The department must monitor the various drainage basins and water bodies of this State and may promulgate regulations to set seasons, take (catch) and size limits, areas, methods, times, equipment requirements, and catch reporting requirements for taking of shad, herring, and sturgeon as needed for proper management in each basin or water body as a zone. It is unlawful to take or attempt to take shad, herring, or sturgeon except as authorized by this article. It is unlawful to possess more than the legal limit of shad, herring, or sturgeon.

1. (1) In addition to other provisions of law, the following provisions are effective until promulgated as regulations and govern seasons, times, methods, equipment, size limits, and take limits in commercial fishing for shad in the waters of this State specified below:

   1. (a) Winyah Bay system including Black River, Sampit River, Great Pee Dee River, Little Pee Dee River, Lynches River, Waccamaw River from its northern ocean outlet at Little River to Winyah Bay, Winyah Bay, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (i) Pee Dee River and tributaries above U.S. Highway 701, Waccamaw River with tributaries above entrance of Big Bull Creek, and Black River above County Road 179:

         1. (1) Season: February 1 through April 30;
         2. (2) Times: Noon Monday through Noon Saturday;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

      2. (ii) Remainder of Winyah Bay system including all of Big Bull Creek and Sampit River:

         1. (1) Season: February 15 through April 15;
         2. (2) Times: 7:00 a.m. Tuesday to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, local time;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: No restriction provided drift nets of not more than nine hundred feet in length are allowed in Waccamaw River between Butler Island and U.S. Highway 17 during lawful times;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   2. (b) Santee River below Wilson Dam including the Rediversion Canal below St. Stephen Dam, North Santee River and Bay, South Santee River, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (i) Rediversion Canal:

         Season: No open season;

      2. (ii) Wilson Dam seaward to U.S. Highway 52 bridge:

         Season: No open season.

      3. (iii) U.S. Highway 52 bridge seaward to SC Highway 41 bridge:

         1. (1) Season: February 1 through April 30;
         2. (2) Times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, Tuesday and Thursday;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

      4. (iv) U.S. Highway 41 bridge seaward:

         1. (1) Season: February 1 through March 31;
         2. (2) Times: Tuesday noon to Saturday noon, local time;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   3. (c) Charleston Harbor System including Wando River and Cooper River seaward to the U.S. Highway 17 bridges, Charleston Harbor, Ashley River, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (i) Tailrace Canal from Wadboo Creek to the Jefferies Power Plant:

         Season: No open season.

      2. (ii) Cooper River from Wadboo Creek to U.S. Highway 17:

         Season: No open season.

      3. (iii) Ashley River seaward to its confluence with Popper Dam Creek:

         1. (1) Season: February 1 through March 31;
         2. (2) Times: Wednesday noon to Saturday noon, local time;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: No restrictions;
         4. (4) Size and take limits--None.

      4. (iv) Remainder of the Charleston Harbor system:

         1. (1) Season: February 1 through March 31;
         2. (2) Times: Wednesday noon to Saturday noon, local time;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Drift gill nets only;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   4. (d) Edisto River basin including Edisto River Estuary, Edisto River, North and South Branches (Forks) of the Edisto River, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (i) Above U.S. Highway 17 bridge:

         1. (1) Season: January 15 through April 15;
         2. (2) Times: Tuesday noon to Saturday noon, local time;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment; provided, however, shad gill nets having a mesh size no smaller than four and one-half inches and no larger than five and one-half inches may be used until April 15, 2002, and shad gill nets having a mesh size no smaller than five inches and no larger than five and one-half inches may be used thereafter.
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

      2. (ii) Seaward of U.S. Highway 17 bridge:

         1. (1) Season: January 1 through March 31;
         2. (2) Times: Wednesday noon to Friday midnight, local time;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   5. (e) Ashepoo River and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (1) Season: February 1 through March 31;
      2. (2) Times: Friday noon to Saturday noon, local time;
      3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
      4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   6. (f) Combahee River and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (i) Tributaries and distributaries, except main stems of Salkehatchie Rivers:

         Season: No open season.

      2. (ii) Main river above U.S. Highway 17-A bridge including main stems of Salkehatchie Rivers:

         1. (1) Season: January 15 through March 31;
         2. (2) Times: For setnets, Tuesday noon to Thursday noon, local time; for driftnets, Monday noon to Saturday noon, local time;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

      3. (iii) Main river below U.S. Highway 17-A but above U.S. Highway 17 bridge:

         1. (1) Season: January 15 through March 31;
         2. (2) Times: For setnets, Tuesday noon to Thursday noon, local time; for driftnets, Monday noon to Saturday noon, local time;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

      4. (iv) Main river seaward of U.S. Highway 17 bridge:

         1. (1) Season: January 15 through March 31;
         2. (2) Times: For setnets, Tuesday noon to Thursday noon, local time; for driftnets, Monday noon to Saturday noon, local time;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   7. (g) Coosawhatchie River and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      Season: No open season.

   8. (h) South Carolina portions of Savannah River and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

   9. (i) Main river above U.S. Interstate Highway 95 bridge:

      1. (1) Season: January 1 through April 15;
      2. (2) Times: 7:00 a.m. Wednesday to 7:00 p.m Saturday, local time;
      3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
      4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

      5. (ii) Tributaries and distributaries above U.S. Interstate Highway 95 bridge:

         Season: No open season.

      6. (iii) Seaward of U.S. Interstate Highway 95 bridge.

