SlotGaugeCheck a catchBlue Marlin regulations in South Carolina
Billfish · Saltwater · 2026 season
Blue Marlin size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC state & federal waters (HMS permit required) | Open year-round | 99 inch minimum | No bag limit printed; federal HMS rules apply |
Notes
- Rod & reel only. Federal HMS permit required even to possess in state waters.
- Report any landed billfish to NMFS within 24 hours (1-800-894-5528 or hmspermits.noaa.gov).
- Billfish you intend to release may not be removed from the water. Billfish may not be sold.
Exact South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wording
- Season
- Open year-round (no closed season printed)
- Size
- 99-inch FL from lower jaw
- Limit
- No bag limit printed (federal HMS rules apply)
- SC state & federal waters (HMS permit required) — as printed
- “Blue Marlin | | | 99-inch FL from lower jaw | May only be taken by rod & reel.”
Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).
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About the blue marlin
Species of fish
The Atlantic blue marlin is a species of marlin endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. It is closely related to, and usually considered conspecific with, the Indo-Pacific blue marlin, then simply called blue marlin. Some authorities consider both species distinct. Blue marlin are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is a bluewater fish that spends the majority of its life in the open sea far from land.
Read more about Atlantic blue marlin 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 Marlin in South Carolina?
99 inch minimum in South Carolina state waters.
How many Blue Marlin can you keep per day in South Carolina?
No bag limit printed; federal HMS rules apply.
When is Blue Marlin season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Blue Marlin a keeper today?
A blue marlin is a keeper today if it measures at least 99 inches, with No bag limit printed; federal HMS rules apply.