Gov. McMaster signs law for year-round snapper-grouper fishing in state waters

(WPDE) — A bill allowing recreational anglers to fish all 55 species in the red snapper–grouper complex year-round within state waters was recently signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster.

State waters extend out three miles from the coast.

The law sets up state management for over 50 species that were previously only federally regulated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in state waters.

This law gives South Carolina control over its snapper—grouper fisheries.

President and CEO of the South Carolina Boating and Fishing Alliance, Gettys Brannon, said “If the federal government were to give us control, give the state control, give South Carolina DNR control, we would already have the framework in place for state management and state limits and grouper snapper limits within state waters.”

Sponsor of the bill, Senator Stephen Goldfinch, said this is something that needed to be done.

“It’s clear to everyone that has held a fishing pole or has been on a boat offshore, it’s clear that the data is way off. You can’t engage in bottom fishing without catching an overabundance of red snapper,” Goldfinch explained.

Goldfinch said SCDNR will regulate the species according to its rulebook.

He said he hopes the state is granted additional state waters with jurisdiction up to 40 or 50 miles.

“It’s a great start and it puts a framework of regulation and enforcement that we can use in the future to govern a lot of water, not just a little bit, so I’m looking forward to that,” Goldfinch said.

According to NOAA, there are two stocks of Red Snapper, the Gulf of America stock and the South Atlantic stock.

NOAA’s most recent assessments on population show the Gulf of America stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing, but the South Atlantic stock is overfished and subject to overfishing, which is why the agency is working to regulate the species.

Last year, the agency opened the recreational season for one day.

ABC15 tried getting in contact with NOAA over the past week and was not able to speak with them. ABC15 was told they do not comment on legislation.

On Friday, Governor Henry McMaster sent a letter to NOAA addressing the mismanagement of the species, asking to reverse their restrictions on Red Snapper fishing in the South Atlantic.