South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 489

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 28, 2007

S. 489

Introduced by Senators Campsen, Gregory, McGill, Williams and Grooms

S. Printed 3/28/07--S.    [SEC 3/29/07 1:55 PM]

Read the first time February 27, 2007.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON FISH, GAME AND FORESTRY

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 489) to amend Section 50-1-30, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to classifications of birds, animals, and fish, so as, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

CHAUNCEY K. GREGORY for Committee.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 50-1-30, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CLASSIFICATIONS OF BIRDS, ANIMALS, AND FISH, SO AS TO ADD SALTWATER GAMEFISH; TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-1705, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CATCH LIMITS, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN SALTWATER GAMEFISH AND TO PROVIDE CATCH LIMITS FOR OTHER SALTWATER GAMEFISH; TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-1710, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO SIZE LIMITS, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN SALTWATER GAMEFISH AND TO PROVIDE SIZE LIMITS FOR OTHER SALTWATER GAMEFISH AND DELETE PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO THE MANNER IN WHICH BLACK SEABASS MUST BE SOLD; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 50-5-1711 RELATING TO LIMITS ON TAKING, POSSESSING, OR SELLING DOLPHINS AND MAHI MAHI AND THE HARVEST, POSSESSION, OR SALE OF SARGASSUM, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 50-1-30 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended by adding a new item to read:

"(6)    Saltwater gamefish.    Spotted seatrout (winter trout) Cynoscion nebulosus; red drum (channel bass) Sciaenops ocellatus; tarpon Megalops atlanticus; and any species of billfish of the Family Istiophoridae."

SECTION    2.    Section 50-5-1705 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 105 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-5-1705.    (A)    Spotted seatrout (winter trout), Cynoscion nebulosus; red drum (channel bass), Sciaenops ocellatus; tarpon, Megalops atlanticus; and any species of billfish of the Family Istiophoridae are saltwater gamefish.

(B)    As used in this article, a day means sunrise on one day to sunrise on the following day.

(C)(B)    It is unlawful for a person to take or have in possession more than ten spotted seatrout in any one day.

(D)(C)    It is unlawful for a person to take or have in possession more than two red drum in any one day.

(E)(D)    It is unlawful for a person to take or have in possession more than one tarpon in any one day.

(E)    It is unlawful for a person to take or have in possession more than five black drum Pogonias cromis in any one day.

(F)    It is unlawful for a person to take or possess more than twenty flounder (Paralichthys species) taken by means of gig, spear, hook and line, or similar device in any one day.

(G)    It is unlawful to gig for spotted seatrout or red drum from December 1 through the last day of February inclusive.

(H)    The possession limits do not apply to the possession or sale of properly identified fish imported by seafood dealers or produced by permitted mariculture operations, or to possession as allowed under permit authorized by this chapter.

(G)    It is unlawful for a person to take or have in possession more than ten weakfish Cynoscion regalis in any one day.

(H)    It is unlawful for any person to take or have in possession in any one day more than forty of a combination of the following: spot Leiostomus xanthurus, whiting Menticirrhus spp., Atlantic croaker Micropognias undulatus, silver perch Bairdiella chrysoura.

(I)    It is unlawful to take or possess Hardhead Catfish Ariopsis felis or Gafftopsail Catfish Bagre marinus.

(J)    It is unlawful to gig for spotted seatrout or red drum from December first, through the last day of February inclusive.

(K)    The possession limits do not apply to the possession or sale of properly identified fish imported by seafood dealers or produced by permitted mariculture operations, or to possession as allowed under permit authorized by this chapter."

SECTION 3.    Section 50-5-1710 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 105 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-5-1710.    (A)    Except as provided in Article 21, it is unlawful to take, possess, land, sell, purchase, or attempt to sell or purchase:

(1)    spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) (winter trout) of less than thirteen fourteen inches in total length;

(2)    flounder (Paralichthys) of less than twelve inches total length;

(3)    red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) (channel bass or spottail bass) of less than fifteen inches in total length, or more than twenty-four inches in total length; or

(4)    black sea bass (Centropristis striata) of less than ten inches in total length black drum Pogonias cromis of less than fourteen inches or more than twenty-seven inches in total length;

(5)    weakfish Cynoscion regalis of less than twelve inches in total length.

(B)    The finfish species named in this section must be brought to the dock or landed with head and tail fin intact except for product produced by mariculture operations permitted under this chapter, provided that returning fish of unlawful size immediately to the water does not constitute a violation. Black seabass sold or offered for sale must be processed, marketed, and sold to the ultimate consumer with head and tail fins intact. A commercial retailer or restaurant may remove the head at the request of the ultimate consumer after completion of the transaction but before transfer of the purchase or serving of the dish."

SECTION    4.    Section 50-5-1711 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

SECTION    5.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 2:59 P.M.