South Carolina fishing rules change where fresh water meets the coast
South Carolina does not have one universal fishing-limit chart. A freshwater crappie trip, Lake Murray striped-bass trip, Charleston redfish trip and offshore snapper trip can each use different limits, seasons, licenses, measurement rules and gear.
South Carolina fishing status — August 12, 2026
Red drum
State-water limit is now 1 fish per person, maximum 2 per boat, with an 18–25 inch TL slot.
Blue catfish
Most South Carolina waters now allow 150 blue catfish per person per day. Major Santee/Pee Dee exceptions remain at 25.
Circle hooks
Saltwater gamefish + natural bait + hook size 4/0 or larger now requires a non-stainless, non-offset circle hook.
Many striped-bass waters
Numerous coastal rivers and the Santee River system prohibit striped/hybrid bass possession June 16–September 30.
2026 federal EFP halted
A court injunction stopped South Carolina’s planned July–August federal red-snapper EFP. A possible fall proposal remains TBD.
Red snapper inside state waters
State waters list no closed season: 2 per person, 20-inch TL. Federal possession remains prohibited unless opened.
Oysters & clams
Recreational molluscan shellfish harvest is currently closed. The next season opens in fall 2026 when officially announced.
Shrimp baiting
2026 shrimp-baiting season: September 11 at noon through November 9 at noon.
August 12 sits between two South Carolina regulation books
2025–2026 printed guide
SCDNR states the existing book remains valid through August 15, 2026.
2026–2027 guide
The new guide is already available and SCDNR/eRegulations has published current 2026 fishing-law changes.
Which South Carolina fishing rule system are you in?
Freshwater lake or river
Start with the statewide freshwater table, then look for lake-specific bass, striped-bass, catfish or state-lake limits.
Mountain trout water
Trout can be five per day statewide, but catch-and-release reaches can restrict both possession and tackle.
Saltwater / tidal water
License, TL/FL measurement, gamefish hook requirements, boat limits and coastal seasons become important.
Georgia border water
Reciprocal licensing applies on qualifying Savannah-system waters, but tributary streams are not automatically covered.
South Carolina fishing license prices in 2026
Annual.
Annual.
Annual.
Annual.
Lifetime option for eligible residents age 64+.
South Carolina statewide freshwater size & daily limits
| Fish | Size | Daily limit | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bream | Any length | 30 | Includes bluegill, flier, warmouth, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, redear and spotted sunfish. |
| Redbreast sunfish | Any length | 15 | Separate from the ordinary bream aggregate. |
| Crappie | 8″ minimum | 20 | Managed state lakes can post different rules. |
| Walleye + sauger | Any statewide minimum | 8 combined | Check local reservoir restrictions. |
| Chain pickerel | Any length | 30 | Statewide baseline. |
| Redfin pickerel | Any length | 30 | Statewide baseline. |
| Yellow perch | Any length | 30 | Statewide baseline. |
| White bass | Any length | 10 | Savannah River system exceptions apply. |
| Striped + hybrid bass | Varies | Normally 10 | This species group has major seasonal and waterbody exceptions; use the striped-bass section below. |
| Trout | Normally any length | 5 | Special catch-and-release waters and tackle restrictions apply. |
South Carolina bass limits depend heavily on the lake
| Water / fish | Minimum | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide largemouth bass | Any length | 5 combined smallmouth/largemouth/redeye or hybrids |
| Statewide smallmouth bass | 12″ | 5 combined |
| Statewide spotted bass | Any length | 15 |
| Murray, Marion, Moultrie, Greenwood, Jocassee, Wateree, Wylie, Monticello, Blalock, Secession and listed Saluda/Santee reaches | Largemouth 14″ | 5 combined |
| Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah, Keowee-area/Savannah-system special waters | Largemouth generally 12″; species-specific exceptions apply | Up to 10 combined black bass on covered waters |
| Slade’s Lake | 12″ | 2 black bass |
Blue catfish: 150 per day on most waters—but not everywhere
South Carolina previously used a statewide 25-fish blue-catfish daily limit.
Act 120 raised the daily blue-catfish limit to 150 per person on most state waterways.
