Information

2012 - 2013 Saltwater Fishing Regulations - Shrimp

Shrimp

Crustacean & Shellfish Methods & Devices

When fishing for crustaceans or shellfish, a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License is required - unless you are using 3 or fewer drop nets, 3 or fewer fold up traps, or 3 or fewer handlines with no hooks and a single bait per line (chicken necking); or shrimp baiting (which requires a shrimp baiting license).

Shrimp Seines

Permits/Licenses: Saltwater Recreational Fishing License required.

Restrictions:

Trawling

Permits/Licenses: Commercial Saltwater Fishing License, Vessel Decal and Gear license required.

Restrictions:

Shrimp Harvesting

Species Closed Season Possession & Size Limit Restrictions
Taking Shrimp Without Bait Closed: Dec. 16 - Apr. 30 48 quarts whole or 29 quarts headed per day (sunrise to sunrise) per boat, per person if no boat is used, or per seining party
  • 12 dozen dead or live shrimp allowed per boat during closed season.
  • See Crustacean and Shellfish Methods and Devices for Shrimp Seine Gear Restrictions.
Shrimp Baiting

60-day season set by SCDNR beginning at noon on the last Friday on or before September 15.

2012 shrimp baiting season begins 12 noon on Friday Sept. 14 and ends 12 noon Tuesday, Nov. 13.

 48 quarts whole or 29 quarts headed per day (sunrise to sunrise) per set of poles
  • Participants must have a shrimp baiting license.
  • License holders, while shrimping from a boat, may be assisted by a resident who is not required to have a shrimp baiting license
  • Shrimp caught over bait cannot be sold.
  • No more than 10 poles can be used per license per day. Poles must be marked with reflective tape and may not exceed 1-inch in diameter and each pole must have a numbered tag attached which corresponds with the shrimp baiting license.
  • No more than 10 poles can be used per boat.
  • All poles of a licensed set must be within 100 linear yards of each other and sets of poles must be at least 25 yards apart. Poles may not be set within 50 yards of any dock, public landing or boat ramp. Unattended poles will be confiscated.
  • Owners of private docks or persons with written permission may bait from those docks once properly licensed and with numbered tag displayed.
  • Shrimp pots or traps are prohibited.
  • Cast nets used for taking shrimp over bait must have a minimum mesh size of 1/2-inch square (1-inch stretch).
  • Individuals who may NOT obtain a shrimp baiting license are:
    1. owners or officers of a corporation which owns a vessel specified on a trawl license;
    2. masters of a vessel specified on a trawl license;
    3. licensed to use a channel net;
    4. licensed to use a cast net for a commercial purpose;
    5. licensed as a wholesale seafood dealer.


Shrimp Bait Illustration


The Shrimp Harvesting information above is found in the 2012-2013 Saltwater Regulations which in the Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open this file and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.

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