Black Sea Bass

Season in Myrtle Beach

SCDNR: in SC waters year-round; older fish offshore on reefs, smaller fish leave shallow water to overwinter deeper and return in spring. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Tight to pier pilings and jetty rocks; bigger fish on nearshore reefs and hard bottom by boat.

On the bottom right against structure: pier pilings, jetty rocks, reefs.

What to look for

Structure: pilings, rocks, live bottom. Many short fish mean you need to move to bigger structure.

What to throw

Bucktail or jighead with a 4 to 5 in paddle tail1/2 to 1 oz, 4 to 5 in tail. Slow hops along the bottom: lift, drop, let it touch, repeat.

Bait

Squid strips (about 3 in by 1/2 in), Cut mullet or bluefish, Shrimp, Crab. Two-hook dropper rig with 1/0 to 3/0 circle hooks on short droppers, sinker just heavy enough to hold the bottom.

Leader

Short 2 to 3 in droppers with 1/0 to 3/0 circle hooks.

Common mistakes

• Fishing open sand away from structure
• Keeping fish under the 13 in limit (many pier fish are short)

Landing

Swing small fish up; use a pier net for big ones.

Handling

• Sharp dorsal spines
• Sharp gill cover spines

Smooth the dorsal fin down from front to back before you grip it.

Keep or release

13 in TL minimum, 7 per person per day, no closed season in state waters. A dehooking tool and ready descending device are required for snapper-grouper fishing.

Recipes for black sea bass

Typical: About 12 in, 1 lb. Large: 3 lb and up (big males with a blue hump). SC record 8 lb 3 oz (1995).

South Carolina limits

• Minimum: 13 in TL
• Maximum: none
• Bag: 7 per person per day
• Season: No closed season in state waters (out to 3 miles)
• SC law: 5 per person per day or the federal limit, whichever is higher
• A dehooking tool and a ready descending device are required for snapper-grouper fishing

Last checked 2026-10-11. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. SC Department of Natural Resources fishing regulations.

Sources

• SCDNR species profile: black sea bass (Official source)
• NWS Wilmington: Myrtle Beach water temperature by month (Springmaid Pier, 2005-2025) (Official source)
• NOAA NEFSC Essential Fish Habitat source document: black sea bass (2nd ed.) (Official source)
• SCDNR saltwater game fish records (Official source)
• SC snapper grouper complex size and catch limits (eRegulations), last updated Aug 5, 2026 (Official source)
• SC Code of Laws Title 50 Chapter 5 (Sec. 50-5-1705 catch limits incl. whiting = Menticirrhus spp., spadefish; black sea bass limit provision) (Official source)

All the fish of Myrtle Beach