Trout Size & Limits
Game Fish Size & Possession Limits BROOK, BROWN, RAINBOW & THEIR HYBRIDS |
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• A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day. This total shall not exceed more than the limits or exceptions listed below. Any game fish or species with a size limit listed must be landed with head and tail fin intact. All freshwater fish species in the state of South Carolina are measured using total length. Special limits and regulations apply to SCDNR managed lakes. • Check with state parks, city reservoirs or county parks for special limits and regulations that apply to those areas. |
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Water Body |
Size Limit |
Possession Limit |
Bait & Tackle Restrictions |
Statewide except the water bodies listed below: |
Any length |
5 |
None |
Waters on Georgia Border |
Any length |
5 |
None |
Chauga River (SC Hwy 290 [Cassidy Bridge Road] upstream to Bone Camp Creek) |
Any length |
Nov. 1 - May 14: Catch and Release only |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures. |
May 15 - Oct. 31: 5 |
None |
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Chattooga River (Hwy 28 to Reed Creek) |
Any length |
Nov. 1 - May 14: Catch and Release only |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures. |
May 15 - Oct. 31: 5 |
None |
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Cheohee Creek |
Any length |
5 |
None |
Cheohee Creek (portion that runs through the Piedmont Forestry Center) Open Mon, Wed, Sat or as posted |
Any length |
Nov. 1 - May 14: Catch and Release only |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures |
May 15 - Oct. 31: 5 |
None |
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Corbin Creek (from confluence with Howard Creek upstream to SC Hwy 130) |
Any length |
Nov. 1 - May 14: Catch and Release only |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures. |
May 15 - Oct. 31: 5 |
None |
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Devils Fork Creek |
Any length |
Nov. 1 - May 14: Catch and Release only |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures. |
May 15 - Oct. 31: 5 |
None |
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Eastatoe Creek (Lake Keowee to Roy Jones Road) |
Any length |
Nov. 1 - May 14: Catch and Release only |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures. |
May 15 - Oct. 31: 5 |
None |
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Eastatoe Creek (portion on Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve) |
Any length |
5 |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except artificial lures. |
Howard Creek (from confluence with Corbin Creek upstream to confluence with Limberpole Creek) |
Any length |
Nov. 1 - May 14: Catch and Release only |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures. |
May 15 - Oct. 31: 5 |
None |
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Lower Saluda River (All waters of Saluda River from confluence with Broad River upstream to Lake Murray Dam) |
Only 1 fish may be more than 16 inches |
5 |
None |
Lower Saluda River from the east bound I-20 bridge downstream to Stacey’s Ledge |
Catch and Release Only |
Catch and Release Only |
None |
Matthews Creek (from Asbury Drive Bridge at Asbury Methodist Camp upstream including all tributaries and headwaters) |
Any length |
5 |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures. |
Matthews Creek (downstream from Asbury Drive Bridge at Asbury Methodist Camp downstream to the confluence with South Saluda River ) |
Any length |
5 |
None |
Middle Saluda (from the foot bridge at Jones Gap State Park Office upstream to US Hwy 176 in Greenville County) |
Any length |
5 |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures. |
Middle Saluda (from Hugh Smith Road Bridge upstream to the foot-bridge at Jones Gap State Park) Open daily from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset |
Any length |
Catch and Release only |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except artificial lures. |
South Saluda River (adjacent to SCDNR WMA areas) Open 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset |
Any length |
5 |
None |
Whitewater River (Oconee County) |
Any length |
5 |
Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures. |
Lake Jocassee |
Oct. 1 - May 31: 15 inches, but only 1 fish more than 20 inches |
3 |
Unlawful to use or possess corn, cheese, fish eggs or imitations of them. |
Jun. 1 - Sept. 30: Any length |
Unlawful to take, attempt to take, or possess more than 3 |
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Lake Russell |
Any length |
5 |
None |
