Red Snapper in South Carolina
South Carolina rules and water for red snapper.
- 2 a daylimit
- 37 lb 8 ozstate record
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South Carolina Red Snapper by the numbers
Coastal anglers keeping red snapper work to "2 per person per day in state waters".
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 51), read November 9, 2026.
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SCDNR lists red snapper in its Porgies and Snappers table with the bag and size below.
Season note: Possession prohibited in federal waters.
This is a snapper-grouper complex fish: federal catch limits can close it offshore, though the guide says state waters stay open.
2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide, valid August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027 (online guide; PDF page 51), read November 9, 2026.
Record-book red snapper from South Carolina
| SCDNR listing | Weight | Water or place | Year | List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Snapper | 37 lb 8 oz | Little River | 1964 | saltwater |
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.
Photo of Red Snapper: Pen Waggener, CC BY 2.0
red snapper in South Carolina: what anglers ask
Which South Carolina limit applies to red snapper?
The saltwater row reads: 2 per person per day in state waters; 20-inch TL in state waters; closed: Possession prohibited in federal waters.
Do some South Carolina waters change the red snapper rule?
None; its general row applies on every water.
How heavy is the top red snapper on the SCDNR record list?
37 lb 8 oz out of Little River, 1964.
What waters does SCDNR list for red snapper?
It is a coastal fish: the sound, inlet and reef pages and the saltwater piers are the place to start.
Is red snapper on the South Carolina game fish list?
The saltwater rows cover it; it is not on the freshwater game fish list.
Which SCDNR license do I buy before targeting red snapper?
Anglers 16 and older need a South Carolina saltwater fishing license; SCDNR prints $15 for a resident annual license and $75 for a nonresident annual license.
What does the dash mean in the red snapper record weight?
Pounds first, then ounces after the dash; a plain number is pounds.
Does the Carolina guide print a possession cap for red snapper?
No possession multiple appears in the 2026-2027 guide pages read; the daily figure is what is printed.
Pick a water for red snapper
The linked pages carry maps, landings and guide rows.