Skip to main content
South Carolina

Fishing

Fishing

Trout Size & Limits

Game Fish Size & Possession Limits

BROOK, BROWN, RAINBOW & THEIR HYBRIDS

• 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lake Russell

Any length

5

None

What is an Artificial Lure?

Artificial lure: means manufactured or handmade flies, spinners, plugs, spoons, and reproductions of live animals, which are made completely of natural or colored wood, cork, feathers, hair, rubber, metal, plastic, tinsel, styrofoam, sponge, or string, or any combination of these materials, in imitation of or as substitute for natural bait. Lures or fish eggs enhanced with scents or salts are not artificial lures. Artificially produced organic baits are not artificial lures.

Image of artificial lures.