Summer is the dangerous season for South Carolina striped-bass assumptions
Many coastal rivers + Santee system
Many coastal rivers
Striped/hybrid bass possession is prohibited June 16–September 30. October 1–June 15 generally uses a 26-inch minimum and three-fish daily limit.
Santee River system
June 16–September 30 possession closure applies, with a special Lower Saluda catch-and-release provision.
Lake Murray
June 1–September 30: up to five striped/hybrid bass daily, no minimum length. October 1–May 31 uses a 21-inch minimum.
South Carolina trout: five per day is only the starting rule
Chauga River special reach
From SC Hwy 290/Cassidy Bridge Road upstream to Bone Camp Creek: November 1–May 14 is catch-and-release only with single-hook artificial lures.
Chattooga River special reach
Hwy 28 to Reed Creek: November 1–May 14 is catch-and-release only with single-hook artificial lures.
Four rods from shore does not mean four rods from every boat
Hook-and-line, pole, artificial pole or rod/reel for freshwater game fish.
*If every person aboard age 16+ has a valid fishing license.
Bream excluding redbreast can be used; trout-as-bait is restricted to specified Savannah-system waters.
Nongame devices require more than a basic fishing license
| Device | Recreational allowance | Important operating rule |
|---|---|---|
| Jugs | Up to 50 with permit | Legal only on Greenwood, Hartwell, Secession, Russell, Thurmond and Stevens Creek Reservoir. |
| Set hooks | Up to 50 hooks | Permit required; each set hook must carry identification. |
| Trotline | 1 recreational trotline, max 50 hooks | Trotline tag required. |
| Traps | Up to 2 | Tags required; location/design restrictions apply. |
| Crayfish traps | Up to 5 recreationally | Must be marked with name and customer ID. |
Do you need a circle hook? Use this four-question test
Cobia, red drum, spotted seatrout, tarpon or striped bass?
If you are using an artificial lure, this specific 4/0 rule does not apply.
Hooks below 4/0 are outside this particular new gamefish threshold.
Use a non-stainless-steel, non-offset circle hook.
TL and FL are different measurements
Closed mouth to tip of pinched-together tail, measured in a straight line.
Closed mouth to the center of the fork in the tail.
South Carolina specifies straight-line measurement.
South Carolina inshore & coastal finfish limits
| Species | Size | Daily / boat limit | Special rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red drum | 18–25″ TL | 1/person; max 2/boat | State waters only; federal possession prohibited. Gig harvest closed Dec. 1–Feb. 28. |
| Flounder | 16″ TL | 5/person; max 10/boat | Applies to hook-and-line or gig harvest. |
| Black drum | 14–27″ TL | 5/person | Slot limit. |
| Sheepshead | 14″ TL | 10/person; max 30/boat | State-water limit. |
| Spotted seatrout | 14″ TL | 10/person | Gig harvest closed Dec. 1–Feb. 28. |
| Tripletail | 18″ TL | 3/person; max 9/boat | State-water limit. |
| Weakfish | 12″ TL | 1/person | State-water limit. |
| Tarpon | 77″ FL | 1/person | May only be taken by rod and reel. |
| Cobia | 36″ FL | Generally 1/person; boat limit varies by zone | State waters south of Jeremy Inlet have a May 1–31 closure. |
| Dolphin / mahi | 20″ FL | 10/person; max 54/boat | Headboats have no boat limit. |
| King mackerel | 24″ FL | 3/person | Federal vessel permit can apply to for-hire fishing. |
| Spanish mackerel | 12″ FL | 15/person | Federal vessel permit can apply to for-hire fishing. |
| Wahoo | No state minimum listed | 2/person | Sale of recreational catch prohibited. |
| Hardhead / gafftopsail catfish | — | NO POSSESSION | Release immediately. |
The old South Carolina redfish numbers are no longer current
State-water red snapper and federal red snapper are different answers
2 fish • 20″ TL
Current South Carolina rules list no closed season for red snapper in state waters.
State waters extend offshore to the three-mile boundary.
Possession currently prohibited
The planned 2026 South Carolina federal red-snapper exempted-fishing project was halted by a court injunction before its planned July opening.
SCDNR has discussed a revised fall proposal, but dates remain TBD unless a later notice is issued.
