The season for taking nongame fish other than shad and herring in the freshwaters of this State with gill nets shall be from November first to March first inclusive. They may be used or possessed in the freshwaters in which their use is authorized on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only. Nongame gill nets used in the freshwaters shall have a mesh size of not less than four and one-half inches stretch mesh. No gill net measuring more than two hundred yards in length may be used in the freshwaters and no gill net, cable, line or any other device used for support of a gill net shall extend more than half way across any stream or body of water. Gill nets shall be placed in the freshwaters on a first come first served basis but no gill net shall be placed within two hundred yards of another gill net. Use or possession of gill nets at any place or time other than those prescribed above shall be unlawful.

Nongame fish, including Atlantic sturgeon of legal size and caught during open season as established under Section 50-17-830, in licensed shad nets lawfully fished during the open season for taking shad may be kept by the fisherman. Any Atlantic sturgeon caught during the closed season for Atlantic sturgeon must be returned immediately to the waters from whence it was taken.

HISTORY: 1981 Act No. 170, Section 1; 1985 Act No. 51, Section 2; 1986 Act No. 505; 1990 Act No. 353, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1263.