South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
State-waters rule only; possession prohibited in federal waters.
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
A limited fall 2026 reopening may be announced by separate notice.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Often mistaken for
Vermilion snapperSmaller, streamlined, forked tail, no heavy jaw. Tell them apart
Red grouperGrouper mouth and rounded tail, mottled brick red. 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
Uniform rose red, red eye, pointed anal fin; adults lack the dark side spot. More on the red snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Red snapper in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for red snapper 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 snapper can you keep in South Carolina?
2/day.
When is red snapper season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the South Carolina record red snapper?
37 lb 8 oz, Little River (1964).
How current is this South Carolina red 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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