South Carolina fishing seasons

65 species profiles in our database list South Carolina waters among their fisheries — including Spotted Bass, White Perch, Bowfin, Longnose Gar. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.

Best months to fish in South Carolina

Months when the largest share of South Carolina's profiled species are in season, from our database. Full calendar: What's Biting.

South Carolina fishing calendar, month by month

Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.

Freshwater species in South Carolina

Species	Season
Bantam Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Bigmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Bullhead	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Blue Catfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Blue Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Bowfin	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Brown Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Butter Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Channel Catfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Dollar Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Flier	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Golden Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Greater Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Jau Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Logperch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Longnose Gar	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Longnose Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Marble Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Mud Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Northern Hogsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Orangespotted Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Peacock Bass	Varies by region and regulation
Pirate Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Redbreast Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
River Carpsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Sacramento Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Shadow Bass	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Shorthead Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Silver Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Smallmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Snail Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Spotted Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Spotted Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Stonecat	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Swampfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Tadpole Madtom	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Vundu Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
White Catfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
White Perch	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
White Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Yellow Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Yellowfin Shiner	Often most active in warm months; check local rules

Saltwater & brackish species in South Carolina

Species	Season
Atlantic Threadfin	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Basking Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Blacktip Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Blacktip Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Dusky Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Grey Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Inshore Lizardfish	Varies by region and regulation
Lemon Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Northern Stargazer	Varies by region and regulation
Nurse Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Oceanic Whitetip Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Red Drum	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Salmon Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Sand Tiger Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Sandbar Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Sharksucker	Varies by region and regulation
Silky Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Southern Flounder	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Spinner Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Spot	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Weakfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov

Where to fish in South Carolina

• Santee Cooper (SC)
• Carolinas
• Carolina sounds

Fishing in the South

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