South Carolina saltwater fishing rules
Recreational size, bag and season for Grand Strand, Charleston and the Lowcountry, from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Open as of Oct 13, 2026: striped bass, summer flounder, black sea bass, bluefish, red drum, spotted seatrout, weakfish, black drum, sheepshead, cobia, spanish mackerel.
| Species | Size | Bag | Season | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped bassChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 26" total length minimum | 3 per person per day (Oct 1–June 15) | Open Oct 1–June 15; possession prohibited June 16–Sept 30 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Summer flounderChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 16" total length minimum | 5 per person per day, not to exceed 10 per boat per day | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Black sea bassChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 13" total length minimum | 7 per person per day | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| BluefishChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | No size limit listed | 5 per person per day (7 per person in the for-hire fishery) | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Red drumChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 18"–25" total length (slot) | 1 per person per day, not to exceed 2 per boat per day (state waters) | Open year-round (no gig harvest Dec 1–Feb 28) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Spotted seatroutChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 14" total length minimum | 10 per person per day | Open year-round (no gig harvest Dec 1–Feb 28) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| WeakfishChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 12" minimum total length | 1 fish per person per day | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Black drumChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 14"–27" total length (slot) | 5 fish per person per day | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| SheepsheadChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 14" minimum total length | 10 fish per person per day | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| CobiaChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 36" minimum fork length | 1 fish per person per day | Closed May 1 – May 31 in state waters south of 32°31.0′ N (Jeremy Inlet, Edisto Island); otherwise no closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Spanish mackerelChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 12" minimum fork length | 15 fish per person per day | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
This table summarizes South Carolina Department of Natural Resources pages on the dates shown, and status is derived from each row's season dates on Oct 13, 2026. Rules change in season. The agency page controls:South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ↗
Not on this list?
We publish a row only after checking it against the agency's own page. A species missing here is one we have not verified yet. That does not mean it has no rule. Use the agency link above, and see how we source.
South Carolina portsMurrells InletCharlestonHilton Head