When is channel catfish season in South Carolina?

South Carolina keeps channel 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 channel catfish?

The South Carolina daily bag limit for channel catfish is No statewide daily creel limit (hook and line). The possession limit is No statewide possession limit. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size channel catfish can you keep in South Carolina?

The South Carolina size rule for channel catfish is No statewide size limit. Trophy rule: Lake Moultrie (Santee Cooper) produced the all-tackle world-record channel catfish — 58 lb, caught in 1964 and still the world record more than 60 years later..

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

Yes. South Carolina requires a valid fishing license to fish for channel 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 channel catfish in South Carolina?

Yes. In South Carolina, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, set hooks, and jugs permitted under SCDNR nongame-device rules + tagging; No statewide daily creel or size limit on channel catfish (nongame fish); Freshwater fishing licence required ages 16+ (resident annual $10 / non-resident annual $35).

Do specific South Carolina waters have different channel catfish rules?

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

2026 regulation year

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

Ictalurus punctatus

Last updated May 30, 2026

South Carolina holds the all-tackle world-record channel catfish — a 58-pound fish taken from Lake Moultrie in the Santee Cooper system in 1964, a record that has stood for more than 60 years. Channel catfish have been stocked extensively across the state and are found statewide in creeks, rivers, reservoirs, and ponds — Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Lake Wateree, Lake Murray, and the Cooper + Santee + Pee Dee rivers all hold strong populations. South Carolina classifies channel catfish as a nongame fish: there is no statewide daily creel limit and no size limit on hook-and-line harvest. The only catfish under a statewide creel rule in SC is the blue catfish.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide. No statewide daily creel limit and no size limit on hook-and-line harvest (nongame fish).

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No statewide daily creel limit (hook and line)
Possession: No statewide possession limit

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide size limit
Trophy rule: Lake Moultrie (Santee Cooper) produced the all-tackle world-record channel catfish — 58 lb, caught in 1964 and still the world record more than 60 years later.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, set hooks, and jugs permitted under SCDNR nongame-device rules + tagging
No statewide daily creel or size limit on channel catfish (nongame fish)
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 Moultrie
No statewide limit; world-record channel catfish water (58 lb, 1964)
Lake Marion
No statewide limit; Santee Cooper flagship channel-cat water
Lake Wateree
No statewide limit; Catawba-chain channel-cat fishery
Lake Murray
No statewide limit; midlands channel + blue cat fishery
Cooper River
No statewide limit; tidal channel-cat fishery below Pinopolis Dam

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

Visit official South Carolina fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Channel 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 channel catfish season in South Carolina?: South Carolina keeps channel 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 channel catfish?: The South Carolina daily bag limit for channel catfish is No statewide daily creel limit (hook and line). The possession limit is No statewide possession limit. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size channel catfish can you keep in South Carolina?: The South Carolina size rule for channel catfish is No statewide size limit. Trophy rule: Lake Moultrie (Santee Cooper) produced the all-tackle world-record channel catfish — 58 lb, caught in 1964 and still the world record more than 60 years later..
Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in South Carolina?: Yes. South Carolina requires a valid fishing license to fish for channel 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 channel catfish in South Carolina?: Yes. In South Carolina, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, set hooks, and jugs permitted under SCDNR nongame-device rules + tagging; No statewide daily creel or size limit on channel catfish (nongame fish); Freshwater fishing licence required ages 16+ (resident annual $10 / non-resident annual $35).
Do specific South Carolina waters have different channel catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named South Carolina waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion, Lake Wateree, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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