COLUMBIA -- The Department of Natural Resources announced the 2011 shrimp-baiting season will open at noon Friday in South Carolina waters.
DNR says the unusually cold winter did lead to a lower population of white shrimp, but they are expecting a "fair" fall population helped by summer rainfall.
Recreational shrimpers who purchase a shrimp-baiting license can legally cast their nets for shrimp over bait during this season. Shrimp-baiting season will remain open until noon Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Resident licenses cost $25 and non-residents licenses cost $500.
The catch limit is 48 quarts of shrimp measured heads-on (29 quarts heads-off) per boat or set of poles per day, and each boat is limited to a set of 10 poles.
When taking shrimp over bait, no cast net may be used having a mesh smaller than one-half inch square measure or one inch stretch measure.
DNR says recent sampling by its Crustacean Monitoring Program resulted in fair numbers of shrimp along the southern coast.
Areas around Port Royal Sound and Georgetown produced the largest shrimp.
The public is asked to report violations of saltwater recreational and commercial fishing laws by calling the Coast Watch hotline number (1-800-922-5431) toll-free, 24 hours a day.
