South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Red drumNo barbels, has the tail spot. Tell them apart
SheepsheadBlack bars but sheepshead has human-like teeth. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
South Carolina state record
SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Chin barbels, high arched back, gray-black bars on juveniles that fade with age. More on the black drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Black drum in other states12 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for black drum in South Carolina?
slot 14–27 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many black drum can you keep in South Carolina?
5/day.
When is black drum season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the South Carolina record black drum?
89 lb, Port Royal (1978).
How current is this South Carolina black drum rule?
Source: SC DNR 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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