Bluefish regulations in South Carolina

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Bluefish has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 5.

Bluefish size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
SC state waters (to 3 mi)	Open year-round	No size limit	5 per person (7 on for-hire boats)

Exact South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wording

Season: Open year-round
Size: None
Limit: 5 per person per day (7 per person in the for-hire fishery)
statewide — as printed: “Bluefish | | 5 per person per day (7 per person in the for-hire fishery)”

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

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About the bluefish

Species of marine pelagic fish (''Pomatomus saltatrix'')

The bluefish is the only extant species of the family Pomatomidae. It is a marine pelagic fish found around the world in temperate and subtropical waters, except for the northern Pacific Ocean. Bluefish are known as tailor in Australia and New Zealand, elf and shad in South Africa. It is a popular gamefish and food fish.

Read more about Bluefish 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 Bluefish in South Carolina?

No size limit in South Carolina state waters.

How many Bluefish can you keep per day in South Carolina?

5 per person (7 on for-hire boats).

When is Bluefish season in South Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Bluefish a keeper today?

Bluefish has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 5.