Updated: February 2024
The following tables list the fishing records for various species of freshwater and saltwater game fish caught in South Carolina.
If you think you have a shot at breaking any of the current records, be sure to see the resources I’ve linked at the bottom of this article.
Freshwater Fishing Records
| Bass, Hybrid 20 lbs, 6 oz | Savannah River | Danny Wood 1978 |
| Bass, Largemouth (tie) 16 lbs, 2 oz | Lake Marion | P.H. Flanagan 1949 |
| Bass, Largemouth (tie) 16 lbs, 2 oz | Aiken County Pond | Mason Cummings 1993 |
| Bass, Redeye 5 lbs, 2.5 oz | Lake Jocassee | Randy Dickson 2001 |
| Bass, Smallmouth 9 lbs, 7 oz | Lake Jocassee | Terry Dodson 2001 |
| Bass, Spotted 8 lbs, 5 oz | Lake Jocassee | David Preston 2001 |
| Bass, Striped 64 lbs | Lake Russell | Terry McConnell 2009 |
| Bass, White 5 lbs, 4.8 oz | Lake Murray | Davis P. Jefferies, Jr. 2006 |
| Bowfin 15 lbs, 7 oz | Perch, White 1 lb, 15.84 oz | Jimmie Wright 1994 |
| Carp 58 lbs, 0 oz | Lake Murray | Kenneth O. Shealy 2000 |
| Catfish, Blue 113.8 lbs | Lake Moultrie | Paula D. Haney 2017 |
| Catfish, Bullhead 6 lbs, 6.3 oz | Broad River | George Eleazer 2009 |
| Catfish, Channel* 58 lbs, 0 oz | Lake Moultrie | W.H. Whaley 1964 |
| Catfish, Flathead 84 lbs, 9.6 oz | Cooper River | Paul Daniels 2018 |
| Catfish, White 12 lbs, 2.9 oz | Lake Murray | Charles Earp 2014 |
| Crappie, Black 5 lbs, 0 oz | Lake Moultrie | P.E. Foust 1957 |
| Crappie, White 5 lbs, 1 oz | Lake Murray | Mrs. H.P. Owens 1949 |
| Flier 1 lbs, 4 oz | Hemingway | Steve Bryant 1977 |
| Gar, Longnose 28 lbs, 8 oz | Lake Moultrie | Hunter Neeley 2015 |
| Mudfish 21 lbs, 8 oz | Forest Lake | Robert Harmon 1980 |
| Muskellunge 22 lbs, 8 oz | Broad River | Zavier Jefferies 2004 |
| Perch, White 1 lb, 15.2 oz | Lake Wylie (Allison Creek) | Rodger W. Taylor 2007 |
| Perch, White 1 lbs, 15.84 oz | Lake Marion | Frank Drose, Sr. 2016 |
| Perch, Yellow 3 lbs, 4 oz | Lake Keowee | Danny Scarborough 1979 |
| Pickerel, Chain 6 lbs, 4 oz | Chessey Creek | Randall Spell 1981 |
| Pike, Redfin 1 lbs, 8.8 oz | Bluff Lake | Albert Johnson 1983 |
| Sauger 4 lbs , 7 oz | Lake Thurmond | Broadus Moody 1985 |
| Shad, American 7 lbs, 0 oz | Santee River | Sylvester Casselman 1985 |
| Sunfish, Bluegill 3 lbs, 4 oz | Lancaster County | J.P. Hegler 1973 |
| Sunfish, Pumpkinseed 2 lbs, 4 oz | North Saluda River | Scott Hart 1997 |
| Sunfish, Redbreast 2 lbs, 0 oz | Lumber River | D. R. Turner 1975 |
| Sunfish, Shellcracker (Redear Sunfish) 5 lbs, 7.5 oz | Diversion Canal | Amos Gay 1998 |
| Trout, Brook 4 lbs, 10 oz | Chattooga River, below Burrell’s Ford | Wes Coker 2010 |
| Trout, Brown 17 lbs, 9.5 oz | Lake Jocassee | Larry Edwards 1987 |
| Trout, Rainbow 11 lbs, 5 oz | Lake Jocassee | Scott Coggins 1993 |
| Walleye (tie) 10 lbs, 0 oz | Lake Russell | Robert Huskins 1994 |
| Walleye (tie)** 10 lbs, 1.44 oz | Lake Tugalo | Chris Edlund 2022 |
| Warmouth 2 lbs, 2.5 oz | Clarendon County | W. Singletary 1973 |
*This channel catfish also is a world record.
