South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
SizeNo harvest
BagPossession prohibitedCounts toward the Saltwater catfishes aggregate
SeasonClosed year-round
Must be released immediately if caught.
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
How to tell it
Long flowing dorsal and pectoral filaments; venomous spines. More on the gafftopsail catfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Gafftopsail catfish in other states2 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask2
Can you keep gafftopsail catfish in South Carolina?
No. Harvest is prohibited in South Carolina. Release it in the water where you can. Must be released immediately if caught.
How current is this South Carolina gafftopsail catfish 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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