South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
New rules effective Jul 1, 2026; rod-and-reel or gig only, gigging closed Dec 1–Feb 28; harvest prohibited in federal waters.
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Harvest and possession prohibited in the Atlantic EEZ (3–200 mi); state waters have their own rules.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Often mistaken for
Black drumHas chin barbels, no tail 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
Black spot (sometimes several) at the tail base, coppery-bronze back, no chin barbels. More on the red drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for red drum in South Carolina?
slot 18–25 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red drum can you keep in South Carolina?
1/day, max 2/boat.
When is red drum season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the South Carolina record red drum?
75 lb, Murrells Inlet (1965).
How current is this South Carolina red drum 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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