South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
SC herring rule covers blueback herring only.
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
AlewifeBigger eye, gray-green back, pale gut lining. Tell them apartNot listed by South Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Atlantic herringNo shoulder spot. Tell them apartNot listed by South Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
The alewife's twin with a blue-black back and smaller eye; told apart for sure by the black gut lining. More on the blueback herring page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Blueback herring in other states14 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for blueback herring in South Carolina?
No size limit.
How many blueback herring can you keep in South Carolina?
1 US bushel per person per day. Counts toward the Herring aggregate.
When is blueback herring season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this South Carolina blueback herring 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a blueback herring in South Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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