Endangered sea turtle hooked in Myrtle Beach. What to do if you catch one?

An angler accidentally hooked an endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, a rare nesting animal in South Carolina, at Myrtle Beach State Park’s fishing pier last week.

Only nine Kemp’s ridley nests have been reported in the state, with one located at Huntington Beach State Park in 2024.

The angler called trained park rangers who worked to safely unhook the turtle and release it back in the water with permission from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, according to a Facebook post.

But what are the necessary steps to take when unintentionally catching sea turtles, stingrays, sharks or other unique, and potentially endangered, creatures?

Myrtle Beach State Park Ranger Ann Wilson told The Sun News that an increasing number of endangered sea turtles are being caught from fishing piers along the South Carolina coast, likely due to more turtles being in the water and the ongoing sea turtle nesting season.

Just in the past week, two known sea turtles were hooked at Myrtle Beach State Park’s fishing pier, Wilson said.

“The first thing is, we want all anglers to know on any fishing pier that no one is going to get in trouble because you accidentally hooked a federally protected animal,” Wilson said. “We don’t want someone to just cut (the line) because they don’t want to get in trouble, they won’t.”

Wilson said most fishing piers have a number to call if a turtle is unintentionally hooked, and she encourages even bystanders to help inform the correct resources. Anglers should not try to remove the hook themselves as they can potentially harm the sea turtle more. There are trained rangers and specialists who assess the turtles and coordinate with SCDNR whether the creature should be released or need rehabilitation.

If a sea turtle is hooked and immediate help is unavailable, Wilson advised to try to use a drop net to safely locate the turtle closer where they can be helped. It could potentially harm the turtle if it is simply pulled up with the line. She said to try to shade the turtle either in a sheltered area or with a wet towel to help the stressed animal stay cool.

If assistance cannot be reached by calling a pier, SCDNR has a wildlife hotline that can be reached at 1-800-922-5431. This number should also be contacted for stranded marine animals like whales, sharks, dolphins and sea turtles.

What are rules if you unintentionally catch a shark or stingray?

All fishing from South Carolina beaches or the ocean requires a saltwater recreational fishing license from SCDNR. However, most fishing piers operate on their own license, and anglers can pay a fee for a fishing pass.

Fishing from the shore in the waters under or within 50 feet on either side or beyond the end of any ocean fishing pier in Horry County is prohibited.

In Horry County, it is illegal to use large hooks or specific bait to target sharks from fishing piers or the beach. The line should be cut as soon as the angler is aware a shark was caught.

In neighboring Georgetown County, a proposed surf fishing ban was scrapped by county council last year, but an ordinance prohibits fishing in a manner that creates unsafe conditions.

Stingrays are often among unintentional catches, but there are no protections for them. Wilson said some people keep the animals if they are caught, but if they are unwanted, try to safely remove the hook and return the animal back to the water as quickly as possible.

Resources are not always available to assist with animals that are not protected, but Wilson said it’s important to maintain the safety of people and the animals as best as possible.

“We don’t want the animals being harmed just because they were accidentally caught, because they were just living in the ocean,” Wilson said.