South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
South Carolina state record
SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Nearly straight hammer with a center notch; towering dorsal. More on the great hammerhead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for great hammerhead in South Carolina?
78 in fork length. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many great hammerhead can you keep in South Carolina?
1 shark per vessel per trip. Counts toward the Hammerhead sharks (78-in FL group) aggregate.
When is great hammerhead season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the South Carolina record great hammerhead?
588 lb 3 oz, Charleston (1989).
How current is this South Carolina great hammerhead 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 great hammerhead in South Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app