TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-325, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE TAKING OF NONGAME FISH IN GILL NETS, SO AS TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM DISTANCE REQUIRED BETWEEN NETS PLACED ON THE LITTLE PEE DEE RIVER UPSTREAM OF PUNCH BOWL LANDING.

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

SECTION    1.        Section 50-13-325 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 114 of 2012, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-13-325.    (A)    The season for taking nongame fish other than American shad and herring in the freshwaters of this State with a gill net is from November first to March first inclusive. A gill net may be used or possessed in the freshwaters in which their use is authorized on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only. A gill net used in the freshwaters must have a mesh size not less than four and one-half inches stretch mesh. A gill net measuring more than one hundred yards in length must not be used in the freshwaters and a gill net, cable, line or other device used for support of a gill net may not extend more than halfway across any stream or body of water. A gill net may be placed in the freshwaters on a first come first served basis but a gill net must not be placed within two hundred yards of another gill net. However, notwithstanding another provision of law, along the Little Pee Dee River upstream of Punch Bowl Landing, no net may be set within seventy-five feet of a gill net previously set, drifted within seventy-five feet of another drifting net, or placed or set within seventy-five feet of the confluence of a tributary. Use or possession of a gill net at any place or time other than those prescribed in this subsection is unlawful.

(B)    Nongame fish taken in shad nets lawfully fished during the open season for taking shad may be kept. A sturgeon caught must be returned immediately to the waters from where it was taken."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.