Welcome to 2024-25 South Carolina Fishing

What’s New – Fishing

Act 193

Lake Blalock / Congaree River Hoop Nets / Santee River Set Hooks

Waterfowl hunting on Lake Blalock is now permitted until the end of the 2028-2029 waterfowl season. Lake Blalock is a Category II waterfowl management area and may only be hunted on Wednesday mornings during the waterfowl season, and sign-in / sign-out is required. Hoop nets are permitted for use on the Congaree River with a recreational license. Limit of one hoop net per resident 65 years of age and older. Set hooks are permitted on the Upper Reach of the Santee River. Limit of 50 set hooks with a recreational license.

Act 143

Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid Striped Bass have been added to the existing Section 50-13-230 dealing with Striped Bass Limits. Bag limits, size requirements, and seasonal closures for both species are the same. For a complete list of lakes, rivers, and waterways affected by this change, please reference Section 50-13-230 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.

Act 154

Lower Saluda River Hook Size Restriction

On the Lower Saluda River (from the Lake Murray Dam to the confluence with the Broad River) from June 16 - Sept. 30, anglers must use nonstainless steel inline circle hooks when fishing with live or dead bait fish. Anglers are still allowed to use traditional J hooks, but only those J hooks which have no more than a 3/8-inch hook gap (nominally #6 hook). All sizes of inline, nonoffset, nonstainless steel circle hooks are allowed.