FY 2019 Saltwater Recreational Fishing License Report
Introduction
Every time an angler buys a saltwater fishing license, they’re investing in the health of South Carolina’s coastal fisheries.
That’s because the majority of dollars spent on saltwater fishing licenses pass through the South Carolina Recreational Fisheries License Program to support saltwater fisheries research, management, and outreach activities at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Since 1992, the revenue for this program has come from saltwater annual, temporary, three-year charterboat, and pier licenses.
During the 2019 fiscal year (July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019, also called FY 2019), funds supported eight different projects spanning the coast and including everything from cutting-edge genetic science, oyster reef mapping by drone, and fishing tournaments for young anglers. Below are some highlights from the most recent year.
FY 2019 Highlights
Artificial Reefs
- In FY 2019, saltwater license funds supported 14 different artificial reef projects across the coast of South Carolina, to which 235,000 cubic feet of new fish-attracting material were added.
- Two of the most significant artificial reef additions of the year included a pair of retired tugboats. The 95-foot tug Susan Richards was actually used to tow barge-loads of material to reef sites along the South Carolina coast and is now itself an artificial reef off Georgetown.
Inshore Fisheries Monitoring and Research
- Saltwater license fees help fund four of the most critical long-term surveys SCDNR biologists conduct to study our popular gamefish species: the trammel net, electrofishing, longline, and benthic trawl surveys.
- The trammel net team completed 894 sets across the coast in FY 2019, collecting 13,456 marine animals, the majority of which are released alive.
- Electrofishing biologists made 325 electrofishing sets, which caught 18,621 specimens. Striped mullet represented the most commonly caught species, followed by bay anchovy.
- Biologists completed 357 longline sets, catching 1,971 animals, with the Atlantic sharpnose shark the most commonly caught species.
Stock Enhancement
- In Fall 2017, slightly under one million young red drum were raised and released into Winyah Bay, Port Royal Sound, the North Edisto and the ACE Basin to supplement the local wild population of fish.
- SCDNR biologists reared and released 433,246 young spotted seatrout into Charleston Harbor and the Ashley River to continue studying the most effective size and season at which to stock seatrout.
- Hurricane Florence provided staff the opportunity to evaluate an unusual phenomenon observed after the extreme weather event, when a high percentage of the fish stocked into an area river experienced fatal seizures, which staff determined was caused by low salinity post-flooding.
Genetics
- Staff completed a large-scale genetic analysis of weakfish from nine different states along the Eastern seaboard, confirming that the weakfish along the Southeastern coast belong to one genetically similar family and may appropriately be managed as one unit.
Recreational Fisheries Survey
- Staff conducted 184 interviews with anglers to learn about the species, sizes, and numbers of fish being caught in coastal South Carolina waters.
Oyster Shell Recyling, Research, and Management
- In FY 2019, SCDNR staff collected and recycled a record 34,818 bushels of oyster shells, making it one of the largest shell recycling programs in the country.
- SCDNR biologists planted 26,493,450 bushels of oyster shells to create oyster reef habitat along approximately 1.1 miles of shoreline.
- Two new oyster shell recycling public drop-off locations were established.
- Staff continued work to develop high-quality oyster reef maps using aerial images captured by drone.
Blue Crab and Shrimp Research
- Each quarter, staff trawled at 24 sites across the coast to monitor the size, numbers, and reproductive status of white and brown shrimp and blue crabs in South Carolina waters.
Marine Outreach and Education
- Over 5,000 students and teachers participated in SCDNR marine education programs in FY 2019.
- Staff delivered approximately 194,000 copies of SCDNR-printed materials to 119 vendors along the coast (e.g., rules and regulations books, fish rulers, fish identification charts).
- Staff began conducting saltwater family fishing clinics through the SCDNR Certified Fishing Instructor Course, training twenty-two volunteers thus far.
- Staff began offering monthly public campus tours led by volunteers of Fort Johnson.
The FY 2019 Saltwater Recreational Fishing License Report is provided in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. Adobe Reader is required to open these files and is available as a free download from the Adobe website.