South Carolina Shrimp Season

South Carolina's commercial shrimp fishery is composed of three distinct segments.

The shrimp season typically begins in spring with catches of white roe shrimp. The white roe shrimp season generates the most value for fishing effort with early season prices for larger roe shrimp being relatively high.

The brown shrimp season typically occurs during the summer months

The larger fall white shrimp season, composed of offspring from the spring roe crop, begins in late summer and ends in winter.

Total landings for shrimp during the 2013 season, measured heads-off, was just over 1.3 million pounds, which was well below average for the state. Fall white shrimp landings in 2013 were the lowest on record.

source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

South Carolina Shrimp Season

Consumers in South Carolina may find greater quantities of fresh local shrimp during the month of May.

NOAA Fisheries recently announced that federal waters within 25 nautical miles of the federal-state water boundary off South Carolina will reopen to fishing for brown, pink, and white shrimp at 12:01 a.m. May 1, 2014. South Carolina state waters will remain closed until the state determines an appropriate reopening date. 

The initial closure was implemented at the request of the state of South Carolina after a prolonged period of cold weather.

source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council