Hard Clam regulations in South Carolina

Clams & oysters · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? A hard clam is a keeper today if it measures at least 1 inches, with ½ bushel per person per day (max 3 limits per boat; 2 days per week).

Hard Clam size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
SC public & state shellfish grounds	October 1 – May 15	1 inch minimum	½ bushel per person per day (max 3 limits per boat; 2 days per week)

Notes

Saltwater recreational shellfish license required (16 and older).

Exact South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wording

Season: Typically open October 1 – May 15; closed May 16 – Sept. 30 (SCDNR may shorten or extend)
Size: 1-inch minimum thickness
Limit: 1/2 US bushel per person per day; max 3 personal limits per boat or vehicle; no more than 2 days per 7-day period
SC public and state shellfish grounds — as printed: “Possession Limit: 1/2 US bushel per person per day from public or state shellfish grounds. Size Limit: 1-inch minimum thickness.”

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

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About the hard clam

Mollusc species native to the Americas

The hard clam, also known as the round clam, hard-shell clam, or the quahog, is an edible marine bivalve mollusk that is native to the eastern shores of North America and Central America from Prince Edward Island to the Yucatán Peninsula. It is one of many unrelated edible bivalves that in the United States are frequently referred to simply as clams. Older literature sources may use the systematic name Venus mercenaria; this species is in the family Veneridae, the venus clams.

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 Hard Clam in South Carolina?

1 inch minimum in South Carolina state waters.

How many Hard Clam can you keep per day in South Carolina?

½ bushel per person per day (max 3 limits per boat; 2 days per week).

When is Hard Clam season in South Carolina?

October 1 – May 15.

Is my Hard Clam a keeper today?

A hard clam is a keeper today if it measures at least 1 inches, with ½ bushel per person per day (max 3 limits per boat; 2 days per week).