**This walleye would have needed to be at least 2 ounces larger to replace the older record under South Carolina’s record fish rules.
Saltwater Fishing Records
| Amberjack 123 lbs, 0 oz | Isle of Palms | J. Beauford 2010 |
| Barracuda, Great 65 lbs, 0 oz | Georgetown | H. Shelor 1948 |
| Bass, Black Sea 8 lbs, 3 oz | Fripp Inlet | L. L. Hudson 1995 |
| Bass, Striped 46 lbs, 13 oz | Combahee River | B.W. Chambers 1993 |
| Bluefish 21 lbs, 0 oz | Charleston | J. A. Curtis 1975 |
| Bonito, Atlantic 7 lbs, 11 oz | Little River | C.T. Adams 1993 |
| Cobia 92 lbs, 10 oz | Hilton Head Is. | R. Maroudas 2009 |
| Croaker 4 lbs, 9 oz | Charleston | C. I. Frasier 1979 |
| Dolphin (Dorado, Mahi Mahi) 77.5 lbs | Seabrook Island | R. Riggs 2008 |
| Drum, Black * 89 lbs, 0 oz | Port Royal | W. P. Buquet 1978 |
| Drum, Red * 75 lbs, 0 oz | Murrells Inlet | A. J. Taylor 1965 |
| Flounder, Gulf 6 lbs, 4.8 oz | Murrells Inlet | J. Fairey 2021 |
| Flounder, Southern (tie) 17 lbs, 9.6 oz | Murrells Inlet | J. Kuczma 2003 |
| Flounder, Southern (tie) 17 lbs, 6 oz | South Santee | L. C. Floyd 1974 |
| Flounder, Summer (Fluke) 3 lbs, 8 oz | Murrells Inlet | J. Wallace 1982 |
| Grouper, Gag 54 lbs, 4 oz | Isle of Palms Marina | James L. Lasher, III 2018 |
| Grouper, Red 33 lbs, 13 oz | Little River | J. Pazona 2022 |
| Grouper, Scamp 28 lbs, 8.3 oz | Crazy Sister Marina Murrells Inlet | Thomas Pope 2018 |
| Grouper, Snowy 36 lbs, 8 oz | Charleston | W. Hartness 2022 |
| Grouper, Speckled Hind ** 45 lbs, 0 oz | Little River | H. R. Murray 1973 |
| Grouper, Warsaw ** 310 lbs, 0 oz | Murrells Inlet | C. D. Pratt 1976 |
| Grouper, Yellowedge 21 lbs, 5 oz | Murrells Inlet | A. Work 2021 |
| Grouper, Yellowfin | No record listed | |
| Grouper, Yellowmouth 22 lbs, 8 oz | Murrells Inlet | B. J. Ford 2001 |
| Grunt, Margate 18 lbs, 8 oz | Murrells Inlet | J. L. Flowers 1971 |
| Grunt, White (tie) 5 lbs, 10 oz | Charleston | S. Huff 2015 |
| Grunt, White (tie) 5 lbs, 10 oz | Charleston | P. Godbout 2009 |
| Hogfish 21 lbs, 15 oz | Charleston | W. Covington 2011 |
| Houndfish 9 lbs, 4 oz | Murrells Inlet | W. Kirby 1974 |
| Jack, Crevalle 40 lbs, 1 oz | Charleston | J. Benich 1993 |
| Kingfish (Whiting) (tie) 2 lbs, 12 oz | Georgetown | W. Mobley 1976 |
| Kingfish (Whiting) (tie) 2 lbs, 10 oz | Pawleys Island | C. Micheau 1968 |
| Ladyfish 5 lbs, 14 oz | Charleston | B. Raver 1994 |
| Lionfish 2 lbs, 4 oz | Charleston | N. Penna 2023 |
| Mackerel, King 62 lbs, 0 oz | Charleston | J. Brownlee, III 1976 |
