· Freshwater · 2026 season

| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC freshwater (statewide; listed lakes differ) | Open year-round | 9 inch minimum | 25 per person per day |
Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).
Say it, snap a photo, or type the length. SlotGauge answers KEEP or RELEASE using today's South Carolina rules.
Open SlotGauge for American Eel (freshwater)Species of fish
The American eel is a facultative catadromous eel found on the eastern coast of North America. Freshwater eels are fish belonging to the elopomorph superorder, a group of phylogenetically ancient teleosts. The American eel has a slender, supple, snake-like body that is covered with a mucus layer, which makes the eel appear to be naked and slimy despite the presence of minute scales. A long dorsal fin runs from the middle of the back and is continuous with a similar ventral fin. Pelvic fins are absent, and relatively small pectoral fins can be found near the midline, followed by the head and gill covers. Variations exist in coloration, from olive green, brown shading to greenish-yellow and light gray or white on the belly. Eels from clear water are often lighter than those from dark, tannic acid streams.
Read more about American eel on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, not Wikipedia.
All 106 South Carolina species A–Z →
9 inch minimum in South Carolina state waters.
25 per person per day.
Open year-round.
A american eel (freshwater) is a keeper today if it measures at least 9 inches, with a daily limit of 25.