Fish guide
Pigfish
Orthopristis chrysoptera. Also called Hogfish, Grunt.
Season
NC DMF: caught in late spring and fall. UF/IFAS: moves offshore when nearshore water leaves its 57 to 97 F range. (Our inference)
Where to find them
Pier pilings, jetties and rough bottom.
On the bottom in schools, near structure.
What to look for
Small grunts that grunt when handled.
Bait
Shrimp, Squid, Bloodworms. Standard two-hook bottom rig, small hooks.
Leader
Light bottom rig.
Common mistakes
- Hooks too large
Landing
Swing it up.
Handling
- Dorsal spines
Smooth the dorsal fin down before gripping.
Keep or release
No SC limit found in the published tables. A favorite live bait for trout and flounder (UF/IFAS).
Typical: Under 9 in. Large: Up to about 15 in.
South Carolina limits
No state limit entry.
Last checked 2026-10-11. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. SC DNR fishing regulations.
Sources
- NC Division of Marine Fisheries: pigfish (Official source)
- UF/IFAS FA160: pigfish (temperature and salinity) (Official source)
- NWS Wilmington: Myrtle Beach water temperature by month (Springmaid Pier, 2005-2025) (Official source)
- FishBase species summary: Orthopristis chrysoptera (pigfish) (Official source)
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