South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
The water you are in decides. the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council writes the rule past the line.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
South Carolina state record
SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Blue-black with pale barred cheeks; big males show a blue nape hump and fin trailers. More on the black sea bass page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Black sea bass in other states15 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for black sea bass in South Carolina?
13 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many black sea bass can you keep in South Carolina?
7/day.
When is black sea bass season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the South Carolina record black sea bass?
8 lb 3 oz, Fripp Inlet (1995).
How current is this South Carolina black sea bass 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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