| Mackerel, Spanish 11 lbs, 0 oz | Myrtle Beach | W. Deas 1983 |
| Marlin, Blue 881 lbs, 13 oz | Charleston | W. C. Taylor 2005 |
| Marlin, White 108 lbs, 0 oz | Charleston | D. C. Critz, Jr. 1981 |
| Pompano, African 44 lbs, 3 oz | Hilton Head Island | C. T. Babcock III 2011 |
| Pompano, Florida 8 lbs, 12 oz | Charleston | C. Mullinax, Sr. 1975 |
| Porgy, Jolthead 18 lbs, 4 oz | Charleston | J. Currie 1984 |
| Porgy, Red 10 lbs, 8 oz | Murrells Inlet | J. F. Duffer 1985 |
| Runner, Rainbow 14 lbs, 14 oz | Georgetown | W. D. Harder 1985 |
| Sailfish 75 lbs, 0 oz | Georgetown | G. A. Reid 1968 |
| Seatrout, Spotted 11 lbs, 13 oz | Murrells Inlet | A. Pendergrass 1976 |
| Shark, Atlantic Sharpnose 13 lbs, 5 oz | Murrell’s Inlet | L. Murphy 2009 |
| Shark, Bigeye Thresher ** 406 lbs, 0 oz | Edisto Island | J. H. Mixson 1978 |
| Shark, Blacktip 163 lbs, 14 oz | Hilton Head | D. Rowe 2009 |
| Shark, Bonnethead 27 lbs, 11 oz | Charleston | B. Mattison 2005 |
| Shark, Bull 477 lbs, 12 oz | Stono Inlet | C. R. Faust 1985 |
| Shark, Dusky ** 466 lbs, 12 oz | Charleston | M. Almond 1981 |
| Shark, Hammerhead 588 lbs, 3 oz | Charleston | B. Bass 1989 |
| Shark, Lemon 380 lbs, 0 oz | Hilton Head | S. Liesen 2010 |
| Shark, Sandbar ** 199 lbs, 4 oz | Charleston | T. McGuiness 1984 |
| Shark, Sand Tiger ** 350 lbs, 2 oz | Charleston | M. Thawley 1993 |
| Shark, Shortfin Mako 391 lbs, 15 oz | Charleston | P. Ford 2002 |
| Shark, Silky ** 248 lbs, 0 oz | Charleston | R. Keenan 1981 |
| Shark, Spinner 173 lbs, 5 oz | Edisto | N. Colwell 2021 |
| Shark, Tiger 1,780 lbs, 0 oz | Cherry Grove | W. Maxwell 1964 |
| Sheepshead 16 lbs, 6 oz | Mt. Pleasant | J. Widener 2008 |
| Snapper, Cubera 118 lbs, 0 oz | Mt. Pleasant | B. Williams 2007 |
| Snapper, Gray (Mangrove) 13 lbs, 15 oz | Charleston | M. Swenson 2023 |
| Snapper, Mutton 26 lbs, 0 oz | Murrells Inlet | V. Cleversey 2002 |
| Snapper, Red 37 lbs, 8 oz | Little River | K. Henry 1964 |
| Snapper, Vermilion 6 lbs, 10 oz | Charleston | D. H. Long 1975 |
| Snapper, Yellowtail (tie) 10 lbs, 8 oz | Tolers Cove Marina | A. Stone 2017 |
| Snapper, Yellowtail (tie) 10 lbs, 8 oz | Mount Pleasant | T. Snelgrove 2003 |
| Spadefish, Atlantic 14 lbs, 2 oz | Beaufort | S. Nickleson 2005 |
| Spearfish, Longbill ** 53 lbs, 0 oz | Mt. Pleasant | H. L. Johnson, Jr. 1986 |
| Spot (tie) 1 lb, 4 oz | Murrells Inlet | M. Turner 2001 |
| Spot (tie) 1 lb, 3 oz | Garden City Pier | R.R. Jones 1978 |
