South Carolina regulations
Size limits, bag limits and seasons
What South Carolina lets you keep from a pier, summarized in plain language. Slot limits are flagged — those fish have to fall inside a window, not just clear a minimum.
This page is a summary, not the law. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is the authority on saltwater size limits, bag limits and seasons, and the rules change during the year. Confirm at dnr.sc.gov before you keep a fish.
Most piers sell or include a saltwater licence — check the pier page for whether you need your own. Federal waters have separate rules; several species below cannot be possessed there at all.
14 species
State saltwater limits
Sizes are total length unless the measurement column says otherwise. Measure with the mouth closed and the tail pinched.
2 of these are slot limits — the fish must be inside the range, so the big ones go back too.
| Species | Size limit | Measured | Daily bag | For-hire | Per boat | Closed season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus | 15–23" TLSlot limit | TL | 2 | — | 6 | No gig harvest Dec 1 – Feb 28 | Slot limit: 15–23" TL • Possession prohibited in federal waters • Rod & reel and gig only |
| FlounderParalichthys spp. | 16" minimum TL | TL | 5 | — | 10 | None | Includes Southern, Summer & Gulf Flounder • Hook and line or gig |
| Spotted SeatroutCynoscion nebulosus | 14" minimum TL | TL | 10 | — | — | No gig harvest Dec 1 – Feb 28 | Rod & reel and gig only |
| Black DrumPogonias cromis | 14–27" TLSlot limit | TL | 5 | — | — | None | Slot limit: 14–27" TL |
| SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus | 14" minimum TL | TL | 10 | — | 30 | None | — |
| Spanish MackerelScomberomorus maculatus | 12" minimum FL | FL | 15 | — | — | None | Must land with head and fins intact |
| King MackerelScomberomorus cavalla | 24" minimum FL | FL | 3 | — | — | None | Must land with head and fins intact |
| CobiaRachycentron canadum | 36" minimum FL | FL | 1 | — | 6 | May 1–31 south of Jeremy Inlet (032° 31.0’N) | Vessel limit: 3/boat south of 032° 31.0’N, 6/boat north + federal • Rod & reel and gig only in state waters |
| BluefishPomatomus saltatrix | No size limit | N/A | 5 | 7 | — | None | No size limit • For-hire vessels: 7 per person |
| PompanoTrachinotus carolinus | No size limit | N/A | — | — | — | None | No size or bag limit in SC |
| WeakfishCynoscion regalis | 12" minimum TL | TL | 1 | — | — | None | — |
| WhitingMenticirrhus spp. | No size limit | N/A | 50 | — | — | None | 50/day aggregate with Atlantic Croaker and Spot • Hook and line only |
| Atlantic CroakerMicropogonias undulatus | No size limit | N/A | 50 | — | — | None | 50/day aggregate with Spot and Whiting • Hook and line only |
| SpotLeiostomus xanthurus | No size limit | N/A | 50 | — | — | None | 50/day aggregate with Atlantic Croaker and Whiting • Hook and line only |
"—" means no limit of that kind is listed for the species. TL is total length, FL is fork length, CL is carapace length. Summarized from SCDNR; see the official regulations for the binding text.
Set by the pier, not the state
House rules
Every pier runs its own rules on top of state law — gear restrictions, king mackerel decks, cast nets, alcohol, pets. Breaking one gets you off the pier even when the fish is legal.
Cherry Grove Pier
North Myrtle Beach, SC
- No cast nets from the pier (SC law on public piers)
- No shark fishing from the pier deck (most piers)
- Keep your area clean. Dispose of bait and fish scraps properly
- Be courteous to other anglers. Don't cast over someone else's line
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
Apache Pier
Myrtle Beach, SC
- No cast nets from the pier (SC law on public piers)
- No shark fishing from the pier deck (most piers)
- Keep your area clean. Dispose of bait and fish scraps properly
- Be courteous to other anglers. Don't cast over someone else's line
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
Pier 14
Myrtle Beach, SC
- No cast nets from the pier (SC law on public piers)
- No shark fishing from the pier deck (most piers)
- Keep your area clean. Dispose of bait and fish scraps properly
- Be courteous to other anglers. Don't cast over someone else's line
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
Second Avenue Pier
Myrtle Beach, SC
- No cast nets from the pier (SC law on public piers)
- No shark fishing from the pier deck (most piers)
- Keep your area clean. Dispose of bait and fish scraps properly
- Be courteous to other anglers. Don't cast over someone else's line
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
Springmaid Pier
Myrtle Beach, SC
- No cast nets from the pier (SC law on public piers)
- No shark fishing from the pier deck (most piers)
- Keep your area clean. Dispose of bait and fish scraps properly
- Be courteous to other anglers. Don't cast over someone else's line
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
Myrtle Beach State Park Pier
Myrtle Beach, SC
- No cast nets from the pier (SC law on public piers)
- No shark fishing from the pier deck (most piers)
- Keep your area clean. Dispose of bait and fish scraps properly
- Be courteous to other anglers. Don't cast over someone else's line
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
- State park admission required
- Park hours apply, check seasonal schedule
Surfside Pier
Surfside Beach, SC
- No cast nets from the pier (SC law on public piers)
- No shark fishing from the pier deck (most piers)
- Keep your area clean. Dispose of bait and fish scraps properly
- Be courteous to other anglers. Don't cast over someone else's line
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
Garden City Pier
Garden City Beach, SC
- No cast nets from the pier (SC law on public piers)
- No shark fishing from the pier deck (most piers)
- Keep your area clean. Dispose of bait and fish scraps properly
- Be courteous to other anglers. Don't cast over someone else's line
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
Murrells Inlet, SC
- SC saltwater fishing license required (not a licensed public pier)
- Respect restaurant dock areas
- No fishing from restaurant docks without permission
- Keep your area clean
Pawleys Island Pier
Pawleys Island, SC
- SC saltwater fishing license required
- Respect private property. Use public beach access points
- No vehicles on the beach
- Leave no trace
Juno Beach Pier
Juno Beach, FL, SC
- No cast nets from the pier
- No shark fishing
- No chumming
- Keep your area clean
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
House rules come from each pier and can change with the season or the crowd. The pier office has the final word.