South Carolina S 961: Red Drum

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 961 Text of Previous Version (May. 12, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 961

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

House Amendments Amended Returned To House

May 12, 2026

S. 961

Introduced 
by Senator Campsen 

S. Printed 5/12/26--S.

Read the first time February 26, 2026

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 50-5-1705, RELATING TO CATCH LIMITS FOR CERTAIN SALTWATER GAME FISH, SO 
AS TO REVISE THE CATCH LIMIT FOR RED DRUM; BY AMENDING SECTION 50-5-1710, 
RELATING TO SIZE LIMITS FOR CERTAIN SALTWATER GAME FISH, SO AS TO REVISE THE 
SIZE LIMIT FOR RED DRUM; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 50-5-1700, RELATING TO 
EQUIPMENT FOR THE CATCHING OF SALTWATER GAME FISH, SO AS TO REQUIRE A 
NON-OFFSET, NON-STAINLESS STEEL CIRCLE HOOK WHEN USING A HANDHELD HOOK AND LINE 
AND A HOOK SIZE OF 4/0 OR LARGER.

 Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Section 50-5-1705(D) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (D) It is unlawful for a person to 
take or have in possession more than two one red drum in any one day, not to exceed six two red drum in any one 
day on any boat.

SECTION 2. Section 50-5-1710(B)(3) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (3) red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) 
(channel bass or spottail bass) of less than fifteen eighteen inches in total length, or more than twenty-threetwenty-five 
inches in total length;

SECTION 3. Section 50-5-1700(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (B)(1) It is unlawful to take or attempt to take saltwater 
gamefish in the waters of this State, except by:

 (1)(a) hand-held hook and line, which includesto include rod 
and reel and pole, and when using natural bait with a hook 
size of 4/0 or larger, the hook must be a non-offset, non-stainless steel 
circle hook; or

 (2)(b) gigging during legal periods.

 (2) Any saltwater 
gamefish taken by any other means must be returned immediately to the water.

SECTION 
4.A. Section 50-9-650(B)(2) of the S.C. Code is 
amended to read:

 (2)(a) With the purchase of a South 
Carolina hunting license and a big game permit, a resident shall be issued twothree individual 
antlerless deer tags and three unrestricted individual antlered deer tags. 
Persons under the age of sixteen, lifetime, and gratis licensees may receive 
these tags upon request to the department. Residents, including persons under 
the age of sixteen, lifetime, and gratis licensees also may purchase:

 (i) 
two antler restriction individual antlered deer tags valid for deer with a 
minimum of four points on one antler or a minimum twelve-inch inside antler 
spread for five dollars per tag; and

 (ii) additional individual antlerless 
deer tags for five dollars per tag.

 (b) 
Fees for nonresident deer tags are as follows:

 (i) 
fifty dollars for the first antlered deer tag and twenty dollars for each 
additional antlered deer tag up to a maximum of four tags; two of which must 
be an antler restriction individual antlered deer tag valid only for deer with 
a minimum of four points on one antler or a minimum twelve-inch inside antler 
spread; and

 (ii) ten dollars per individual 
antlerless deer tag.

B.This SECTION takes effect upon approval by 
the Governor.

SECTION 5. Except as otherwise provided in 
this act, this act takes effect on July 1, 2026.

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This web page was last updated on May 12, 2026 at 07:26 PM