2026 regulation year
Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound 2026 — South Carolina Fishing Regulations
South Carolina statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of South Carolina's 2026 fishing rules — covering Red drum (redfish), Spotted seatrout (speckled trout). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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Per-species rules on Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound
Red drum (redfish) regulations →
15–23 in slot, 2 / day (→ 18–25 in, 1 / day from July 1, 2026)
Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) regulations →
14 in min, 10 / day
Official source
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative 2026 South Carolina fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official South Carolina fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.
Other special-regulation waters in South Carolina
- ACE Basin (Ashepoo + Combahee + Edisto Rivers)
- Atlantic coast (Little River Inlet to Hilton Head)
- Beaufort + Port Royal Sound
- Bonneau Ferry WMA Lake (SCDNR State Lake, Berkeley County)
- Charleston Harbor + Cooper / Wando / Ashley Rivers (tidal)
- Chattooga River (SC/GA Wild & Scenic River corridor)
- Congaree + Wateree rivers
- Cooper River
- Dargan's Pond (SCDNR State Lake, Darlington County)
- Draper WMA Lakes (SCDNR State Lakes, York County)
- Eastatoee Creek (Eastatoee Creek Heritage Preserve)
- Edisto River
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound?
- Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override South Carolina's statewide 2026 rules, covering Red drum (redfish) and Spotted seatrout (speckled trout). One of them reads: "15–23 in slot, 2 / day (→ 18–25 in, 1 / day from July 1, 2026)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound?
- Yes. Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound is in South Carolina, so a valid South Carolina fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide South Carolina rules.
- Do Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound's special rules replace South Carolina's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. South Carolina's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound?
- Red drum (redfish) and Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) have a water-body-specific rule on Hilton Head + Calibogue Sound, each linking to its full South Carolina regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide South Carolina limits.