2026 regulation year
South Carolina Striped bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
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Last updated
Santee Cooper (Lake Marion + Lake Moultrie) is the world's strongest inland landlocked striped bass population — striped bass were trapped above the Cooper River dams in 1941 and adapted to landlocked life over 80+ years. After a population decline through the 2010s SCDNR raised the minimum to 26 inches and dropped the daily limit to 3 fish on the Santee Cooper system. Lake Murray on the Saluda River runs a separate, lower-pressure striped fishery on a 21-inch minimum + 5-fish bag, supported by an annual blueback herring stocking program. Lake Hartwell + Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) on the GA/SC Savannah River share striped bass management with Georgia. Striped bass in the lower Cooper River below the dams are part of the Atlantic anadromous run and fall under separate spring spawning closures.
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Season
Santee Cooper (Lakes Marion + Moultrie + connecting waters): harvest open Oct 1 – June 15, CLOSED June 16 – Sept 30 (summer thermal-stress closure), 26 in min, 3 / day. Lake Murray + most inland reservoirs open year-round (Murray 21 in min Oct 1 – May 31, any length June 1 – Sept 30, 5 / day). Cooper River below Pinopolis Dam has spring spawning closures on listed tributaries — check current SCDNR notices before fishing the lower river in March – May.
– Santee Cooper (Lakes Marion + Moultrie + connecting waters)
Striped bass harvest open — 26 in min, 3 / day
– Santee Cooper (Lakes Marion + Moultrie)
CLOSED to striped bass harvest — summer thermal-stress closure
– Lake Murray + most inland reservoirs
Year-round; Murray 21 in min Oct 1 – May 31, any length June 1 – Sept 30, 5 / day
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 3 / day Santee Cooper (Marion + Moultrie + connecting rivers + Cooper River); 5 / day Lake Murray + most inland reservoirs; 10 / day combined striped + hybrid Lake Hartwell + Lake Thurmond
- Possession
- Same as daily bag (10 Lake Hartwell + Lake Thurmond)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 26 in min Santee Cooper system (Oct 1 – June 15); 21 in min Lake Murray (Oct 1 – May 31; any length June 1 – Sept 30); Lake Hartwell + Lake Thurmond no minimum but only 3 of the 10 may exceed 26 in (GA/SC reciprocal)
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; live-bait + planer boards permitted; snagging prohibited
- Santee Cooper: 26 in min, 3 / day — strictly enforced; harvest CLOSED June 16 – Sept 30
- Cooper River below Pinopolis Dam: spring spawning closures on listed tributaries — confirm with SCDNR before fishing March – May
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific South Carolina waters:
Lake Marion
26 in min, 3 / day; open Oct 1 – June 15, closed June 16 – Sept 30; Santee Cooper flagship
Lake Moultrie
26 in min, 3 / day; open Oct 1 – June 15, closed June 16 – Sept 30; Santee Cooper lower lake
Lake Murray
21 in min Oct 1 – May 31 (any length June 1 – Sept 30), 5 / day; blueback herring forage base
Lake Hartwell
10 / day combined striped + hybrid, only 3 over 26 in; GA/SC reciprocal
Lake Thurmond / Clarks Hill Lake
10 / day combined striped + hybrid, only 3 over 26 in; GA/SC reciprocal
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 striped bass rules on this page are sourced from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources's official striped bass regulation page.
Visit official South Carolina fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Striped 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 striped bass season in South Carolina?
- Santee Cooper (Lakes Marion + Moultrie + connecting waters): harvest open Oct 1 – June 15, CLOSED June 16 – Sept 30 (summer thermal-stress closure), 26 in min, 3 / day. Lake Murray + most inland reservoirs open year-round (Murray 21 in min Oct 1 – May 31, any length June 1 – Sept 30, 5 / day). Cooper River below Pinopolis Dam has spring spawning closures on listed tributaries — check current SCDNR notices before fishing the lower river in March – May. Those are the 2026 South Carolina dates; always confirm against South Carolina Department of Natural Resources before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
- What is the South Carolina bag limit for striped bass?
- The South Carolina daily bag limit for striped bass is 3 / day Santee Cooper (Marion + Moultrie + connecting rivers + Cooper River); 5 / day Lake Murray + most inland reservoirs; 10 / day combined striped + hybrid Lake Hartwell + Lake Thurmond. The possession limit is Same as daily bag (10 Lake Hartwell + Lake Thurmond). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size striped bass can you keep in South Carolina?
- The South Carolina size rule for striped bass is 26 in min Santee Cooper system (Oct 1 – June 15); 21 in min Lake Murray (Oct 1 – May 31; any length June 1 – Sept 30); Lake Hartwell + Lake Thurmond no minimum but only 3 of the 10 may exceed 26 in (GA/SC reciprocal).
- Do you need a license to fish for striped bass in South Carolina?
- Yes. South Carolina requires a valid fishing license to fish for striped 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 striped bass in South Carolina?
- Yes. In South Carolina, striped bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; live-bait + planer boards permitted; snagging prohibited; Santee Cooper: 26 in min, 3 / day — strictly enforced; harvest CLOSED June 16 – Sept 30; Cooper River below Pinopolis Dam: spring spawning closures on listed tributaries — confirm with SCDNR before fishing March – May.
- Do specific South Carolina waters have different striped bass rules?
- Yes. 5 named South Carolina waters carry rules that override the statewide striped bass regulation, including Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Lake Murray, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.