Welcome to 2026-27 South Carolina Fishing

What’s New – 2026

Act No. 231

Red Drum

Pursuant to regional fishery management plans adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) in the Fall of 2025, South Carolina is required to reduce overall harvest of Red Drum as the species is currently in the overfished category. The new law implements a one fish per day bag limit, and a two fish per day boat limit, while increasing the slot size for keeper Red Drum to 18-25 inches. The bill also implements a tackle requirement for saltwater game fish. This tackle requirement states that when using natural bait (i.e. cut bait, live bait) with a hook size of 4/0 of larger, anglers must use a non-stainless steel, non-offset circle hook. There is no restriction on hook type when using hooks less than 4/0 or artificial lures. Effective July 1, 2026.

Deer Tags

Additionally, Act 231 also includes deer tag changes. This change implements a new base set of deer tags for the 2026 deer season consisting of three antlerless tags and three unrestricted antlered deer tags. This does not change the format of any additional tags available for purchase in addition to the base set. Effective July 1, 2026.

Act No. 120

Blue Catfish

Act 120 increases the daily bag limit for blue catfish harvest to 150 fish per day on all state waterways except the daily bag limit remains 25 fish per day for Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the section of the Pee Dee River from the state border with North Carolina south to the Highway 301 bridge, and the upper reach of the Santee River. It is also unlawful to possess more than two blue catfish greater than thirty-two inches in length in any one day in Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the upper reach of the Santee River, the section of the Pee Dee River from the state border with North Carolina south to the Highway 301 bridge, and the Congaree and Wateree rivers. Effective May 15, 2026.

WMA Raccoon Dog Training Season

Pursuant to changes made to Regulation 123-40, raccoon dog training season has been expanded from 5 ½ months to 9 months on all WMA lands with the exception of some DNR lands with special resource concerns or conflicting hunt schedules. Changes to this regulation also include expansions of hog hunting seasons on the following WMAs: Donnelley, Santee Coastal Reserve, Hamilton Ridge, Marsh, Woodbury, Little Pee Dee, Great Pee Dee, Hickory Top, Santee Dam, Wee Tee, Waccamaw River, and Santee Island. Please refer to the Wildlife Management Areas section and the Hog Hunting Seasons page of this book for season dates on specific properties.