South Carolina state waters, out to 3 miles
SC DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Atlantic migratory group, Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Often mistaken for
King mackerelLateral line drops sharply mid-body; spots fade with size. Tell them apart
False albacoreWavy worm-lines on the back, no spots. Tell them apartNot listed by South Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
South Carolina state record
SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Gold-bronze spots on the flanks, no lateral-line dip, black front dorsal patch; smaller than a king. More on the Spanish mackerel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spanish mackerel in other states14 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for Spanish mackerel in South Carolina?
12 in fork length. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many Spanish mackerel can you keep in South Carolina?
15/day.
When is Spanish mackerel season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the South Carolina record Spanish mackerel?
11 lb, Myrtle Beach (1983).
How current is this South Carolina Spanish mackerel 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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