| Spot (tie) 1 lb, 2 oz | Kiawah Island | J. Taylor 1978 |
| Spot (tie) 1 lb, 2 oz | Garden City Pier | H.W. Durham 1978 |
| Spot (tie) 1 lb, 2 oz | Myrtle Beach | J. Caulder 1977 |
| Spot (tie) 1 lb, 1.5 oz | Beaufort | C. Eldred 1977 |
| Spot (tie) 1 lb, 1 oz | Springmaid Pier | B. Stewart 1977 |
| Spot (tie) 1 lb, 1 oz | Charleston | J. Stehmeyer 1967 |
| Swordfish 500 lbs, 0 oz | Georgetown | B. H. Peace III 1978 |
| Tarpon 154 lbs, 10 oz | Hilton Head | S. B. Kiser 1987 |
| Tautog 6 lbs, 5 oz | Murrells Inlet | M. Terrell 2021 |
| Tilefish, Blueline 14 lbs, 6 oz | Murrells Inlet | O. Cockerham 1982 |
| Tilefish, Golden 28 lbs, 3.2 oz | Charleston | E. Buck Jr. 2020 |
| Triggerfish, Gray 13 lbs, 9 oz | Murrells Inlet | J. Hilton 1989 |
| Triggerfish, Ocean | No record listed | |
| Triggerfish, Queen (tie) 9 lbs, 7 oz | Georgetown | ,J. H. Woodberry 2011 |
| Triggerfish, Queen (tie) 9 lbs, 10 oz | Charleston | ,S. Costanzo 2021 |
| Triggerfish, Queen (tie) 9 lbs, 13 oz | Georgetown | S. Conesky 2022 |
| Tripletail 33 lbs, 8 oz | Hilton Head | J. Johnson 2005 |
| Tuna, Albacore 37 lbs, 4 oz | Charleston | W. Crump 1976 |
| Tuna, Bigeye | No record listed | |
| Tuna, Blackfin 40 lbs, 6 oz | Charleston | M. Hartley 2005 |
| Tuna, Bluefin 396 lbs, 14 oz | Hilton Head Is. | J. S. Middleton III 2006 |
| Tuna, Skipjack 28 lbs, 0.8 oz | Sullivan’s Island | L. Kirkland 2020 |
| Tuna, Yellowfin 241 lbs, 12 oz | Charleston | T. C. Lewis 1979 |
| Tunny, Little 29 lbs, 7 oz | Charleston | C. Edwards, Jr. 1975 |
| Wahoo 130 lbs, 5 oz | Murrells Inlet | R. J. Moore 1998 |
| Weakfish (Gray Trout) 11 lbs, 13 oz | Parris Island | J. M. Coppinger, Jr. 1981 |
* Due to current South Carolina slot limits, surpassing this record is not legal.
** Due to current federal regulations, these species must be released alive. Therefore, no new records will be certified.
Editor’s note: The reason several ties listed above are for fish of different fish weights is that South Carolina requires records to be broken by certain amounts depending on weight ranges.
Setting a Fishing Record
If you catch a freshwater fish in South Carolina that you think has a shot at breaking (or tying) the current record, your best source of information is the South Carolina freshwater record application and included list of rules.
If you believe the saltwater fish you just caught (or hope to land) is a record-breaker, be sure to read the steps to claiming your spot in fishing history on the SC Saltwater Game Fish Records page.