                                                           The Lexington County Chapter
                    Invites you to attend your
                                                                       1st Annual
                                                       “Celebrating Conservation” Event
                                                                6 p.m. October 08, 2008
                                                                                at
                                                             Pine Island on Lake Murray

We can always use a few extra hands for selling tickets, obtaining sponsors, or helping with auction donations. To purchase tickets, make donations, or for more information, please call:

Todd Sharpe = Chairman - 803-600-2185

Capt.Todd Stamps= Co-Chairman - 803-212-8224

Fishing Regulations - Striped Bass

New Size Limit for Santee Cooper System Striped Bass

It is unlawful to take or possess Striped Bass less than 26 inches in the Lower Santee River and Cooper River Systems.

Restrictions:

June 1 - September 30

No possession

October 1 - May 31

Limit: 3 Striped Bass per day
26 inch minimum length
Fish must be landed with head & tail intact
All violations carry a 14 point penalty

The 'Lower Santee River system' includes all waters and tributaries seaward of the Lake Murray Dam, the Columbia Canal Diversion Dam, and the Lake Wateree Dam to the freshwater/saltwater dividing line on the North Santee River and the South Santee River. The 'Cooper River system' includes all waters and tributaries, including the Tailrace Canal, of the Cooper River from its point of origin seaward to the freshwater, saltwater dividing line.

Newly Regulated Finfish Species

New fisheries laws adding or changing catch limits and retention sizes on a number of recreationally important saltwater finfish species in South Carolina have been passed by the SC General Assembly and are now in place.

The new laws, effective June 15, concern the harvest of black drum, weakfish, hardhead and gafftopsail saltwater catfish, red drum, spotted seatrout, flounder, black seabass, and dolphin. These new state fisheries laws were adopted primarily to support a proactive and precautionary approach in natural resources management to help deal with increasing fishing pressures and environmental stresses placed on South Carolina?s marine finfish resources associated with coastal growth and development.

Details of the new laws are as follows:

Species of Fish Bag Limit Size Limit

Black Drum 5 per person per day Must be 14 inches Total Length or greater and equal to or less than 27 inches Total Length

Weakfish (summer trout; gray trout) 10 per person per day 12 inch Total Length minimum

Hardhead and Gafftopsail saltwater catfish Possession is prohibited

Red Drum (spot tailed bass; redfish) 3 per person per day Must be 15 inches Total Length or greater, and equal to or less than 23 inches Total Length maximum

Spotted Seatrout (winter trout; speckled trout) 10 per person per day 14 inch Total Length minimum

Flounder (southern flounder; summer flounder; gulf flounder) 20 per person per day, not to exceed 40 per BOAT per day 14 inch Total Length minimum

Black Seabass (blackfish) Made state regulations mimic federal regulations
Federal - 15 per person per day 12 inch Total Length minimum

Dolphin (mahi) Made state regulations mimic federal regulations
Federal - 10 per person per day, 60 per boat per day (headboats excluded from boat limit)
No size limit

Species of Fish	Bag Limit	Size Limit
Black Drum	5 per person per day	Must be 14 inches Total Length or greater and equal to or less than 27 inches Total Length
Weakfish (summer trout; gray trout)	10 per person per day	12 inch Total Length minimum
Hardhead and Gafftopsail saltwater catfish	Possession is prohibited
Red Drum (spot tailed bass; redfish)	3 per person per day	Must be 15 inches Total Length or greater, and equal to or less than 23 inches Total Length maximum
Spotted Seatrout (winter trout; speckled trout)	10 per person per day	14 inch Total Length minimum
Flounder (southern flounder; summer flounder; gulf flounder)	20 per person per day, not to exceed 40 per BOAT per day	14 inch Total Length minimum
Black Seabass (blackfish)	Made state regulations mimic federal regulations Federal - 15 per person per day	12 inch Total Length minimum
Dolphin (mahi)	Made state regulations mimic federal regulations Federal - 10 per person per day, 60 per boat per day (headboats excluded from boat limit)	No size limit