Blog|Sign In|Create account
FISHGet started

Fishing laws

Myrtle Beach fishing laws

What you can keep from the Myrtle Beach surf and piers, how big it has to be, and what is in season each month. South Carolina limits last checked October 7, 2026.

This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Rules change, usually on July 1. Before you keep a fish, check the official SCDNR regulations. Total length (TL) is measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail, mouth closed; fork length (FL) to the fork of the tail.

Can I keep it?

Pick the fish and type its length. Measure on a flat surface: total length from the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the tail; fork length to the fork.

The ruleSpanish Mackerel: keep 12 in fork length minimum; 15 per person per day.

Before you fish

  • Shore anglers may not fish within 50 ft of either side or the end of an ocean fishing pier (Horry County).
  • City of Myrtle Beach: stay at least 50 ft from people in the water; swimmers have right of way; no fishing in front of a beach-franchise umbrella line.
  • Land-based shark fishing is prohibited in Horry County (within 1 mile of shore), Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach; North Myrtle Beach bans baiting or fishing for sharks within 1 mile and bans chumming. A 2025 lawsuit challenges the county ordinance; outcome not found. Treat sharks as release-only incidental catches.
  • Anglers 16 and older need a SC saltwater license for surf and inlet fishing. Fishing from a licensed public fishing pier is exempt.
  • Since July 1, 2026: natural bait on hooks 4/0 or larger when fishing for gamefish (red drum, spotted seatrout, cobia, tarpon, striped bass) requires a non-stainless, non-offset circle hook.

What you can catch, month by month

Pick a month. The fish most likely to be around come first, each with the size you need and how many you can keep.

Best time to fishWorst

October at Myrtle Beach

A bluefish chasing a school of silver baitfish just under the surface in the surf
BluefishBest
SizeNo size limitKeep per day5 per person per day (7 on for-hire vessels)SeasonOpen year-round
A southern flounder camouflaged on a sandy bottom in shallow coastal water
FlounderBest
Size16 in TL minimumKeep per day5 per person per dayPer boat10 per boat per daySeasonOpen year-round
  • In effect since July 1, 2021
  • North Carolina rules apply north of the state line (Little River / Hog Inlet area)
A king mackerel, long and silver with finlets, swimming in clear green water
King MackerelBest
Size24 in FL minimumKeep per day3 per person per daySeasonOpen year-round
A red drum with its bronze body and single black tail spot swimming over sand in shallow surf
Red DrumBest
Size18 in TL to 25 in TL (slot)Keep per day1 per person per dayPer boat2 per boat per daySeasonOpen year-round
  • Effective July 1, 2026 (was 15-23 in, 2 per person)
  • Rod and reel and gig only; gigging closed Dec 1 to Feb 28
  • Possession prohibited in federal waters
  • Gamefish: cannot be sold
  • Circle hook required with natural bait at 4/0 and up
A sheepshead with bold black vertical bars beside a barnacle-covered pier piling
SheepsheadBest
Size14 in TL minimumKeep per day10 per person per dayPer boat30 per boat per daySeasonOpen year-round
A Spanish mackerel with yellow-gold spots on silver sides swimming over sand in the surf
Spanish MackerelBest
Size12 in FL minimumKeep per day15 per person per daySeasonOpen year-round
A speckled trout covered in round black spots swimming in shallow water
Speckled TroutBest
Size14 in TL minimumKeep per day10 per person per daySeasonOpen year-round
  • Rod and reel and gig only; gigging closed Dec 1 to Feb 28
  • Gamefish: cannot be sold
  • Circle hook required with natural bait at 4/0 and up
A spot with the dark spot behind its gill cover swimming over sand
SpotBest
SizeNo size limitKeep per day50 per person per day combined (Atlantic croaker + spot + whiting)SeasonOpen year-round
  • Hook and line only
A whiting (southern kingfish) with its single chin barbel swimming near the sandy bottom
WhitingBest
SizeNo size limitKeep per day50 per person per day combined (Atlantic croaker + spot + whiting)SeasonOpen year-round
  • Hook and line only
A black drum with chin barbels swimming beside jetty rocks over sand
Black DrumGood
Size14 in TL to 27 in TL (slot)Keep per day5 per person per daySeasonOpen year-round
An Atlantic croaker with brassy speckled sides swimming near the bottom
CroakerGood
SizeNo size limitKeep per day50 per person per day combined (Atlantic croaker + spot + whiting)SeasonOpen year-round
  • Hook and line only
A Florida pompano with yellow throat and fins swimming in the clear wash over sand fleas
PompanoGood
SizeNo size limitKeep per dayNo bag limit listedSeasonNo state regulations listed
A weakfish (gray trout) with fine dark speckles swimming over sand
WeakfishGood
Size12 in TL minimumKeep per day1 per person per daySeasonOpen year-round
A cobia with its dark side stripe swimming in clear water
CobiaFew around
Size36 in FL minimumKeep per day1 per person per dayPer boat6 per boat per daySeasonNorth of 32 deg 31.0 min N (includes Myrtle Beach): no May closure
  • Rod and reel and gig only in state waters
  • Gamefish: cannot be sold
  • Circle hook required with natural bait at 4/0 and up

