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
Must be released immediately.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Often mistaken for
Red hindRed spots on pale body — the inverse pattern. 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
Chocolate body absolutely covered in tiny white speckles. More on the speckled hind page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Speckled hind in other states11 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask3
Can you keep speckled hind in South Carolina?
No. Harvest is prohibited in South Carolina. Release it in the water where you can.
What is the South Carolina record speckled hind?
45 lb, Little River (1973).
How current is this South Carolina speckled hind 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 speckled hind in South Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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