Oyster regulations in South Carolina

Clams & oysters · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Oyster has no size limit today, with 2 bushels per person per day (max 3 limits per boat; 2 days per week).

Oyster size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
SC public & state shellfish grounds	October 1 – May 15	None stated	2 bushels per person per day (max 3 limits per boat; 2 days per week)

Notes

A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' season. Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://saltwaterfishing.sc.gov/shellfishharvest.html
Saltwater recreational shellfish license required (16 and older). No scoops, scrapes or dredges. Daylight only (½ hour after sunrise to ½ hour before sunset).

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: None stated
Limit: 2 US bushels 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: 2 US bushels per person per day from public or state shellfish grounds; No boat, vehicle, or boat/vehicle combination may contain more then 3 personal limits regardless of the number of people on the boat or in the vehicle. A person may recreationally harvest shellfish (oysters and/or clams) no more than 2 days per 7 day period.”

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

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About the oyster

Species of bivalve

The eastern oyster —also called the Atlantic oyster, American oyster, or East Coast oyster—is a species of true oyster native to eastern North and South America. Other names in local or culinary use include the Wellfleet oyster, Virginia oyster, Malpeque oyster, Blue Point oyster, Chesapeake Bay oyster, and Apalachicola oyster. C. virginica ranges from northern New Brunswick south through parts of the West Indies to Venezuela. It is farmed in all of the Maritime provinces of Canada and all Eastern Seaboard and Gulf states of the United States, as well as Puget Sound, Washington, where it is known as the Totten Inlet Virginica. It was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in the 19th century and is common in Pearl Harbor.

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 Oyster in South Carolina?

None stated in South Carolina state waters.

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

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

When is Oyster season in South Carolina?

October 1 – May 15.

Is my Oyster a keeper today?

Oyster has no size limit today, with 2 bushels per person per day (max 3 limits per boat; 2 days per week).