One of South Carolina’s favored pastimes has begun – shrimp baiting season! Opening day was September 11th at 12pm and will run until 12pm on November 10th. This process involves setting up 10 poles in a straight line, tossing bait balls or patties between the poles, then casting a net over the bait! Shrimping using cast nets without bait is not restricted by a season, however, there is a specific season for baiting to help attract shrimp and that time is now. The Palmetto State outdoorsmen intensely plan around this coastal sport because it’s a great way to spend some time on your new boat and catch some shrimp for dinner!
Now, let’s talk about regulations, limits and licenses…
- The daily limit is 48 quarts whole or 29 quarts headed per day, per set of poles.
- You must have a shrimp baiting license. It’s $25 for South Carolina residents and are $500 for non-residents. Click here!
- License holders, while shrimping from a boat, may be assisted by a resident who is not required to have a shrimp baiting license (bonus!)
- 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.
- 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.
- Owners of private docks or anyone 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.
Still with me? Great! You know the rules, where to get your license and the end of the season. What’s left? Nothing! It’s time to get out there and show us what you got!
