American Shad regulations in South Carolina

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Not yet converted to a keeper check. As printed: season Open year-round; size None; limit 10 shad per person per day except in Santee River and Rediversion Canal (20 per person per day). Read the exact wording below.

American Shad size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
statewide	Open year-round	None	10 shad per person per day except in Santee River and Rediversion Canal (20 per person per day)

Notes

Not yet reviewed: shown exactly as the state prints it. Read the wording before keeping the fish.
See Shad & Herring Fishing Regulations for licensing, permitting, and gear requirements.

Exact South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wording

Season: Open year-round
Size: None
Limit: 10 shad per person per day except in Santee River and Rediversion Canal (20 per person per day)
statewide — as printed: “American Shad | See Shad & Herring Fishing Regulations. | 10 shad per person per day except in Santee River and Rediversion Canal (20 per person per day)”

Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).

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About the american shad

Species of fish

The American shad is a species of anadromous clupeid fish naturally distributed on the North American coast of the North Atlantic, from Newfoundland to Florida, and as an introduced species on the North Pacific coast. The American shad is not closely related to the other North American shads. Rather, it seems to form a lineage that diverged from a common ancestor of the European taxa before these diversified.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for American Shad in South Carolina?

None in South Carolina state waters.

How many American Shad can you keep per day in South Carolina?

10 shad per person per day except in Santee River and Rediversion Canal (20 per person per day).

When is American Shad season in South Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my American Shad a keeper today?

Not yet converted to a keeper check. As printed: season Open year-round; size None; limit 10 shad per person per day except in Santee River and Rediversion Canal (20 per person per day). Read the exact wording below.