South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
Listed as gray snapper in SC table.
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Listed as gray snapper in federal regulations.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Often mistaken for
Lane snapperPink-yellow stripes and a dark side spot. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
South Carolina state record
SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Gray-bronze with reddish tinge, two canine fangs up top, dark stripe through the eye on juveniles. More on the mangrove snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Mangrove snapper in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for mangrove snapper in South Carolina?
12 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many mangrove snapper can you keep in South Carolina?
10/day snapper aggregate. Aggregate: 10-snapper aggregate.
When is mangrove snapper season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the South Carolina record mangrove snapper?
13 lb 15 oz, Charleston (2023).
How current is this South Carolina mangrove snapper 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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