Red drum at a glance
- Also called
- Redfish, spottail bass, puppy drum (small), bull red (large)
- Where
- Marsh creeks, oyster bars, flats, docks, jetties, inlets, and the surf
- Best season
- September to November; schooling in winter; tailing on summer high tides
- Current SC rules
- Slot 18 to 25 in. total length, 1 per person, 2 per boat per day, since July 1, 2026 (per SC regulations guide; check current)
- Federal waters
- Possession prohibited
- SC record
- 75 lb, Murrells Inlet, 1965 (SCDNR)
Where and when
Red drum are found in almost every inshore habitat on the Grand Strand:
- Marsh creeks and oyster bars in Murrells Inlet, Little River, North Inlet, and Winyah Bay, year-round.
- Flooded spartina flats on big summer and fall high tides, where reds "tail" as they root for crabs.
- Docks, rock jetties, and inlets, especially on moving tides.
- The surf, mainly in fall, when schools of reds and big bulls run the beaches.
Fall (September to November) is the best season, with bait everywhere and fish feeding hard. In winter, reds gather in large schools in clear, shallow creeks; they are easy to spook and slow to bite. Spring and summer are good early and late in the day.
How they are caught
- Live or cut bait: mud minnows, finger mullet, or cut mullet and blue crab on a Carolina rig with a circle hook, near oyster bars, docks, and creek mouths.
- Artificials: gold spoons, soft-plastic paddletails on jigheads, and topwater plugs.
- Sight-fishing: casting to tailing fish on the flats with light spinning tackle or a fly rod.
- Surf: fresh cut mullet or menhaden on a fish-finder rig in fall.
The 2026 rule change
On July 1, 2026, Act 231 (Senate Bill 961) took effect. As summarized in the official SC fishing regulations guide (updated August 11, 2026), red drum must now be 18 to 25 inches total length, with one per person and two per boat per day. Possession in or from federal waters is prohibited. Older pages, including some official ones, may still show the earlier 15-to-23-inch slot. See the news item and size and bag limits.
Releasing reds well
Most reds you catch will be released. Use circle hooks, keep fish in the water, support big fish horizontally, and revive them by holding them upright facing the current until they swim off.
The record
SCDNR lists the state record red drum as 75 pounds, caught at Murrells Inlet in 1965. The agency notes that under current slot rules the record will stand until regulations change. See state records.
Who you will deal with
NOAA tide predictions: Springmaid Pier (station 8661070)
More offices, with notes, are on the local resources page.
Find local help
Listings come from public records or from the business itself. A listing is not a recommendation.
Common questions
What is the red drum limit in South Carolina?
As of the July 1, 2026 change summarized in the official SC regulations guide: 18 to 25 inches total length, one per person and no more than two per boat per day, with possession prohibited in federal waters. Rules can change; check the guide before you keep one.
What is a bull red?
A large adult red drum, over the slot, usually 30 to 50 inches. Bulls gather along the beaches, inlets, and nearshore in fall to spawn. They must be released in South Carolina.
Do I need circle hooks for redfish?
Under the 2026 law, natural bait on hooks 4/0 or larger for saltwater gamefish requires non-offset, non-stainless-steel circle hooks. Many redfish anglers use circle hooks regardless, because they hook fish in the jaw and make release easier.
Related guides
More inshore and surf fish
Sources
Official sources checked on October 29, 2026.