NEWS RELEASE #14?83 June 12, 2014 DNR News (803) 667-0696
General Assembly passes new catch, possession limits on spot, whiting, Atlantic croaker
A recent amendment to the South Carolina Code of Laws (50-5-1705) is now in effect. The amended section reads as follows: It is unlawful for a person to take or possess in any one day <u>more than fifty</u> of a combination of the following: spot (<i>Leiostomus xanthurus</i>), whiting (<i>Menticirrhus</i> spp.), and Atlantic croaker (<i>Micropogonias undulatus</i>) taken by hook and line. The Coastal Conservation Association was instrumental in crafting this legislation with DNR and legislators.
Director of the DNR?s Marine Office of Fisheries Management, Mel Bell, said, "This is a small pro-active step towards maintaining these fish populations as our fishing public continues to grow at a rate of about 30 percent per decade." These popular species are relatively small fish that are caught primarily in the rivers, sounds and bays, and nearshore waters.
Additionally, on July 1, 2014, the daily personal catch limit on flounder changes to 15 fish per person per day and the boat limit becomes 30 fish per boat per day. These limits were passed by the General Assembly in 2013, but implementation was delayed for a year.
To read 50-5-1705 in its entirety check the South Carolina Code of Laws at: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/statmast.php. For more information on Rules & Regulations in South Carolina check: http://dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html.