South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
No closed seasons in SC state waters; federal waters closed Jan 1–May 31.
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Off GA and east FL the closure is Jan 1 – Apr 30 (opens May 1).
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Often mistaken for
Red snapperSnapper is brighter red with a snapper jaw and forked tail. Tell them apart
Red hindSmaller, covered in discrete red spots. 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
Brick-red mottle, pale blotches, sloped straight head profile; inside of mouth washed red. More on the red grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Red grouper in other states11 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for red grouper in South Carolina?
20 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red grouper can you keep in South Carolina?
Within 3-grouper aggregate. Aggregate: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
When is red grouper season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the South Carolina record red grouper?
33 lb 13 oz, Little River (2022).
How current is this South Carolina red grouper 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 red grouper in South Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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