South Carolina fishing license: cost, who needs one and how to buy

What will it cost? Calculator

Pick your trip and we'll work out the cheapest licenses to buy, including any required stamps.

Prices for 2026. Prices as listed by SCDNR. Its price pages show no extra processing fee.

Where these prices come from: Prices from SCDNR's current resident and non-resident price pages, which don't show an effective date.

How long annual licenses last: Annual licenses are valid one year from purchase; 3-year licenses three years. Nongame device tags and permits expire June 30. Official source2

Non-residents (visitors)

Residents

• Set hook permit (resident)

  $5

  Needed to use set hooks (nongame device). Expires June 30.

  Residents · fresh water Official source

• Trotline tag (resident)

  $2.50

  Needed for trotlines (nongame device). Expires June 30.

  Residents · fresh water Official source

• Jug permit (resident)

  $5

  Needed to fish with jugs (nongame device). Expires June 30.

  Residents · fresh water Official source

• Nongame device permit or tag (non-resident)

  $50

  Each jug, set hook, trotline, eel pot, trap, gill net or hoop net permit or tag. Expires June 30.

  Non-residents · fresh water Official source

• Shrimp baiting license and tags (resident)

  $25

  Needed to shrimp over bait during the season.

  Residents · salt water Official source

• Shrimp baiting license and tags (non-resident)

  $500

  Needed to shrimp over bait during the season.

  Non-residents · salt water Official source

• Anyone under 16 (unless fishing commercially or using nongame devices)

  FreshSalt Everyone Official source

• Anyone fishing a privately owned pond

  Fresh Everyone · check this applies to you Official source

• Anglers fishing from a licensed public fishing pier

  Salt Everyone · check this applies to you Official source2

• Anglers on a licensed charter vessel while it is under hire

  Salt Everyone · check this applies to you Official source2

• Crabbing with up to 3 drop nets, 3 fold-up traps or 3 hookless handlines with a single bait each

  Salt Everyone · check this applies to you Official source

• South Carolina resident military personnel stationed out of state and home on leave (carry a leave and earnings statement)

  FreshSalt Residents · check this applies to you Secondary source: South Carolina hunting and fishing regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations)

• South Carolina residents on the state's free fishing days (July 4 and Memorial Day), freshwater only

  Fresh Residents Secondary source: South Carolina Code 50-9-730 (CounselStack copy)

Fishing licenses from other states aren't valid in South Carolina, except under the border-water agreements below.

The rule: July 4 (residents only); Memorial Day (last Monday in May) (residents only).

Set by state law (S.C. Code 50-9-730). South Carolina residents may fish recreationally in fresh water without a license or permit on these days. Not for commercial fishing. Visitors and salt water are not covered.

Secondary source: South Carolina Code 50-9-730 (CounselStack copy)2

Who counts as a resident

A resident is someone domiciled (permanently living) in South Carolina for 30 days. Proof is an unexpired SC driver's license or SCDMV ID card. People licensed as residents in another state can't buy a SC resident license. Lifetime licenses need 180 days' residency. (at least 30 days)

Military

Military stationed in South Carolina for 30 days or more can buy resident licenses with a valid military ID.

Students

Full-time students at South Carolina schools can buy resident licenses with a student ID.

Secondary source: South Carolina hunting and fishing regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations)23

Sold online through Go Outdoors SC (website and app), at SCDNR offices and customer service locations, and by mail-in application.

Online

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources license sales

App

Go Outdoors SC (iPhone and Android)

License on your phone

Accepted

ID needed

State-issued ID; residents need an unexpired SC driver's license or ID card.

Buy at gooutdoorssouthcarolina.com (SCDNR warns about lookalike sites), in the app, at SCDNR offices, or by mail. The eRegulations guide says proof of a license may be shown on a mobile device, but you must still carry ID with your name and address. Duplicate licenses cost $3.

Official source23

South Carolina sells separate freshwater and saltwater licenses; buy both if you fish both. A saltwater license also covers taking oysters, clams, shrimp and crabs.

Usually not: the boat's license covers its passengers.

Saltwater: anglers on a licensed charter vessel while it is under hire, and anglers on a licensed public fishing pier, don't need their own license (the boat or pier holds the license). A boat that isn't under hire isn't a charter, so everyone fishing needs a license. SCDNR pages checked don't mention a freshwater guide exemption.

Official source23

Border waters

• Savannah River, Chattooga River and Savannah River lakes (Georgia border)

  A valid South Carolina or Georgia freshwater fishing license is accepted on the Savannah River from its mouth to the Tugaloo/Seneca confluence, the Chattooga River up to the North Carolina line, and Lakes Thurmond, Russell, Hartwell, Yonah, Tugaloo, Stevens Creek and New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. Tributaries are not included. Follow the limits of the state whose shore or waters you fish; check both agencies. Official source

Statewide freshwater rules and saltwater rules (SCDNR), 2026-27. Many lakes and rivers have exceptions. Limits are per person per day. No more than 40 game fish in total may be kept in a day in fresh water.

Compare South Carolina with other states

Neighboring states, side by side: prices, age rules, free days and shared waters.

• South Carolina vs Georgia
• South Carolina vs North Carolina

Questions

Sources and checks

Every fact on this page comes from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources unless it's marked secondary. We use a secondary source only when the official site doesn't show something, and we name it.

Licenses and prices

Checked Nov 4, 2026 (prices for 2026)

Free fishing days

Checked Nov 4, 2026

Seasons and limits

Checked Nov 4, 2026

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