South Carolina Fishing Regulations for Offshore Species

South Carolina fishing regulations split at the 3-mile line, and the rule that applies depends on where the fish was caught. Boats out of Charleston, Murrells Inlet, Georgetown and Hilton Head run to the ledges and reefs inside the Gulf Stream, where wahoo, mahi-mahi and billfish work the edge. Breakpoint covers South Carolina as one of the states we cover, and South Carolina offshore fishing runs from nearshore reefs to the blue water past the shelf.

South Carolina Fishing Official Government Organizations

State waters run from the saltwater/freshwater dividing line out to 3 miles. Federal waters run from 3 to 200 miles. SCDNR sets the rules inside the line. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries set them outside it, and the council writes the plans for the South Atlantic region.

S.C. Code 50-5-2730 makes federal seasons, size limits and bag limits state law in state waters, unless the statute sets something else. The statute sets its own rules for black sea bass and red snapper. For every other snapper-grouper species, the state bag limit is the higher of the SCDNR guide or the federal limit, and the minimum size is the lower of the two. State waters have no closed season for snapper-grouper. A for-hire vessel with a federal snapper-grouper permit also follows federal closures and prohibitions in state waters, under the federal rules in 50 CFR 622.

South Carolina’s current rules are in the SCDNR regulations guide; check it before fishing. Tunas, billfish, swordfish and sharks are Highly Migratory Species, managed federally by NOAA.

The bodies that write and enforce the rules:

• SCDNR Marine Resources Division – sets and enforces saltwater rules in state waters and sells the Saltwater Recreational Fishing License. Anyone 16 and older who harvests marine resources needs it, except on a licensed public pier, on a licensed charter or headboat while under hire, or when using 3 or fewer drop nets, fold-up traps or hookless handlines. Resident fees are $45 for 3 years, $15 annual and $10 for 14 days. Nonresident fees are $75 annual, $35 for 7 days and $10 for 1 day, and you can buy through GoOutdoorsSC.
• South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) – writes the federal plans for snapper-grouper, dolphin, wahoo and coastal migratory pelagics, posted on SAFMC’s federal regulations page. Private recreational anglers need no federal permit for snapper-grouper, dolphin, wahoo or mackerel.
• NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office – puts council rules into effect in 50 CFR part 622 and announces in-season closures on NOAA’s seasonal closures page.
• NOAA Fisheries HMS – manages tunas, billfish, swordfish and sharks, and issues the federal HMS permit.
• Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) – manages Atlantic cobia across states, so a landed fish must meet the stricter limit of the state where it is landed.

South Carolina Offshore Fishing Regulations by Species

Most reef fish share one set of gear and aggregate rules, stated here once. In state and federal waters, you need a dehooking tool and a descending device ready for use. The descending device must be attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line. Use non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks with hook and line and natural bait. Fish with a size limit must be landed with head and tail intact. Selling snapper-grouper caught under the recreational bag limit is prohibited.

"Aggregate" means a shared daily limit across several species. Groupers and tilefish share a 3-fish aggregate per person per day. Most other snapper-grouper share a 20-fish aggregate, with no more than 10 of any one species. Vermilion snapper carries its own 5-fish limit outside the aggregate.

South Carolina’s artificial reefs are declared special management zones. Harvest of snapper-grouper and coastal migratory pelagics there is limited to the recreational bag limit, and some zones allow only handheld hook and line and spearfishing gear. Powerheads are prohibited in these zones except for safety. The spawning special management zones are Devil’s Hole, Area 51 and Area 53. The marine protected areas are Snowy Grouper Wreck, Northern SC, Edisto and Charleston Deep Artificial Reef. In these areas, fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper is prohibited unless gear is stowed, and trolling for pelagics is permitted. Know where a spawning zone or protected area sits before you drop a bait, and do not use chart layers for navigation.

The species follow in the order anglers ask about them.