South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Black drumJuvenile drum bars fade; drum has chin barbels. Tell them apart
Atlantic spadefishRounder, disc-shaped, small mouth. 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
Bold black vertical bars and startlingly human-like teeth. More on the sheepshead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Sheepshead in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for sheepshead in South Carolina?
14 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many sheepshead can you keep in South Carolina?
10/day, max 30/boat.
When is sheepshead season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the South Carolina record sheepshead?
16 lb 6 oz, Mt. Pleasant (2008).
How current is this South Carolina sheepshead 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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