Billfish & Atlantic Tunas Size & Catch Limits

Name: eRegulations
Price range: $

TL=Total Length, FL=Fork Length; See below for information on how to measure a fish.

AIW=Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; State Waters extend from the saltwater-freshwater dividing line to the 3-mile limit. Federal Waters extend from the 3-mile limit to 200 miles offshore (international waters).

Up to date fishing regulations can be found on the SCDNR website.

Check out South Carolina saltwater fishing regulations on the Fish Rules App.

All species in this section must be landed with head and tail intact.

Billfish & Atlantic Tunas
Federal Highly Migratory Species Permit required to fish for these species. All billfish to be released may not be removed from the water. All recreationally caught Atlantic billfish landed must be reported to NMFS within 24 hours of landing at the dock. Anglers can report their catch by calling 1-800-894-5528 or submitting information online through the NOAA HMS Permits website. Recreationally caught billfish may not be sold.
Species	Closed Season	Bag Limit	Size Limit	Restrictions
Billfish
Blue Marlin			99-inch FL from lower jaw	May only be taken by rod & reel.
White Marlin			66-inch FL from lower jaw	May only be taken by rod & reel.
Sailfish			63-inch FL from lower jaw	May only be taken by rod & reel.
Swordfish		1 per person per day not to exceed 4 per vessel per trip	47-inch FL from lower jaw OR 25-inch cleithrum to caudal keel	May only be taken by rod & reel and handlines. Handlines must be attached to, or remain in contact with, the vessel at all times. For information on for-hire vessel bag limits, visit the NOAA HMS Permits website.
Roundscale Spearfish			66-inch FL from lower jaw	May only be taken by rod & reel.
Longbill Spearfish	Possession prohibited			If caught fish must be released immediately.
Atlantic Tunas
Federal Highly Migratory Species Permit required to fish for these species except for the Other Tunas. To verify the most recent federal fishing regulations, call 1-888-USA-TUNA (1-888-872-8862) or visit the NOAA HMS Permits website.
Albacore, Skipjack	No associated regulations.
Bigeye Tuna			27-inch curved FL
Bluefin Tuna		NOAA Fisheries has adjusted the Atlantic Bluefin tuna daily retention limits which applies to vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species Angling category and the HMS Charter/Headboat category. Before fishing, review the latest bluefin tuna bag limit updates by visiting the NOAA Fisheries Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Bulletin.		For the latest for-hire vessel bag and size limits, visit the NOAA HMS Permits website. All recreationally caught Atlantic billfish and Bluefin tuna landed must be reported to NMFS within 24 hours of landing at the dock.
Yellowfin Tuna		3 per person per day per trip	27-inch curved FL
Other tunas: Blackfin, Bonita, and Little tunny	No associated regulations.

Measuring a Fish

How to Properly Measure a Saltwater Fish

TL=total length measure: From the closed mouth (snout) to the tip of the tail fin when pinched together. It is a straight line measure, not over the curvature of the body. FL=fork length measure: From the tip of the closed mouth (snout) to the center of the fork of the tail. It is a straight line measure, not over the curvature of the body.

Illustration showing how to measure the fork length of a fish — from the tip of the snout to the middle fork in the tail fin — using a dotted line guide. — How to measure fork length — measure from the tip of the fish’s snout to the center of the tail fork for accurate size reporting in South Carolina fishing regulations.

Diagram showing how to measure the total length of a fish — from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin — using a dotted line for guidance. — How to measure total length — measure from the tip of the fish’s snout to the farthest point of the tail fin for accurate length reporting under South Carolina fishing regulations.