South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
Federally endangered (ESA); no harvest anywhere. Not listed in SC state tables.
SC DNR 2026 · checked · likely · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Atlantic guitarfishNo saw — just the flattened body. Tell them apartNot listed by South Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
A ray wearing a chainsaw — flattened shark-like body led by a long, toothed saw. More on the smalltooth sawfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Smalltooth sawfish in other states6 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask2
Can you keep smalltooth sawfish in South Carolina?
No. Harvest is prohibited in South Carolina. Release it in the water where you can. Federally endangered (ESA); no harvest anywhere. Not listed in SC state tables.
How current is this South Carolina smalltooth sawfish 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 smalltooth sawfish in South Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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