South Carolina § 50-5-330 - Recreational fishing exceptions; minnow traps for commercial purposes; retrieving unattended recreational equipment.

§ 50-5-330. Recreational fishing exceptions; minnow traps for commercial purposes; retrieving unattended recreational equipment.

(A) A person may fish or use the following in the salt waters of this State solely for recreational purposes without being commercially licensed:

(1) shrimp seines;

(2) hand-operated tongs, rakes except bull rakes, and forks except seed forks, used to harvest shellfish;

(3) hook and line or rod and reel;

(4) minnow traps, drop nets, and dip nets;

(5) cast nets; however, the use must comply with all other provisions of law;

(6) no more than two crab traps without a recreational crab trap endorsement;

(7) no more than five crab traps with a recreational crab trap endorsement;

(8) no more than two trotlines with a cumulative total of not more than fifty hooks or baits;

(9) no more than ten bush or pole lines with single hooks or baits.

(B) A person may use a lawful gill net for other than commercial purposes without a commercial saltwater fishing license.

(C) A person may use lawful minnow traps to take fish for a commercial purpose for use as bait without a commercial saltwater fishing license.

(D) No person may retrieve any unattended recreational equipment used pursuant to this section unless the owner is present. A person may retrieve equipment with the written permission of the owner, but no fish may be retained.

(E) A person who violates this section by fishing or using equipment in excess of the numbers allowed in this section or in violation of subsection (D) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, SECTION 2; 2002 Act No. 342, SECTION 11; 2024 Act No. 212 (H.4386), SECTION 8, eff July 1, 2025.

Editor's Note

2024 Act No. 212, SECTION 12, provides as follows:

"SECTION 12. Upon approval of this act by the Governor, a moratorium on the issuance of new commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab takes effect, at which time the department must not issue any new commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab. This moratorium expires on June 15, 2025. Commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab in effect for the 2023-2024 license year are extended and do not expire until June 30, 2025."

Effect of Amendment

2024 Act No. 212, SECTION 8, in (A), in (6), inserted "without a recreational crab trap endorsement", inserted (7), and redesignated former (7) and (8) as (8) and (9), respectively.