The actual boundary between North Carolina and South Carolina is not well-marked in the marshes between Sunset Beach and Little River Inlet, and several creeks that empty into the Intracoastal Waterway in one state have headwaters and large portions of their meandering in the other. South Carolina and North Carolina manage several species with different limits and size minimums. Not knowing where you are and what the regs are isn’t a valid excuse.
Fishermen in North Carolina waters are limited to a single red drum per day, and it must fit a slot that begins at 18 inches and ends at 27 inches, total length, with the tail compressed. North Carolina fishermen are only allowed four speckled trout per day, with a minimum size of 14 inches, total length with the tail compressed.
South Carolina fishermen may keep up to three red drum per day, but those fish must fit a slot that begins at 15 inches and ends at 23 inches, total length, with the tail compressed. South Carolina fishermen are allowed to keep 10 speckled trout per day with a minimum size of 14 inches, total length with the tail compressed.
Fishermen venturing back and forth across the state line, like guide Mark Stacy, keeps only fish that meet regulations from both states: one red between 18 and 23 inches, and four trout 14 inches or longer.
Flounder, another fish commonly encountered, is also managed different from one side of the border to the other. Flounder have a 15-inch minimum (tail length) and six fish limit in North Carolina, but South Carolina allows flounder to be kept at 14 inches (tail length) and allows 20 per day — not to exceed 40 per boat.
For more information on each state’s limits, visit www.ncdmf.net for N.C. regulations and www.dnr.sc.gov for S.C. regulations.
Be the first to comment