Brown Trout in South Carolina
South Carolina rules and water for brown trout.
- 5 a daylimit
- 17 lb 9.5 ozstate record
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South Carolina Brown Trout by the numbers
Across most South Carolina fresh water, brown trout carry a size rule of any length and a daily count of 5.
It turns up on SCDNR landing lists for 21 waters, Lake Jocassee, Broad River and Saluda River at the top. It is a game fish under the guide's definition. SCDNR lists 1 state record entry.
2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide, valid August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027 (online guide; PDF page 32), read November 9, 2026.
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Lengths are total length, and 40 game fish a day is the ceiling across species.
| Water as printed | Size | Daily |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide except the water bodies listed below: | Any length | 5 |
| Waters on Georgia Border | Any length | 5 |
| Chauga River (SC Hwy 290 [Cassidy Bridge Road] upstream to Bone Camp Creek) | Any length | Nov. 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only |
| Chauga River (SC Hwy 290 [Cassidy Bridge Road] upstream to Bone Camp Creek) | Any length | May 15 – Oct. 31: 5 |
| Chattooga River (Hwy 28 to Reed Creek) | Any length | Nov. 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only |
| Chattooga River (Hwy 28 to Reed Creek) | Any length | May 15 – Oct. 31: 5 |
| Cheohee Creek | Any length | 5 |
| Cheohee Creek (portion that runs through the Piedmont Forestry Center) Open Mon, Wed, Sat or as posted | Any length | Nov. 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only |
| Cheohee Creek (portion that runs through the Piedmont Forestry Center) Open Mon, Wed, Sat or as posted | Any length | May 15 – Oct. 31: 5 |
| Corbin Creek (from confluence with Howard Creek upstream to SC Hwy 130) | Any length | Nov. 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only |
| Corbin Creek (from confluence with Howard Creek upstream to SC Hwy 130) | Any length | May 15 – Oct. 31: 5 |
| Devils Fork Creek | Any length | Nov. 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only |
2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide, valid August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027 (online guide; PDF page 32), read November 9, 2026.
Record-book brown trout from South Carolina
| SCDNR listing | Weight | Water or place | Year | List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 17 lb 9.5 oz | Lake Jocassee | 1987 | freshwater |
SCDNR writes weights in pounds and ounces; this page reproduces them and omits the angler.
South Carolina state record fish as listed by SCDNR (record list), read November 9, 2026.
Lakes and creeks for brown trout in South Carolina
Landing records from SCDNR mention this fish at the places below; read that as an occurrence note only.
Lakes listing brown trout
- Lake Jocassee7,500 acres
Rivers listing brown trout
- Broad RiverBeaufort County and 8 other counties
- Saluda RiverAnderson County and 6 other counties
- Chattooga RiverOconee County
- Chauga RiverOconee County
- Eastatoe CreekPickens County
- Cedar CreekLancaster County and 2 other counties
- Middle Saluda RiverGreenville County
- North Saluda RiverGreenville County
- South Saluda RiverGreenville County
- North Santee RiverGeorgetown County
- East Fork Chattooga RiverOconee County
- Little Eastatoe CreekPickens County
- Bee CreekOconee County
- Cheohee CreekOconee County
- Corbin CreekOconee County
- Crane CreekOconee County
- North Fork Fall CreekOconee County
- Rocky Fork CreekOconee County
SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026.
Life history of brown trout from SCDNR
SCDNR keeps a species page with identification and habitat notes: dnr.sc.gov.
Photo of Brown Trout: robposse, CC BY 2.0
brown trout in South Carolina: what anglers ask
Which South Carolina limit applies to brown trout?
The guide row reads: size any length, daily 5.
Do some South Carolina waters change the brown trout rule?
Yes: the trout table gives named streams and Lake Jocassee their own rows.
How heavy is the top brown trout on the SCDNR record list?
17 lb 9.5 oz out of Lake Jocassee, 1987.
What waters does SCDNR list for brown trout?
Lake Jocassee, Broad River and Saluda River, plus others: 21 pages.
Is brown trout on the South Carolina game fish list?
Yes, by the guide's definition.
Which SCDNR license do I buy before targeting brown trout?
Anglers 16 and older need a South Carolina freshwater fishing license; SCDNR prints $10 for a resident annual license and $35 for a nonresident annual license.
What does the dash mean in the brown trout record weight?
Pounds first, then ounces after the dash; a plain number is pounds.
Does the Carolina guide print a possession cap for brown trout?
No possession multiple appears in the 2026-2027 guide pages read; the daily figure is what is printed.
Pick a water for brown trout
The linked pages carry maps, landings and guide rows.