Striped bass fishing in South Carolina

A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day. This total shall not exceed more than the limits or exceptions listed below. Any game fish or species with a size limit listed must be landed with head and tail fin intact. 

Special limits and regulations apply in:

Ashepoo River:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Ashley River:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Back River in Jasper County and the Back River in Berkeley County:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Black River:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Black Mingo Creek: 

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek: 

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Combahee River:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Cooper River system:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Coosawhatchie River: 

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Cuckholds Creek:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Edisto River:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Hartwell Lake: striped or hybrid bass or a combination; only 3 fish over 26-inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined striped bass or hybrid bass;

Lake Hartwell Tailwater: striped or hybrid bass or a combination; only 1 fish over 34-inches; bag limit = no more than 2 combined striped bass or hybrid bass;

Horseshoe Creek:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Intracoastal Waterway (Horry County):

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Lumber River: 

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Lynches River: 

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Murray Lake 

• October 1 to May31: minimum size = 21 inches; bag limit = 5 striped bass
• June 1 to September 30: no size limit; bag limit = 5 striped bass

Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Pocotaligo in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton Counties:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Russell Lake: striped or hybrid bass or a combination; only 1 fish over 34-inches; bag limit = no more than 2 combined striped bass or hybrid bass;

Salkehatchie and Little Salkehatchie Rivers: 

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Saluda River (Middle Reach, i.e., all waters of Saluda River from backwaters of Lake Murray at SC Hwy 395 upstream to Lake Greenwood Dam): 

• October 1 to May31: minimum size = 21-inches; bag limit = 5 striped bass
• June 1 - Sept. 30: no size limit; bag limit = 5 striped bass 

Sampit River: 

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Santee River system (includes lower reach of Saluda River): 

• October 1 to June 15: striped bass between 23 and 25 inches may be harvested except that one fish may be greater than 26 inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass;
• June 16 - September 30 closed except for Lower Saluda River where catch and release is allowed

Savannah River (lower reaches): bag limit = 2 striped bass, striped bass hybrids, white bass, or any combination of these species per person per day; minimum size = 27 inches total length. 

Thoroughfare Creek:

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Thurmond Lake: striped or hybrid bass or a combination; only 3 fish over 26-inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined striped bass or hybrid bass;

Tulifinny River: 

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Waccamaw River: 

• October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass
• June 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bass

Check with state parks, city reservoirs, or county parks for special limits and regulations that apply to those areas. For more information, see SCDNR website.