2026 regulation year
South Carolina Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Micropterus nigricans
Last updated
South Carolina has NO statewide minimum length on largemouth bass — on most public waters, including the Santee Cooper twin-reservoir system (Lake Marion + Lake Moultrie), largemouth may be kept at any length under a 5-fish daily bag combined with smallmouth and redeye bass. Only smallmouth bass carry a statewide 12-inch minimum. A 14-inch largemouth minimum applies on a specific list of waters: Lake Murray and the Savannah-River chain (Lakes Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond / Clarks Hill, Tugaloo, Yonah; Stevens Creek Reservoir; the Chattooga + Savannah Rivers) — all on the 5-fish combined bag. Lake Wylie on the NC/SC border is jointly managed with North Carolina; Lake Hartwell + Lake Thurmond + Lake Russell on the Savannah River are jointly managed with Georgia. Lake Keowee and Lake Robinson (Greenville County) run a 12-inch minimum on a 10-fish combined bag.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round on all public waters.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + redeye); 10 / day combined on Lake Keowee + Lake Robinson (Greenville County)
- Possession
- 5 in possession (10 on Lake Keowee + Lake Robinson, Greenville County)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- No statewide minimum on largemouth (any length); smallmouth 12 in min statewide; 14 in min largemouth on Lake Murray + the Savannah chain (Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah, Stevens Creek Reservoir, Chattooga + Savannah Rivers); Lake Keowee + Lake Robinson (Greenville) 12 in min
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited
- Tournament boats follow SCDNR livewell + cull rules
- Trotlines + setlines prohibited for black bass statewide
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific South Carolina waters:
Lake Marion
Any-length largemouth, 5 / day combined; Santee Cooper flagship water
Lake Moultrie
Any-length largemouth, 5 / day combined; Santee Cooper lower lake
Lake Wylie
Any-length largemouth, 5 / day combined; NC/SC reciprocal boundary water
Lake Murray
14 in min largemouth, 5 / day combined
Lake Hartwell
14 in min largemouth, 5 / day combined; GA/SC reciprocal; Bassmaster Classic recurring venue
Lake Keowee
12 in min largemouth, 10 / day combined black bass
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 largemouth bass rules on this page are sourced from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources's official largemouth bass regulation page.
Visit official South Carolina fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Largemouth bass 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 largemouth bass season in South Carolina?
- South Carolina keeps largemouth bass 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 largemouth bass?
- The South Carolina daily bag limit for largemouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + redeye); 10 / day combined on Lake Keowee + Lake Robinson (Greenville County). The possession limit is 5 in possession (10 on Lake Keowee + Lake Robinson, Greenville County). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size largemouth bass can you keep in South Carolina?
- The South Carolina size rule for largemouth bass is No statewide minimum on largemouth (any length); smallmouth 12 in min statewide; 14 in min largemouth on Lake Murray + the Savannah chain (Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah, Stevens Creek Reservoir, Chattooga + Savannah Rivers); Lake Keowee + Lake Robinson (Greenville) 12 in min.
- Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in South Carolina?
- Yes. South Carolina requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, 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 largemouth bass in South Carolina?
- Yes. In South Carolina, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited; Tournament boats follow SCDNR livewell + cull rules; Trotlines + setlines prohibited for black bass statewide.
- Do specific South Carolina waters have different largemouth bass rules?
- Yes. 6 named South Carolina waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Lake Wylie, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.