Snapper-grouper trips require more than checking the bag limit
- Head and tail intact: species in South Carolina’s snapper-grouper section must be landed intact.
- Circle hooks: use non-stainless, non-offset circle hooks with hook-and-line and natural bait.
- Dehooking tool: required when fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper species.
- Descending device: must be ready for use for qualifying snapper-grouper fishing.
- Federal season check: many species have annual catch limits and federal closures that can change during the year.
- For-hire permit: federally permitted charter/headboat vessels can have additional federal requirements.
Current August federal examples
Gag grouper
Federal closure began August 2, 2026.
Snowy grouper
Federal closure began June 7, 2026.
Red porgy
Federal closure includes July 1–December 31.
Blueline tilefish
Listed federal closure begins September 1, 2026.
Oysters, clams and shrimp use completely different seasons
Oysters & clams
Molluscan shellfish harvest is currently closed. These fisheries typically close during the warm season and reopen in fall when SCDNR/SCDES announces the opening.
Current framework
Closed December 16–April 30. Outside that closure, limit is 48 quarts whole or 29 quarts headed under the applicable per-day rule.
Shrimp baiting 2026
Opens September 11 at noon. Closes November 9 at noon. Shrimp baiting license required.
Shellfish limits when the season is open
Per person/day from public or state grounds.
1-inch minimum thickness.
Recreational oyster/clam harvest frequency limit.
South Carolina crab limits combine size, person and boat rules
Carapace width, point to point.
South Carolina shad and herring rules depend on both species and gear
Santee River + Rediversion Canal: 20/day.
Under the applicable recreational framework.
Reciprocal fishing ends when you leave the covered boundary water
A valid South Carolina license can be recognized on qualifying shared Savannah-system waters under the reciprocal agreement.
Savannah / Tugaloo / Chattooga system and specified shared impoundments.
The agreement does not automatically extend into tributary streams feeding the covered rivers and reservoirs.
Common South Carolina–Georgia covered impoundments
A state lake can override statewide limits and operating hours
South Carolina maintains a separate State Lakes table covering open days, fishing hours, motor restrictions, catfish limits, bass limits, bream limits, crappie rules and whether minnows are allowed.
Bass: 3, minimum 16″.
Bream: 20.
Catfish: 3.
Bass: 2, minimum 16″.
Bream: 20.
Catfish: 3.
Current State Lakes table lists the pond closed.
Fishing can close even when the fish season itself is open
Lake Marion
Cantey Bay, Black Bottom and Savannah Branch: all watercraft and fishing prohibited November 1–February 28.
Lake Moultrie Hatchery WMA
Closed to fishing each Saturday until noon and all day on the last Saturday of waterfowl season.
Potato Creek Hatchery WMA
Closed to public access/fishing one week before and two weeks after the federal waterfowl season.
Check South Carolina fish-consumption advice separately
Advisories can apply to a specific lake, river or reach.
Different fish from the same water can have different guidance.
Consumption guidance is separate from legal harvest limits.
South Carolina regulation trip checklist
- Choose freshwater or saltwater first. The license, species table and measurement system can change at the dividing line.
- Name the exact water. Lake Murray, Santee Cooper, Hartwell, a State Lake or a tidal river can each have special regulations.
- Check today’s species rule. Save size, daily limit, boat limit and seasonal closure.
- Blue catfish: determine whether your water uses 150/day or the 25/day exception.
- Striped bass: summer closures are currently active on many river systems.
- Red drum: use the new 18–25″ slot and 1-person/2-boat limit.
- Saltwater natural bait: check whether the July 2026 circle-hook rule applies.
- Offshore: check federal seasons separately from state waters.
- Shellfish: verify current shellfish-ground status before harvesting.
- Nongame gear: jugs, set hooks, traps and trotlines can require extra permits/tags.
Twelve South Carolina fishing-rule mistakes to avoid
Current rule is 1/person, 2/boat, 18–25″.
Most waters changed to 150/day in May 2026.
Many systems close possession June 16–September 30.
Murray allows five with no minimum June–September.
Red drum, flounder and many inshore species use total length.
New saltwater gamefish tackle law is already effective.
The planned July EFP was halted by injunction.
Recreational molluscan shellfish harvest is currently closed.
