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South Carolina freshwater size limits and seasons

18 species, 2026 rules for state waters. Tap a species for every zone, the exact South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wording and a keeper check. Updated 2026-10-01. All 106 South Carolina species A–Z →

Species	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
American Eel (freshwater)	Open year-round	9 inch minimum	25 per person per day
Blue Catfish	Open year-round	No size limit	150 per person per day
Bream	Open year-round	No size limit	30 per person per day
Chain Pickerel	Open year-round	No size limit	30 per person per day
Crappie	Open year-round	8 inch minimum	20 per person per day
Grass Carp	Closed	—	—
Hybrid Striped Bass (freshwater)	Open year-round	Any length	10 striped or hybrid bass combined
Largemouth Bass	Open year-round	Any length (14 inches min on Lakes Blalock, Greenwood, Jocassee, Marion, Monticello, Moultrie, Murray, Secession, Wateree, Wylie, middle Saluda, upper Santee)	5 black bass combined
Redbreast Sunfish	Open year-round	No size limit	15 per person per day
Redeye Bass	Open year-round	Any length	5 combined smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or hybrids
Redfin Pickerel	Open year-round	Any length	30 per person per day
Robust Redhorse	Closed	—	—
Smallmouth Bass	Open year-round	12 inch minimum	5 black bass combined
Spotted Bass	Open year-round	None	15 per person per day
Trout	Open year-round	None	5 per person per day
Walleye	Open year-round	None	8 walleye + sauger combined
White Bass	Open year-round	None	10 per person per day
Yellow Perch	Open year-round	No size limit	30 per person per day