Management Briefs: Distributions of Shortnose and Atlantic Sturgeons in South Carolina

Records of 662 Atlantic Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus, 1,024 shortnose A. brevirostrum, and 59 unknown sturgeons in South Carolina were acquired from various sources. Shortnose sturgeon were 25.6–129.0 cm total length (TL) and were reported from 10 rivers, 3 bays or sounds, 2 reservoirs, and the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic sturgeon were 10.1–245.0 cm TL and were reported from 11 rivers, 3 bays or sounds, 1 reservoir, and the Atlantic Ocean. All ocean records of shortnose sturgeon were from near shore, primarily in the vicinity of river plumes, while juvenile Atlantic sturgeon were recorded in depths up to 40 m. During the spawning season, adult shortnose sturgeon were recorded at upriver locations in the Savannah, Cooper, Waccamaw, Santee, and Congaree rivers. The Congaree River records add credence to the hypothesis that there is a landlocked population in the Santee–Cooper Lake system (Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion, and the Congaree River). There is also apparently a population in the ACE Basin (Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto rivers). Atlantic sturgeon populations probably are present in the Savannah, Santee and Waccamaw rivers, and the ACE Basin and, perhaps, in the Cooper River. No records provided information on probable spawning locations of Atlantic sturgeon. About 96% of shortnose sturgeon were taken in gill nets, 2% in trawl nets, and 2% on trotlines (from a reservoir). About 76% of Atlantic sturgeon were captured in gill nets and 23% in trawl nets. There were no verifiable reports of capture by hook and line (i.e., angling) for either species.