SlotGaugeCheck a catchHerring regulations in South Carolina
Shad & Herring · Saltwater · 2026 season
Is it a keeper? Herring has no size limit today, with 1 US bushel per person per day.
Herring size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC waters (fresh & salt), except closed areas | Open year-round | No size limit | 1 US bushel per person per day |
| Savannah River | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| Winyah Bay river system (except Great Pee Dee River) | Closed to harvest | — | — |
Notes
- Limit is 1 US bushel per person per day; no size limit.
- Herring fishing is closed in the Savannah River and throughout the Winyah Bay system (Sampit, Waccamaw, etc.) except the Great Pee Dee River.
- Skimbow nets may be used only February through April; shad/herring gill nets need a separate gill-net license and permit.
- No herring fishing within 100 feet of the fish lift exit channel at St. Stephens Powerhouse.
Exact South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wording
- Season
- See Shad & Herring Fishing Regulations (closed areas: Savannah River; Winyah Bay system except Great Pee Dee)
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 1 US bushel of herring per person per day
- SC waters (fresh & salt), except closed areas — as printed
- “Herring | See Shad & Herring Fishing Regulations. | 1 US bushel of herring per person per day | | See Shad & Herring Fishing Regulations. for licensing, permitting, and gear requirements.”
Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).
Check your herring in seconds
Say it, snap a photo, or type the length. SlotGauge answers KEEP or RELEASE using today's South Carolina rules.
Open SlotGauge for HerringAbout the herring
Forage fish, mostly belonging to the family Clupeidae
Herring are various species of forage fish, belonging to the order Clupeiformes.
Read more about Herring 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 Herring in South Carolina?
No size limit in South Carolina state waters.
How many Herring can you keep per day in South Carolina?
1 US bushel per person per day.
When is Herring season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Herring a keeper today?
Herring has no size limit today, with 1 US bushel per person per day.