Snapper Grouper Complex Size & Catch Limits

Name: eRegulations
Price range: $

Last Updated: August 5, 2026

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 at www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/huntingandfishing/general-information/

Check out South Carolina saltwater fishing regulations on the Fish Rules App at www.fishrulesapp.com.

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

An operator or crew member onboard a for-hire or commercial vessel must have a valid Operator Card when underway fishing for Dolphin/Wahoo.

These species are also managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) in federal waters. Regulations may change. Please contact the SAFMC at (843) 571-4366 or www.safmc.net to get the most up to date regulations on these species.

The harvest and possession of coastal migratory pelagic species by commercial and recreational fishermen will be limited to the recreational bag limit within the Special Management Zones. See “Special Information” for information on SMZs.

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 and total length of a fish.

Species	Closed Season in federal waters	Bag Limit	Size Limit	Restrictions
Snapper-Grouper Complex Many of these species are managed under annual catch limits. Seasons may be closed in federal waters when catch limits are met. There are no closed seasons in state waters (out to 3 miles offshore). Visit http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov for the latest information on the status of annual catch limits. These species are also managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) in federal waters. Regulations may change. Please contact the SAFMC at (843) 571-4366 or www.safmc.net<span class="red"> to get the most up to date regulations on these species. You can also download the FREE mobile application Fish Rules. Fish Rules is available for both android and apple products. Recreational, for-hire, and commercial fishermen are required to use dehooking tools and to possess a descending device that is ready for use when fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper species. They are also required to use non-stainless, non-offset circle hooks when fishing with hook and line and natural baits for snapper-grouper species. Sale of snapper-grouper under the recreational bag limit is prohibited. For-hire vessels must have a Snapper-Grouper permit to fish for these species in federal waters. The harvest and possession of snapper-grouper species by commercial and recreational fishermen will be limited to the recreational bag limit within the Special Management Zones. See “Special Information” for information on SMZs. Sea Turtle Release Gear Requirements: For-hire vessels fishing for snapper-grouper species and possessing a federal for-fire permit must have onboard NMFS approved sea turtle release gear and follow release protocols. For more information, call (727) 824-5312 or visit, http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sust... For additional information on red snapper, visit https://dnr.sc.gov/redsnapper.
Species	Closed Season in federal waters	Bag Limit	Size Limit	Restrictions
Greater Amberjack	April 1-30	1 per person per day	28-inch FL
Hogfish		2 per person per day	17-inch FL
Wreckfish	Jan. 1 - June 30 and Sept. 1 - Dec. 31	1 per vessel per day
Seabass
Black Sea Bass		7 per person per day	13-inch TL
Porgies and Snappers
Red Porgy	Jan. 1 - April 30 and July 1 - Dec. 31	1 per person per day	14-inch TL
Vermilion Snapper		5 per person per day	12-inch TL
Red Snapper	Possession prohibited in federal waters	2 per person per day in state waters	20-inch TL in state waters
Lane Snapper		10 per person per day from this group	8-inch TL
Cubera, Yellowtail, Gray			12-inch TL
Blackfin, Silk and Queen Snapper
Mutton Snapper		5 per person per day, included in the above group limit of 10 per person per day	18-inch TL
Grouper and Tilefish
Gag & Black Grouper	Aug. 2, 2026 - Apr. 30, 2027 (Gag) and Jan. 1 - Apr. 30, 2027 (Black)	Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit; Maximum of 1 gag or black grouper (but not both) per person/day. Two fish vessel limit in federal waters.	24-inch TL	Bag limit for captain and mates on for-hire trip is zero.
Red Grouper	Jan. 1 - May 31	Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit	20-inch TL
Scamp & Yellowmouth Groupers	Jan. 1 - Apr. 30	Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit. Maximum of 1 scamp or yellowmouth grouper (but not both) per person/day in federal waters. In state waters, the bag limit is 3.
Yellowfin Grouper	Jan. 1 - Apr. 30	Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit.
Golden Tilefish	Mar. 21 - Dec. 31, 2026	1 per person per day; included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit		Included in 3 grouper aggregate bag limit.
Sand Tilefish		3 per person per day; included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit
Blueline Tilefish	Sept. 1, 2026 - Apr. 30, 2027	2 per person per day in federal waters, 3 per person per day in state waters; included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit
Misty & Yellowedge Grouper		Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit
Coney, Graysby, Red Hind & Rock Hind	Jan. 1 - Apr. 30	Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit
Snowy Grouper	June 7, 2026 - Apr. 30, 2027	Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit; One fish vessel limit
Warsaw and Speckled Hind	Possession prohibited	Possession prohibited
Nassau & Goliath Grouper	Possession prohibited	Possession prohibited		If caught must be released by cutting the line and not removing the fish from the water.
All Other Snapper-Grouper Complex Species
Including but not limited to: Lesser Amberjack; White Grunt; Scup; Almaco & Bar Jacks; Margate; Whitebone, Knobbed, Jolthead & Saucereye; Banded Rudderfish; Sailors Choice		20 per person per day aggregate with no more than 10 of any one species
Gray Triggerfish			12-inch FL
Spadefish			14-inch TL (state waters)	30 per boat per day (state waters)

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