Buy your South Carolina fishing license, check the SC fishing regulations, and then head to a spot like Santee State Park where you can cast a line out on Lake Marion to catch a largemouth bass or crappie. Or, if saltwater fishing is your preference, you can take the kids to fish from the pier at Hunting Island State Park and see if the spotted sea trout or flounder are biting.
From freshwater streams and rivers to the Atlantic coast, South Carolina offers plentiful fishing experiences for all anglers. But before you enjoy some of the finest fishing in the country, you need to familiarize yourself with the state’s regulations. And one of the most essential is the license requirement.
In South Carolina, everyone 16 and older is required to obtain a fishing license. And that’s true whether you’re a resident or visitor to the state. Anglers must keep their license in their possession while engaging in fishing activities.
South Carolina offers options to purchase a temporary, annual, or three-year license. But depending on your residency, age, type of species you’re after and other factors, there may be other license choices available to you. Here’s a summary of all the various fishing licenses you can get in South Carolina.
Residents: To qualify as a resident, you must be domiciled in South Carolina for 30 days and show proof of residency when obtaining your license. Military personnel and dependents stations in South Carolina for 30 days or longer or who are domiciled in the state are eligible for resident privileges. In addition, students who are enrolled full-time in a South Carolina educational institution are eligible for resident privileges with a valid student ID.
If you obtain a South Carolina fishing license then move outside the state, you can continue to use the privileges until they expire.
Nonresidents: A non-resident is anyone who doesn’t meet the definition of a resident.
If you hold a valid freshwater fishing license from Georgia, you’ll be allowed to fish in certain waters in South Carolina under what’s referred to as a reciprocal license agreement. These bodies of water include all channels of the Savannah River, from its mouth to the confluence of the Tugaloo and the Seneca rivers, and the Chattooga River to the boundary line between Georgia and North Carolina.
South Carolina fishing license costs are subject to change each year. For 2021, the current pricing is as follows:
Residents
Nonresidents
Current pricing for South Carolina Fishing Licenses can also be found here.
The easiest way to obtain a license is online at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website. To obtain a license, you’ll need your Social Security number. If you’re applying for a resident license, you’ll also need proof of residency such as an unexpired South Carolina driver’s license or identification card. Once approved, your license will be mailed to you.
If you prefer to purchase your license in person, the Department maintains a list of local license vendors by city and county.
You also have the option of mailing in a fishing license application.
SC FISHING LAWS & REGULATIONS
South Carolina has its own set of fishing laws and regulations that need to be followed in order to protect their fish populations
SC FISHING REGULATIONSRESPONSIBLE FISHING STARTS WITH YOU
Learn how you can start protecting our aquatic natural resources.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CONSERVATION THE IMPORTANCE OF FISHING REGULATIONS CATCH AND RELEASE BEST PRACTICESSC FISHING RESOURCES/INFO
Additional resources and information can be found directly on the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources site.
FISHING TYPES & LICENSE FEES BUY YOUR SOUTH CAROLINA FISHING LICENSE ONLINE