The year at a glance

Season from the FISH charts for Myrtle Beach; limits from South Carolina.

FishSizeKeep per daySeason at Myrtle Beach
Spanish Mackerel12 in FL min15 per person per day
JFMAMJJASOND
BluefishNone listed5 per person per day (7 on for-hire vessels)
JFMAMJJASOND
Red Drum18 in TL to 25 in TL (slot)1 per person per day
JFMAMJJASOND
Flounder16 in TL min5 per person per day
JFMAMJJASOND
WhitingNone listed50 per person per day combined (Atlantic croaker + spot + whiting)
JFMAMJJASOND
PompanoNone listedNone listed
JFMAMJJASOND
Black Drum14 in TL to 27 in TL (slot)5 per person per day
JFMAMJJASOND
Speckled Trout14 in TL min10 per person per day
JFMAMJJASOND
Weakfish12 in TL min1 per person per day
JFMAMJJASOND
SpotNone listed50 per person per day combined (Atlantic croaker + spot + whiting)
JFMAMJJASOND
CroakerNone listed50 per person per day combined (Atlantic croaker + spot + whiting)
JFMAMJJASOND
Sheepshead14 in TL min10 per person per day
JFMAMJJASOND
King Mackerel24 in FL min3 per person per day
JFMAMJJASOND
Cobia36 in FL min1 per person per day
JFMAMJJASOND

Release, restricted or banned from the beach

Sharks (incidental only)

Land-based shark fishing is prohibited in Horry County, Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach, and North Myrtle Beach bans it within 1 mile. FISH never ranks sharks as a target. Release any shark you hook by accident.

Size: Varies: large coastal 54 in FL; hammerheads 78 in FL; sharpnose and bonnethead no minimum. Limit: Sharpnose 1 and bonnethead 1 per person per day; large coastal 1 per vessel per trip. Season: See official page.

  • LOCAL: land-based shark fishing prohibited in Horry County, Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach; North Myrtle Beach bans it within 1 mile
  • Prohibited species (sand tiger, sandbar, dusky and others) must be released without removing from the water
  • Non-stainless, non-offset circle hooks required with natural bait

Stingrays (hazard)

Common incidental summer catch. Listed for safety only.

Season: No South Carolina rule on file.

Sea Catfish (hazard)

Possession is prohibited in SC (release immediately). Listed for safety only.

Limit: Possession prohibited. Season: Release immediately.

Sources

Plan around the fish you can keep

FISH rates every fish for the time you pick, with the tide, the weather and the water temperature, and reminds you of the limit before you keep one.

Create your account
Myrtle Beach fishing laws: size limits, bag limits and seasons | FISH