         1. (1) Season: January 1 through March 31. Taking or attempting to take shad with nets is prohibited at all times in the Savannah's Back River and the north channel of the Savannah River downstream from the New Savannah Cut;
         2. (2) Times: 7:00 a.m. Wednesday to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, local time;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;

         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

            1. (i) Atlantic Ocean territorial sea as follows:

               1. (1) Season: February 1 through March 31;
               2. (2) Times: 7:00 a.m. Tuesday to 7:00 p.m Saturday, local time;
               3. (3) Methods and equipment: gill net; may be drift fished only; anchor nets are prohibited; gill nets, stake row nets, or pound nets are prohibited off Winyah Bay within three nautical miles of the midpoint of a line extending from where the north jetty of Winyah Bay intersects North Island running southwesterly to where the south jetty of Winyah Bay intersects Sand Island, including all waters between the jetties;
               4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   10. (j) Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion, Diversion Canal, Intake Canal of Rediversion Canal, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

       1. (1) Season: No closed season;
       2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
       3. (3) Methods and equipment: Cast net, lift net, and hook and line;
       4. (4) Size and take limits: Two hundred fifty pounds per boat per day combined catch of herring and shad.

2. (2) In addition to other provisions of law, the following provisions are effective until promulgated as regulations and govern seasons, times, methods, equipment, size limits, and take limits in commercial fishing for herring in the waters of this State:

   1. (a) Winyah Bay system including Black River, Sampit River, Great Pee Dee River, Little Pee Dee River, Lynches River, Waccamaw River from its northern ocean outlet at Little River to Winyah Bay, Winyah Bay, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (1) Season: February 15 through April 15;
      2. (2) Times: 7:00 a.m. Wednesday to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, local time;
      3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
      4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   2. (b) Santee River below Wilson Dam including the Rediversion Canal below St. Stephen Dam, North Santee River and Bay, South Santee River, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (i) Rediversion Canal:

         1. (1) Season: March 1 through April 30;
         2. (2) Times: 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST or 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. DST;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Circular drop nets with a maximum six-foot diameter, lift nets, and cast nets allowed; other equipment prohibited; nets must be operated by hand; trawling prohibited; culling prohibited; all fish except those used for live bait must be containerized in units of one hundred pounds maximum weight before landing; all fishing is prohibited within one hundred feet of the fish lift exit channel at St. Stevens Powerhouse, except with hook and line from March 1 through April 15;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: Ten U.S. bushels per boat per day including lawful incidental catch; harvest may not be transferred between boats.

      2. (ii) Santee system excluding Rediversion Canal:

         Season: No open season.

   3. (c) Charleston Harbor System including Wando River and Cooper River seaward to the U.S. Highway 17 bridges, Charleston Harbor, Ashley River, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (i) Tailrace Canal from CSX Railroad Bridge to the Jefferies Power Plant Sanctuary line:

         1. (1) Season: March 1 through April 30;
         2. (2) Times: Sunrise as locally published to 10:00 p.m.;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Circular drop nets with a maximum six foot diameter, lift nets, and cast nets allowed; other equipment prohibited; nets must be operated by hand; trawling prohibited; culling prohibited; all fish except those used for live bait must be containerized in units of one hundred pounds maximum weight before landing;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: Ten U.S. bushels per boat per day; harvest may not be transferred between boats.

      2. (ii) Cooper River from CSX railroad to U.S. Highway 17 bridges:

         Season: No open season.

      3. (iii) Charleston Harbor system excluding Tailrace Canal and Cooper River seaward to U.S. Highway 17 bridges:

         1. (1) Season: February 15 through April 15;
         2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
         3. (3) Methods and equipment: Any lawful method and equipment;
         4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   4. (d) Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion, Diversion Canal, Intake Canal of Rediversion Canal, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (1) Season: No closed season;
      2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
      3. (3) Methods and equipment: Cast net, lift net, and hook and line;
      4. (4) Size and take limits: Two hundred fifty pounds per boat per day combined catch of shad and herring and other lawful incidental catch.

   5. (e) Lake Jocassee and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (1) Season: No closed season;
      2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
      3. (3) Methods and equipment: Hook and line;
      4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   6. (f) Lake Keowee and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (1) Season: No closed season;
      2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
      3. (3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;
      4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   7. (g) Lake Hartwell and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (1) Season: No closed season;
      2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
      3. (3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;
      4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   8. (h) Lake Richard B. Russell and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (1) Season: No closed season;
      2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
      3. (3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;
      4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   9. (i) Lake J. Strom Thurmond and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

      1. (1) Season: No closed season;
      2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
      3. (3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;
      4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   10. (j) Lake Secession, Stevens Creek Reservoir, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

       1. (1) Season: No closed season;
       2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
       3. (3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;
       4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   11. (k) Lake Greenwood, Lake Murray, Saluda River between Buzzards Roost (Lake Greenwood Dam) and SC Highway 121, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

       1. (1) Season: No closed season;
       2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
       3. (3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;
       4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   12. (l) Catawba River impoundments, including Lake Wylie and Lake Wateree, and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

       1. (1) Season: No closed season;
       2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
       3. (3) Methods and equipment: Cast net and hook and line;
       4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

   13. (m) Lake Monticello and all tributaries and distributaries thereto as follows:

       1. (1) Season: No closed season;
       2. (2) Times: No restrictions;
       3. (3) Methods and equipment: Hook and line ;
       4. (4) Size and take limits: No limits.

3. (3) In addition to other provisions of law, the following provisions are effective until promulgated as regulations and govern seasons, times, methods, equipment, size limits, and take limits in fishing for Atlantic sturgeon in the waters of this State:

   1. (a) Territorial sea:

      Season: No open season.

   2. (b) Internal waters:

      Season: No open season.