SlotGaugeCheck a catchBlue Crab regulations in South Carolina
Crabs · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season
Blue Crab size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC state waters (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | 5 inch minimum | 1 bushel per person per day, 2 bushels per boat |
Notes
- New for 2026–27: the 1 bushel/person, 2 bushels/boat limit and escape-vent requirement for pots (2⅜ in rings).
Exact South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- 5-inch minimum carapace width (point to point)
- Limit
- 1 US bushel per person per day and 2 US bushels per boat per day
- SC state waters — as printed
- “Possession Limit: 1 US bushel per person per day and 2 US bushels per boat per day. Size Limit: 5-inch minimum carapace width (point to point). Females with egg mass (sponge) must be returned to water unharmed immediately.”
Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).
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About the blue crab
Species of crustacean
Callinectes sapidus, commonly known as the blue crab, Atlantic blue crab, or, regionally, the Maryland blue crab, is a species of crab native to the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and introduced internationally.
Read more about Callinectes sapidus 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 →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Blue Crab in South Carolina?
5 inch minimum in South Carolina state waters.
How many Blue Crab can you keep per day in South Carolina?
1 bushel per person per day, 2 bushels per boat.
When is Blue Crab season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Blue Crab a keeper today?
A blue crab is a keeper today if it measures at least 5 inches, with 1 bushel per person per day, 2 bushels per boat.