I picked up one today to read the article about Weston and the tournament. I then read the article by David Larrabee about the new fishing regulations. I was surpised that he said that you can only catch five striped bass “unless you go back to the dock and offload your catch”. Is he really advocating for people to take more than one limit a day? He also indicates that the old regulations required you to keep the first two stripers caught in the summer regardless of the size. News to me.
This is the article.
By David Larrabee, Contributing Writer
After more than a year of political infighting that had nothing to do with our aquatic friends, changes in the South Carolina fishing regulations will finally go into effect on July 1, 2012. The scope of these changes varies from location to location, so to try and cover all of them in this piece would be impractical. For those with internet access, you can find the complete listing at the DNR website (www.dnr.sc.gov). For those of you without access, you should be able to find the new regulations at any store that sells fishing licenses. This article will only deal with Lake Murray and just a few of the more popular fish.
The minimum length for keeping Largemouth Bass will go from none to 14 inches, plus you can only keep 5 instead of the previous amount which was 10. The Crappie restrictions of 8 inches or bigger, and no more than 20 in possession, stay as is. There is no length limit on Bream, but of the 30 you can keep, no more than 15 can be Redbreast.
The Striped Bass changes (long over due) are also simple to understand. From June 1 to September 30, anyone fishing for striper must keep their first five fish, regardless of size. After you catch five, you are done for the day unless you go back to the dock and off load your catch. The rule says you may not have more than 5 in your possession. Because this period of restriction covers the beginning of June to the end of September, come July 1, this rule will go into effect imm
The statement made in the article is pretty irresponsible. From the way it’s written I get the impression that the author doesn’t understand what the words “possession limit” mean in regard to fishing regulations. I hope that someone explains this to him and that a correction is printed in the next issue.
quote:Under the old regulations, you were required to keep the first two, regardless of size. If you caught fish smaller than 21 inches after that, you had to throw them back.
The above reference to striped bass is incorrect as well. Anglers were never “required” to keep their first two, regardless of size.
To be responsible, the paper should retract the article and invite someone from DNR to do an op ed piece to set the record straight.
I have from a good source that DNR will enforce the “attempt to take” rule meaning you cannot intentionally release the fish beside the boat or go back to the dock and return empty. If they see you take 5 fish per licensed fisherman on the boat, you are done. If you continue to catch fish you will be charged.
I will leave this to those who may understand the laws in more legal detail, however I would certainly interpret this that you do not have to “keep” the fish. You just cannot attempt to catch more than 5 fish a day. Common sense: The rule is designed that only a maximum of five fish (stripe bass) of any length, per licensed angler be damaged or killed per day during these hot months, either by being kept or just being brought to the boat and released by the angler. This does not mean “shake your line vigorously” beside the boat until the sucker comes off on it’s own.
I enjoyed seeing the bigger fish caught this previous winter and spring, and look forward to even better fish next year…
This is what is on the DNR site. Everyone we have talked to has said you have to keep the first five you catch of any length during this time. While it does not come out and say that (written by the government, cannot be clear) the terms take and attempt to take may be that definition. If it is five and done wish they would just say that.
(E) On Lake Murray and the middle reach of the Saluda River it is unlawful to possess more than five striped bass a day. From June first through September thirtieth, it is unlawful to take, attempt to take, or possess more than five striped bass a day.
(F) On Lake Murray and the middle reach of the Saluda River from October first through May thirty-first, it is unlawful to possess a striped bass less than twenty-one inches in total length. From June first to September thirtieth there is no minimum length.
I second that Vanman. Its been a great year of fishing. The “five and done” rule is going to make fishing Lake Murray less fun in the summer for those that prefer to catch and release but most of those fish were dying anyway, just in the water instead of the cooler. If you don’t want to eat fish, you should probably not be striper fishing in the summer anyway. September will test our patience as freelining can be effective and those fish are not likely to die when caught but I guess they didn’t want to cut it back on half way through the month.
I just spoke with my DNR officer/friend and he states they are told the officer must physically see someone “take” and/or “release” more than 5 fish and then they can prosecute. Whether they keep fish or just release 5 doesn’t matter. The attempt to catch the six fish is the no-no. I am confident if you have six lines go off at once and you have to let one go free and keep five, the office has common sense enough to see the situation and your desire to follow the rules, so long as you pull in your lines and go home if fishing alone.
