Saltwater Catfish regulations in South Carolina

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Saltwater Catfish is closed to harvest. Release it.

Saltwater Catfish size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
statewide	Closed to harvest	—	—

Notes

Possession prohibited; release immediately.

Exact South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wording

Season: Closed
Size: Possession prohibited
Limit: Possession prohibited
statewide — as printed: “Saltwater Catfishes (Hardhead & gafftopsail catfishes) | Possession prohibited | Possession prohibited | | If caught must be released immediately.”

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

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About the saltwater catfish

Species of fish

The hardhead catfish is a species of sea catfish from the northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, and similar to the gafftopsail catfish. It is one of eight species in the genus Ariopsis. The common name, hardhead catfish, is derived from the presence of a hard, bony plate extending rearward toward the dorsal fin from a line between the catfish's eyes. It is an elongated marine catfish that reaches up to 28 in (70 cm) in length and 12 lb (5.5 kg) in weight. Their typical weight is less than 1 lb (450 g), but they commonly reach up to 3 lb (1.4 kg). They are often a dirty gray color on top, with white undersides.

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 Saltwater Catfish in South Carolina?

Possession prohibited in South Carolina state waters.

How many Saltwater Catfish can you keep per day in South Carolina?

Possession prohibited.

When is Saltwater Catfish season in South Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Saltwater Catfish a keeper today?

Saltwater Catfish is closed to harvest. Release it.