Fall Fishing on the Grand Strand: New Red Drum Rules, License Basics and Cold-Water Etiquette

Photo: Richard R / Unsplash

When the beach towels go back in the closet, the fishing rods come out. Cooler water, quieter landings and fewer boats make the weeks between Veterans Day and the holidays a favorite stretch for many Grand Strand anglers, whether they are casting from the surf at dawn, working a creek mouth in Murrells Inlet or soaking bait off a pier. But anyone heading out this fall needs to know that the rules changed this year for the area’s most famous inshore fish, the red drum. If you have not fished since last season, what you remember about keeping a redfish is now out of date.

This guide walks through the new red drum regulations, the license rules that trip up visitors, current limits for the other fish you are likely to catch, and how to handle the cold-water months responsibly.

The big change: South Carolina’s new red drum rules

On July 1, 2026, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources put tighter red drum regulations into effect statewide. As reported by Live 5 News, the changes are:

• A new slot limit. Only red drum measuring 18 to 25 inches in total length may be kept. The old slot was 15 to 23 inches.
• A lower bag limit. One red drum per person per day, down from two.
• A lower boat limit. Two red drum per boat per day, down from six.
• A circle hook requirement. When fishing for gamefish such as red drum, cobia and tarpon with natural bait on hooks 4/0 or larger, anglers must use non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks. The rule does not apply to hooks smaller than 4/0 or to artificial lures.

Why the change? The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2024 regional stock assessment found that the southern Atlantic red drum population had declined to unsustainable levels, and SCDNR’s own state assessment showed similar results. The new limits are intended to cut harvest and give the population room to rebuild.

In practical terms, this means most red drum you catch this fall will go back in the water. That is not a bad thing. Redfish are among the hardest-fighting fish in the marsh, and catch-and-release fishing done well keeps them around for the next trip.

One more red drum rule for winter

South Carolina prohibits gigging for red drum and spotted seatrout from December 1 through the end of February. If you gig at night in the creeks, plan around that closure, which begins just after Thanksgiving week.

Licenses: who needs one and who does not

Under SCDNR rules, anyone 16 or older who harvests saltwater fish or shellfish, including finfish, oysters, clams, shrimp and crabs, needs a saltwater recreational fishing license. The state sells annual, temporary and three-year options through SCDNR’s licensing system.

There are a few important exemptions that matter for visitors:

• Licensed public fishing piers. If you fish from a pier that holds a state public pier license, its license covers you.
• Licensed charters and headboats. When you fish aboard a licensed for-hire vessel while it is under hire, you are covered.
• Simple crabbing gear. Using three or fewer drop nets, three or fewer fold-up traps, or three or fewer handlines with no hooks and a single bait (often called chicken-necking) is exempt.

Shrimp baiting is not exempt and requires a separate license. And remember that the license exemption on a pier applies only when that pier holds the state license; if you are unsure, ask at the pier office before you start fishing. For questions, SCDNR’s licensing office in Charleston can be reached at (843) 953-9301.

Current limits for the fish you are likely to catch

Here are the 2026-2027 limits for common inshore and surf species in South Carolina state waters, as published in the state’s fishing regulations guide. Lengths are total length unless noted.

• Spotted seatrout: 10 per person per day, 14-inch minimum. Seatrout are a declared gamefish, so native-caught fish may not be sold.
• Flounder (southern, summer and Gulf): 5 per person per day, up to 10 per boat, 16-inch minimum. Flounder may not be gigged in saltwater during daylight hours.
• Sheepshead: 10 per person per day, up to 30 per boat, 14-inch minimum.
• Black drum: 5 per person per day, 14- to 27-inch slot.
• Red drum: 1 per person per day, up to 2 per boat, 18- to 25-inch slot. Possession is prohibited in federal waters.
• Whiting, spot and Atlantic croaker: 50 per person per day in aggregate, hook and line only.

Regulations can change, and federal waters have their own rules. Always confirm the current limits with SCDNR before you keep a fish, and carry a measuring tape or a ruler sticker on your cooler. A fish that is a quarter-inch short is still short.

Where Grand Strand anglers fish in the fall

The Grand Strand gives you three very different kinds of water, often within a 20-minute drive of each other.

The surf

Wide beaches from Little River to Pawleys Island offer room to set up a sand spike and cast into the troughs. In the off-season, you will find fewer swimmers and more space. Fresh bait, a simple bottom rig and attention to the tide are the basics. Whiting are a common surf catch for beginners, and they make good eating.

The piers

The area’s fishing piers are an easy entry point for visitors because a licensed pier covers your saltwater license. Hours and seasonal schedules vary from pier to pier, and some reduce hours in late fall, so call ahead or check the pier’s own website before you drive over.

The marsh and inlets

Murrells Inlet, Little River and the creeks around Pawleys Island and Garden City hold seatrout, red drum, flounder and sheepshead. Docks, oyster bars and creek mouths on a moving tide are classic spots. If you are new to the area, a licensed inshore guide is the fastest way to learn the water, and on a licensed charter, the boat’s license covers you.

Fishing the cold months responsibly

Late fall leads into winter, and winter is the most delicate time of year for one of South Carolina’s favorite fish. According to SCDNR’s spotted seatrout species profile, cold-water events, called winter kills, are the largest driver of the seatrout population. Fish can be stunned or killed when water temperatures drop to a critical level, usually in the low to mid-40s Fahrenheit. Notable winter kills hit the state in 2001, 2011 and 2018. Populations can rebound within a few years, especially when anglers release fish.

A few habits that help:

• Handle fish gently and quickly. SCDNR notes that seatrout have soft bodies without thick protective scales. Wet your hands, support the fish horizontally and keep it out of the water as briefly as possible.
• Use the right hook. Circle hooks with natural bait tend to hook fish in the corner of the mouth, which improves survival after release, and they are now required in many red drum situations.
• Watch for cold-stunned fish. If a hard freeze hits and you find sluggish or floating fish, leave them alone and report it to SCDNR. Stunned fish are easy prey for dolphins and birds, and they need every chance to recover.
• Take only what you will eat. Generous limits are a ceiling, not a target.

A fall fishing checklist

1. Buy or renew your saltwater license if you will fish anywhere other than a licensed pier or charter.
2. Save the current SCDNR limits to your phone.
3. Pack non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks in 4/0 and larger if you will use natural bait for red drum.
4. Bring a measuring board or tape, pliers and a towel for handling fish.
5. Check the tide chart and the marine forecast, and dress for wind; late-fall mornings on the water can be much colder than on land.
6. Call your pier or bait shop for current hours, which shrink as the season winds down.
7. Note the December 1 gigging closure for red drum and seatrout if you fish at night.

Fall is when the Grand Strand gives the water back to the people who love it most. Learn the new rules, release what you should, and enjoy a coastline that is quieter, cooler and very much alive.

Sources: Live 5 News: New red drum rules take effect July 1 in South Carolina; South Carolina Fishing Regulations: General Information; South Carolina Fishing Regulations: Finfish Size and Catch Limits; SCDNR: Spotted Seatrout Species Snapshot