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
Four chin barbels, hard head plate; venomous spines. More on the hardhead catfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Hardhead catfish in other states1 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask2
Can you keep hardhead 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 hardhead 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a hardhead catfish in South Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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