Can I Keep?South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Regulations (2026)
Recreational size limits, bag limits and seasons for 77 saltwater species in South Carolina, from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Last checked November 7, 2026. Where a species has several rules (by area or water), the table shows the first; open the species for all of them.
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Official South Carolina regulations · Saltwater fishing license
Inshore
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| American and Hickory Shad (2 rules) | — | 10 per person | — |
| Atlantic Croaker | — | 50 per person per day aggregate bag limit | — |
| Black Drum | 14-inch to 27-inch TL | 5 per person per day | — |
| Flounder | 16-inch TL | 5 per person per day not to exceed 10 per boat per day | — |
| Gafftopsail Catfish | — | Possession prohibited | Possession prohibited |
| Hardhead Catfish | — | Possession prohibited | Possession prohibited |
| Herring | — | A person not licensed as a commercial saltwater fisherman taking or… | — |
| Red Drum | 18-inch to 25-inch TL | 1 per person | May not be harvested by gig Dec. 1 - Feb. 28 |
| Sheepshead | 14-inch TL | 10 per person per day not to exceed 30 per boat per day | — |
| Spot | — | 50 per person per day aggregate bag limit | — |
| Spotted Seatrout | 14-inch TL | 10 per person per day | May not be harvested by gig Dec. 1 - Feb. 28 |
| Striped Bass | 26 in minimum | 3 per person | Possession prohibited: June 16 - Sept. 30 except in lower reach of… |
| Tarpon | 77-inch FL | 1 per person per day | — |
| Tripletail | 18-inch TL | 3 per person per day not to exceed 9 per boat per day | — |
| Weakfish | 12-inch TL | 1 per person per day | — |
| Whiting | — | 50 per person per day aggregate bag limit | — |
Reef fish
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Grouper (2 rules) | 24-inch TL | Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit; Maximum of 1 gag… | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Black Sea Bass (2 rules) | 13-inch TL | 7 per person per day | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Blueline Tilefish (2 rules) | — | 3 per person | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Coney, Graysby, Red Hind & Rock Hind (2 rules) | — | Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Cubera, Yellowtail, Gray (2 rules) | 12-inch TL | 10 per person per day from this group | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Gag (2 rules) | 24-inch TL | Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit; Maximum of 1 gag… | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Golden Tilefish (2 rules) | — | 1 per person | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Gray Triggerfish (2 rules) | 12-inch FL | 20 per person per day aggregate with no more than 10 of any one… | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Greater Amberjack (2 rules) | 28-inch FL | 1 per person per day | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Hogfish (2 rules) | 17-inch FL | 2 per person per day | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Lane Snapper (2 rules) | 8-inch TL | 10 per person per day from this group | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Misty & Yellowedge Grouper (2 rules) | — | Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Mutton Snapper (2 rules) | 18-inch TL | 5 per person | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Nassau & Goliath Grouper (2 rules) | — | Possession prohibited | — |
| Red Grouper (2 rules) | 20-inch TL | Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Red Porgy (2 rules) | 14-inch TL | 1 per person per day | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Red Snapper (2 rules) | 20-inch TL in state waters | 2 per person per day in state waters | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Sand Tilefish (2 rules) | — | 3 per person | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Scamp (2 rules) | 20-inch TL | 3 per person | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Silk and Queen Snapper Blackfin (2 rules) | — | 10 per person per day from this group | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Snapper-Grouper Complex (other species) (2 rules) | — | 20 per person per day aggregate with no more than 10 of any one… | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Snowy Grouper (2 rules) | — | Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit; One fish vessel… | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Spadefish (2 rules) | 14-inch TL (state waters) | 20 per person per day aggregate with no more than 10 of any one… | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Vermilion Snapper (2 rules) | 12-inch TL | 5 per person per day | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Warsaw and Speckled Hind (2 rules) | — | Possession prohibited | — |
