Blueback Herring, American & Hickory Shad
Recreational (unlawful to sell catch)
Possession Limits
Shad: 10 shad per person per day except in Santee River and Rediversion Canal (20 per person per day)
Herring: 1 U.S. bushel of herring per person per day. Herring fishery closed in the Savannah River seaward of the Augusta Diversion Dam and in all rivers in the Winyah Bay River System except for the Great Pee Dee River.
Gear Type: Hook and line, cast nets or skimbow nets
- To take shad or herring for recreational purposes by hook and line, cast net (for bait), or skim bow net in freshwaters a person MUST have a freshwater fishing license
Saltwater/Freshwater Dividing Line
Except as otherwise stated, the freshwater/saltwater dividing line is U.S. Highway 17. The Freshwater/Saltwater dividing line as depicted is an approximation of the line described in South Carolina Code Section 50-5-80.
Gear Type: Shad gill net or herring gill net
| Shad Gill Net | Herring Gill Net |
|---|---|
| A gill net used for taking or attempting to take shad in the inshore salt waters must have a stretched mesh size of no smaller than five and one-half inches and a length not exceeding nine hundred feet. A gill net used for shad in the freshwaters must have a stretched mesh size of no smaller than five and one-half inches and be no longer than six hundred feet. Gill nets for taking shad may be freely drift fished or set. | A gill net used for taking or attempting to take herring in the salt waters of this State must have a mesh size of two and one-half inches stretched and a length no greater than nine hundred feet. A gill net used for taking or attempting to take herring in freshwaters must have a stretched mesh of two and one-half inches stretched and a length no greater than six hundred feet. |
- To take shad or herring for recreational purposes using a shad or herring gill net, a person MUST have a recreational fishing license, gear license, and related permits.
- Only one shad or herring gill net may be fished by occupants of a boat, and if drifted, it must be attended at all times when deployed. Additional boats in tow may not be used to increase the number of authorized nets. Must adhere to legal commercial fishing areas and the recreational limit.
Recreational License Requirements
- If fishing recreationally in the freshwaters of the state, a person needs a recreational freshwater fishing license. If fishing recreationally in the saltwaters of the state, a person needs a recreational saltwater fishing license. If fishing recreationally in both fresh and saltwaters, a person MUST have both a recreational freshwater fishing and a recreational saltwater fishing license.
- MUST have a shad gill net or herring gill net license (not the same as a nongame gill net license)
- MUST have the required permit from the Office of Fisheries Management 843-953-9311
Commercial (selling your catch)
Possession Limits
Shad: No limits, however there are restrictions by area and gear.
Herring: 10 bushels per boat per day and restricted by area. Herring fishery closed in the Savannah River Seaward of the Augusta Diversion Dam and in all rivers in the Winyah Bay system except for the Great Pee Dee River.
Gear Type: Cast nets
- To use a cast net to take adult herring for commercial purposes, a person MUST have a commercial license, a gear license, and related permits. You cannot keep or sell adult shad caught in a cast net.
Gear Type: Shad gill net or herring gill net
- To take shad or herring for commercial purposes using a shad and herring gill net, a person MUST have a commercial fishing license, gear license, and related permits.
Commercial License Requirements
- If fishing commercially in the freshwaters of the state, a person needs a commercial freshwater fishing license. If fishing commercially in the saltwaters of the state, a person needs a commercial saltwater fishing license. If fishing commercially in both fresh and saltwaters, a person MUST have both a commercial freshwater fishing and a commercial saltwater fishing license.
- MUST have a shad gill net, herring gill net or herring cast net license (not the same as a nongame gill net license)
- MUST have the required permit from the Office of Fisheries Management 843-953-9311
Summary of Laws
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