When is blue catfish season in South Carolina?

South Carolina keeps blue catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What size blue catfish can you keep in South Carolina?

The South Carolina size rule for blue catfish is No minimum size. No more than 2 blue catfish over 32 in per day on Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the upper Santee River, the Pee Dee River (NC line – Highway 301 bridge), and the Congaree + Wateree rivers. Trophy rule: South Carolina protects trophy blues with a 2-fish-over-32-inch daily cap on the premier waters (Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, upper Santee River, Pee Dee River NC-line-to-Hwy-301, and the Congaree + Wateree rivers). Santee Cooper (Lake Marion) is where blue catfish were first introduced to the state in 1964 — the origin of the South's trophy blue-cat fishery. SC state record: 109 lb 4 oz (1991)..

Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in South Carolina?

Yes. South Carolina requires a valid fishing license to fish for blue catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a South Carolina license — compare resident and non-resident South Carolina fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in South Carolina?

Yes. In South Carolina, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, set hooks, and jugs permitted under SCDNR nongame-device rules + tagging; Tiered daily limit (2026 Act 120): 25 / day on Marion, Moultrie, upper Santee + Pee Dee (NC line – Hwy 301); 150 / day on all other waters; No more than 2 blue catfish over 32 in / day on the premier waters plus the Congaree + Wateree rivers; Freshwater fishing licence required ages 16+ (resident annual $10 / non-resident annual $35).

Do specific South Carolina waters have different blue catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named South Carolina waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Upper Santee River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

South Carolina Blue catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Ictalurus furcatus

Last updated May 30, 2026

South Carolina is the birthplace of the modern trophy blue catfish fishery — blue catfish were first stocked into Lake Marion (the upper Santee Cooper reservoir) in 1964, and from there the species spread into almost every drainage in the state. The Santee Cooper lakes (Marion + Moultrie), Lake Wateree, the Cooper River, and the tidal Pee Dee + Wateree + Congaree rivers all grow blues into the trophy class; the SC state record stands at 109 lb 4 oz (1991). In May 2026 South Carolina replaced its earlier flat statewide rule with a tiered creel structure (Act 120 / Bill 337): no more than 25 blue catfish per day on the premier waters — Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the upper Santee River, and the Pee Dee River from the North Carolina line to the Highway 301 bridge — and 150 per day on all other state waters. A separate trophy-protection rule caps the harvest at 2 fish over 32 inches per day on those same premier waters plus the Congaree and Wateree rivers.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide. Daily limit: 25 / day on Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the upper Santee River, and the Pee Dee River (NC line to the Highway 301 bridge); 150 / day on all other state waters (2026 Act 120). No more than 2 fish over 32 inches per day on those premier waters plus the Congaree and Wateree rivers.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 25 / day on Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the upper Santee River + the Pee Dee River (NC line – Highway 301 bridge); 150 / day on all other state waters (2026 Act 120 / Bill 337)
Possession: Same as daily bag

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum size. No more than 2 blue catfish over 32 in per day on Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the upper Santee River, the Pee Dee River (NC line – Highway 301 bridge), and the Congaree + Wateree rivers
Trophy rule: South Carolina protects trophy blues with a 2-fish-over-32-inch daily cap on the premier waters (Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, upper Santee River, Pee Dee River NC-line-to-Hwy-301, and the Congaree + Wateree rivers). Santee Cooper (Lake Marion) is where blue catfish were first introduced to the state in 1964 — the origin of the South's trophy blue-cat fishery. SC state record: 109 lb 4 oz (1991).

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, set hooks, and jugs permitted under SCDNR nongame-device rules + tagging
Tiered daily limit (2026 Act 120): 25 / day on Marion, Moultrie, upper Santee + Pee Dee (NC line – Hwy 301); 150 / day on all other waters
No more than 2 blue catfish over 32 in / day on the premier waters plus the Congaree + Wateree rivers
Freshwater fishing licence required ages 16+ (resident annual $10 / non-resident annual $35)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific South Carolina waters:

Lake Marion
25 / day, no more than 2 over 32 in; Santee Cooper flagship — where SC blue catfish were first stocked (1964)
Lake Moultrie
25 / day, no more than 2 over 32 in; Santee Cooper lower lake; produces trophy blues to 100+ lb
Upper Santee River
25 / day, no more than 2 over 32 in; premier-water tier
Pee Dee River (NC line – Highway 301 bridge)
25 / day, no more than 2 over 32 in; premier-water tier
Congaree + Wateree rivers
150 / day, but no more than 2 over 32 in (trophy-protection waters)

Official source

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative 2026 South Carolinafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The blue catfish rules on this page are sourced from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources's official blue catfish regulation page.

Visit official South Carolina fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Blue catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any South Carolina trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is blue catfish season in South Carolina?: South Carolina keeps blue catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the South Carolina bag limit for blue catfish?: The South Carolina daily bag limit for blue catfish is 25 / day on Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the upper Santee River + the Pee Dee River (NC line – Highway 301 bridge); 150 / day on all other state waters (2026 Act 120 / Bill 337). The possession limit is Same as daily bag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size blue catfish can you keep in South Carolina?: The South Carolina size rule for blue catfish is No minimum size. No more than 2 blue catfish over 32 in per day on Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, the upper Santee River, the Pee Dee River (NC line – Highway 301 bridge), and the Congaree + Wateree rivers. Trophy rule: South Carolina protects trophy blues with a 2-fish-over-32-inch daily cap on the premier waters (Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, upper Santee River, Pee Dee River NC-line-to-Hwy-301, and the Congaree + Wateree rivers). Santee Cooper (Lake Marion) is where blue catfish were first introduced to the state in 1964 — the origin of the South's trophy blue-cat fishery. SC state record: 109 lb 4 oz (1991)..
Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in South Carolina?: Yes. South Carolina requires a valid fishing license to fish for blue catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a South Carolina license — compare resident and non-resident South Carolina fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in South Carolina?: Yes. In South Carolina, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, set hooks, and jugs permitted under SCDNR nongame-device rules + tagging; Tiered daily limit (2026 Act 120): 25 / day on Marion, Moultrie, upper Santee + Pee Dee (NC line – Hwy 301); 150 / day on all other waters; No more than 2 blue catfish over 32 in / day on the premier waters plus the Congaree + Wateree rivers; Freshwater fishing licence required ages 16+ (resident annual $10 / non-resident annual $35).
Do specific South Carolina waters have different blue catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named South Carolina waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Upper Santee River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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