(A40, R53, S36)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-640, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE POSSESSION OF BLUE CATFISH, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OF MORE THAN TWO BLUE CATFISH GREATER THAN THIRTY-TWO INCHES IN LENGTH IN CERTAIN WATERS OF THIS STATE AND TO PROVIDE A DAILY LIMIT FOR CERTAIN WATERS OF THIS STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 50-9-1120, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE POINT SYSTEM FOR FISHING VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A VIOLATION OF THE BLUE CATFISH CATCH LIMIT IS FOURTEEN POINTS; AND TO REQUIRE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE BLUE CATFISH FISHERY IN THE SANTEE AND COOPER RIVER SYSTEMS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Blue catfish

SECTION     1.     Section 50-13-640 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 50-13-640.     (A)     It is unlawful to possess more than two blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) greater than thirty-two inches in length in any one day in Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, or the upper reach of the Santee River, the Congaree and Wateree rivers, and all other state waterways.

(B)     It is unlawful to take more than twenty-five blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) a day in Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the upper reach of the Santee River, and all other state waterways.

(C)     A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than three hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both."

Fishing violations

SECTION     2.     Section 50-9-1120(3) of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately lettered subitem to read:

"(     )     taking or possessing more than the legal creel or size limit of blue catfish:     14."

Blue catfish fishery study

SECTION     3.     The Department of Natural Resources shall conduct a study of the blue catfish fishery in the Santee and Cooper river systems and make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning the fishery on or before January 1, 2025.

Time effective

SECTION     4.     This act takes effect thirty days after approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 13th day of May, 2021.

Approved the 17th day of May, 2021.

This web page was last updated on June 14, 2021 at 8:56 AM