South Carolina S 219: Snapper-Grouper Fishery

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 219 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 29, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 219

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Report

April 29, 2025

S. 219

Introduced 
by Senator Goldfinch 

S. Printed 4/29/25--H.

Read the first time March 5, 2025

________

The committee on House Agriculture, 
Natural Res. and Environmental Affairs

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 219) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 50-5-2730, relating to the 
applicability of federal fishing regulations in state waters, so as to provide, 
etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered 
the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

WILLIAM HIXON for Committee.

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 50-5-2730, RELATING TO THE APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL FISHING REGULATIONS 
IN STATE WATERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SEASON, CATCH LIMITS, AND MINIMUM 
SIZES FOR CERTAIN SPECIES UNDER THE SNAPPER-GROUPER FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN.

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

SECTION 1. Section 50-5-2730 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
50-5-2730. (A) Unless otherwise 
provided by law, any regulations promulgated by the federal government under 
the Fishery Conservation and Management Act (PL 94-265) or the Atlantic Tuna 
Conservation Act (PL 94-70) which establishes seasons, fishing periods, gear 
restrictions, sales restrictions, or bag, catch, size, or possession limits on 
fish are declared to be the law of this State and apply statewide including in 
state waters.

 (B) 
This provision does not apply to:

 (1) 
black sea bass (Centropristis striata) whose lawful catch limit is five fish 
per person per day or the same as the federal limit for black sea bass, 
whichever is higher. The lawful minimum size for black sea bass is thirteen 
inches total length and there is no closed season; or

 (2) 
red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) whose lawful catch limit is two fish per 
person per day. The lawful minimum size for red snapper is twenty inches total 
length and there is no closed season.; or

 (3) all other species under the 
Snapper-Grouper 
Fishery Management Plan. The lawful catch limit for a species under that plan 
is the limit as published in the 2024-2025 South Carolina Hunting and Fishing 
Laws and Regulations Guide, or the federal limit for the species, whichever is 
higher. The lawful minimum size limit for a species under that plan is the size 
as published in the 2024-2025 South Carolina Hunting and Fishing Laws and 
Regulations Guide, or the federal limit for the species, whichever is lower. There 
is no closed season.

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

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This web page was last updated on April 29, 2025 at 06:14 PM