The dividing line between salt water and freshwater on the rivers listed is defined in this section, and all waters of the rivers and their tributaries, streams, and estuaries lying seaward of the dividing lines are considered salt waters, and all waters lying landward or upstream from all dividing lines are considered freshwaters for purposes of licensing and regulating commercial and recreational fishing. Except as otherwise provided below, the saltwater/freshwater dividing line is U.S. Highway 17:

(1) On Savannah River the dividing line is the abandoned Seaboard Railroad track bed located approximately one and three-fourths miles upstream from the U.S. Highway 17A bridge.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 50-5-80

  • abandoned: means any watercraft that has been moored, stranded, wrecked, sinking, or sunk, and has been left unattended for longer than forty-five days. See South Carolina Code 50-21-10
  • Fishing: means all activity and effort involved in taking or attempting to take fish. See South Carolina Code 50-5-15
  • Shoreline: means the line of mean high water along that portion of a land mass which is in direct contact with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. See South Carolina Code 50-5-15

(2) Wright River is salt water for its entire length.

(3) On Ashepoo River the dividing line is the old Seaboard Railroad track bed.

(4) On New River the dividing line is at Cook’s Landing.

(5) Wallace River, Rantowles Creek, Long Branch Creek, and Shem Creek are salt water for their entire lengths.

(6) On Edisto River the dividing line is the abandoned Seaboard Railroad track bed near Matthews Canal Cut.

(7) On Ashley River the dividing line is the confluence of Popper Dam Creek directly across from Magnolia Gardens.

(8) On Cooper River the dividing line is the seaward shoreline of Old Back River at the confluence of Old Back River downstream from Bushy Park Reservoir.

(9) Wando River is salt water for its entire length.

(10) On the Intracoastal Waterway in Horry County the dividing line is the bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway at the intersection of S.C. Highway 9 and U.S. Highway 17.