Jug fishing is limited to specified waters.
Certain device privileges require licensing/tags regardless of age.
Tributary streams are not automatically covered.
State Lake limits/hours can be much tighter than statewide rules.
Ask SCDNR using the exact water and species
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
“I’m fishing [exact South Carolina water] on [date], targeting [species] with [bait/method]. Can you confirm today’s size limit, personal and boat limit, season, and any water-specific or federal restriction?”
Get the correct license before applying the regulation
Official South Carolina sources used for this guide
The useful rules have already been converted into practical answers above. These links are for live verification, current licensing and same-day fishery status.
Common South Carolina fishing-regulation questions
What is the South Carolina crappie limit?
The statewide freshwater crappie limit is 20 fish per person per day with an 8-inch minimum total length. SCDNR managed lakes and other special waters can use different rules.
What is the South Carolina largemouth bass limit?
The ordinary statewide framework allows no more than five combined smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids, with no statewide largemouth minimum in ordinary waters. Major reservoirs including Lake Murray, Marion, Moultrie, Greenwood, Jocassee, Wateree and Wylie use a 14-inch largemouth minimum, while Savannah-system waters have other rules.
What is the blue catfish limit in South Carolina in 2026?
Effective May 15, 2026, the blue-catfish daily limit is 150 per person on most South Carolina waterways. It remains 25 per day on Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the upper Santee River and the specified Pee Dee River reach from the North Carolina border to the Highway 301 bridge.
Can I keep striped bass in South Carolina right now?
It depends on the water. As of August 12, 2026, striped/hybrid bass possession is prohibited on many coastal rivers and the Santee River system during the June 16 through September 30 summer closure. Lake Murray instead allows up to five per day June 1 through September 30 with no minimum length.
What is the South Carolina red drum limit in 2026?
The current state-water red drum limit is one fish per person per day, no more than two fish per boat per day, with an 18-to-25-inch total-length slot. Possession of red drum from federal waters is prohibited.
Do I need a circle hook for saltwater fishing in South Carolina?
Effective July 1, 2026, when fishing for South Carolina saltwater gamefish such as cobia, red drum, spotted seatrout, tarpon or striped bass with natural bait and a hook size 4/0 or larger, the hook must be non-stainless steel, non-offset and circular. Snapper-grouper fishing has separate circle-hook requirements.
Is red snapper season open in South Carolina?
South Carolina state waters list no closed red-snapper season and allow two fish per person with a 20-inch total-length minimum. Federal red-snapper possession is currently prohibited. South Carolina’s planned July–August 2026 federal exempted-fishing season was halted by a court injunction, and any revised fall opening must be officially announced before anglers rely on it.
Do I need a fishing license in South Carolina if I am under 16?
Children under age 16 generally do not need the ordinary freshwater or saltwater recreational fishing license. Certain freshwater nongame devices such as jugs, traps, set hooks and trotlines can still require the applicable fishing privilege, permit or device tag regardless of age.
Can I use a Georgia fishing license on Lake Hartwell?
South Carolina and Georgia have reciprocal fishing privileges on qualifying shared Savannah-system waters, including Lake Hartwell and several other border impoundments. The reciprocal agreement does not automatically extend into tributary streams.
When is South Carolina’s 2026 shrimp baiting season?
The 2026 South Carolina shrimp-baiting season opens at noon September 11 and closes at noon November 9. A shrimp-baiting license is required and pole, spacing, cast-net and harvest-limit rules apply.
Can I harvest oysters in South Carolina right now?
No. Recreational molluscan shellfish harvest is currently closed as of August 12, 2026. The 2026–2027 oyster and clam season will reopen in fall after the official opening is announced. Harvest areas can also close temporarily because of water-quality, storm or pollution conditions.
Fresh or salt first. Exact water second. Species third.
South Carolina fishing regulations become much easier when you identify the jurisdiction before reading a bag limit. The same trip can involve a statewide rule, a lake exception, a summer striped-bass closure, a state/federal offshore boundary or a newly enacted 2026 law.
Regulation research reviewed against current SCDNR licensing, fishing and South Carolina eRegulations resources.
Select a state on the left + fill in the form + click the button to see your result here.