| Wreckfish (2 rules) | — | 1 per vessel per day | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Yellowfin Grouper (2 rules) | 20-inch TL | Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit. | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
| Yellowmouth Grouper (2 rules) | 20-inch TL | 3 per person | There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). |
Offshore & pelagic
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Angel, Basking, Bignose, Dusky, Galapagos, Shortfin Mako, Longfin Mako, Narrowtooth, Night, Oceanic Whitetip, Caribbean Reef, Sandbar, Sevengill, Caribbean Sharpnose, Silky, Bigeye Sixgill, Sixgill, Smalltail, Bigeye Thresher, Bigeye Sand Tiger, Sand Tiger, Whale and White Sharks | — | Possession prohibited | Possession prohibited |
| Atlantic Sharpnose | — | 1 per person per day | — |
| Bigeye Tuna | 27-inch curved FL | — | — |
| Blacknose, Blacktip, Blue, Bull, Finetooth, Lemon, Nurse, Porbeagle, Spinner, Thresher and Tiger Sharks | 54-inch FL | 1 shark per vessel per trip | — |
| Blue Marlin | 99-inch FL from lower jaw | — | — |
| Bluefin Tuna | — | NOAA Fisheries has adjusted the Atlantic Bluefin tuna daily retention… | — |
| Bluefish | — | 5 per person per day (7 per person in the for-hire fishery) | — |
| Bonnethead | — | 1 per person per day | — |
| Cobia (2 rules) | 36-inch FL | 1 per person | May 1 to May 31 in state waters south of 032° 31.0’ N latitude… |
| Dogfish (spiny & smooth) | — | — | — |
| Dolphin | 20-inch FL | 10 per person | — |
| Great Hammerhead, Scalloped Hammerhead and Smooth Hammerhead Sharks | 78-inch FL | 1 shark per vessel per trip | — |
| Great White Shark | — | — | It is unlawful to take or possess a great white shark (Carcharodon… |
| King Mackerel | 24-inch FL | 3 per person per day | — |
| Longbill Spearfish | — | — | Possession prohibited |
| Other tunas: Blackfin, Bonita, and Little tunny | — | — | — |
| Roundscale Spearfish | 66-inch FL from lower jaw | — | — |
| Sailfish | 63-inch FL from lower jaw | — | — |
| Sharks | — | Except as provided in this chapter, the size, catch, bag, and… | — |
| Skipjack Albacore | — | — | — |
| Spanish Mackerel | 12-inch FL | 15 per person per day | — |
| Swordfish | 47-inch FL from lower jaw OR 25-inch cleithrum to caudal keel | 1 per person per day not to exceed 4 per vessel per trip | — |
| Wahoo | — | 2 per person per day | — |
| White Marlin | 66-inch FL from lower jaw | — | — |
| Yellowfin Tuna | 27-inch curved FL | 3 per person per day per trip | — |
Crabs, lobster & shrimp
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Crab | Size Limit: 5-inch minimum carapace width (point to point) | Possession Limit: 1 US bushel per person per day and 2 US bushels per… | — |
| Shrimp (2 rules) | — | 48 quarts whole or 29 quarts headed per day (sunrise to sunrise) per… | Closed: Dec. 16 - Apr. 30 |
| Spiny Lobster | Size Limit: 3-inch minimum carapace | Possession Limit: 2 per person per day | — |
| Stone Crab | Size Limit: Claws must be 2 3/4-inch minimum forearm (propodus) | — | — |
Clams, oysters & scallops
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clams | Size Limit: 1-inch minimum thickness | Possession Limit: 1/2 US bushel per person per day from public or… | Typically closed May 16 - Sept. 30; may be shortened or extended by… |
| Oysters | — | Possession Limit: 2 US bushels per person per day from public or… | Typically closed May 16 - Sept. 30; may be shortened or extended by… |
Other species
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Pompano | — | — | — |
| Hybrid Bass, White Bass, & Combinations | In the lower reach of the Savannah River: 27 inch TL All other… | In lower reach of the Savannah River: 2 per person per day All other… | — |