 2. Section 50 5 1556 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 193 of 2010, is amended to read:
“Section 50 5 1556.
(A) In the inshore waters, except for that portion of the Savannah River from the saltwater freshwater dividing line downstream to the mouth of the Savannah River defined by a line from Jones Island, S.C. (also known as Oysterbed Island) point at N. 32° 02’ 18” (N 32.03833°), W. 80° 53’ 21” (W 80.88917°); across Cockspur Island, Georgia, point at N. 32° 01’ 58” (N 32.03278°), W. 80° 52’ 56” (W 80.88222°) to Lazaretto Creek, Georgia, point at N 32° 01’ 2” (N 32.01722°), W. 80° 52’ 51” (W 80.88083°), and the territorial sea from June <s>first </s><u>sixteenth </u>through September thirtieth, it is unlawful to possess any striped bass (rockfish). Any striped bass taken must be returned immediately to the waters from where it came.
(B) In the inshore waters, except for that portion of the Savannah River from the saltwater freshwater dividing line downstream to the mouth of the Savannah River defined by a line from Jones Island, S.C. (also known as Oysterbed Island) point at N. 32° 02’ 18” (N 32.03833°), W. 80° 53’ 21” (W 80.88917°); across Cockspur Island, Georgia, point at N. 32° 01’ 58” (N 32.03278°), W. 80° 52’ 56” (W 80.88222°) to Lazaretto Creek, Georgia, point at N 32° 01’ 2” (N 32.01722°), W. 80° 52’ 51” (W 80.88083°), and the territorial sea from October first through <s>May thirty first </s><u>June fif
Short Version - the proposed changes will have ZERO effect on any of the lakes … Murray will still remain “Five and Done” from June 1 - September 30th …
These proposed changes ONLY affect the rivers downstream from the dams …
Thanks Rick, thats what I was looking for, the underline/strikethrough version.
This would be the perfect opportunity to push for a change to the time period for “5 and Done” on Lake Murray and make it July through September… I’d also like to see a study of the striped bass fishery on the santee and cooper river systems. What kind of study is the question. I assume the study provision was added to see how effective the closed season and increased size limits have been at restoring the striped bass population in the river basin but there are a number of factors that could effect spawning success, recruitment, and population. I know they don’t have the budget or man-hours for a large study but creel surveys might provide some useful data.
One thing is for sure, if we don’t ask for anything, we won’t get anything…
Team Shad Up & Fish
If you’ve had fun catching fish on the transom bait, you are welcome…
I’ve spent about 85% of my life’s wages on fishing, the rest I just wasted…
THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NATURAL
RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4876) to amend Section 50 1 50, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to geographical boundaries for certain bodies of water, so as to provide, etc., respectfully
REPORT:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 50 13 230(E), as contained in Section 3, on pages 17, 18, and 19, by deleting /<u>forty one</u>/ on line 2, page 19, and inserting /<u>thirty six</u>/
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
This would change the following:
(E) In the Santee River system from October first through June fifteenth, it is unlawful to take or possess a striped bass less than twenty-three inches or greater than twenty-five inches, provided that one striped bass taken or possessed may be greater than forty-one inches.
to read as Amended:
(E) In the Santee River system from October first through June fifteenth, it is unlawful to take or possess a striped bass less than twenty-three inches or greater than twenty-five inches, provided that one striped bass taken or possessed may be greater than <s>forty-one </s> <u>thirty-six</u> inches.
All the rest of the proposed changes were accepted as previously drafted and the measure is up for consideration February 26th
