South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
No more than 5 of the 10-snapper aggregate may be mutton snapper.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
South Carolina state record
SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Blue line under the eye, small black side spot, pointed anal fin; red tail edge. More on the mutton snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Mutton snapper in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for mutton snapper in South Carolina?
18 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many mutton snapper can you keep in South Carolina?
5/day, within 10-snapper aggregate. Aggregate: 10-snapper aggregate.
When is mutton snapper season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the South Carolina record mutton snapper?
26 lb, Murrells Inlet (2002).
How current is this South Carolina mutton 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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