South Carolina is one of the cheapest states in the country for a resident: ten dollars a year for freshwater. The catch is that there is no combined recreational licence. Freshwater and saltwater are separate purchases with no bundle, so an angler who runs the Santee lakes in the morning and the Charleston jetties in the evening is buying both. The Sportsman licence bundles hunting and freshwater, but never the salt.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every South Carolina fishing fee
Annual licences run one year from the date of purchase.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saltwater, one day | Visitor | 1 day | $10.00 |
| Saltwater, seven days | Visitor | 7 days | $35.00 |
| Freshwater, 14 days | Resident | 14 days | $5.00 |
| Saltwater, 14 days | Resident | 14 days | $10.00 |
| Freshwater, 14 days | Visitor | 14 days | $11.00 |
| Freshwater, annual | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Saltwater, annual | Resident | Annual | $15.00 |
| Junior sportsman, ages 16-17 | Resident | Annual | $16.00 |
| Combination, hunting and freshwater fishing | Resident | Annual | $25.00 |
| Freshwater, annual | Visitor | Annual | $35.00 |
| Sportsman, hunting, big game and freshwater fishing | Resident | Annual | $50.00 |
| Saltwater, annual | Visitor | Annual | $75.00 |
| Disability, fresh and salt | Resident | 3 years | Free |
| Freshwater, three years | Resident | 3 years | $30.00 |
| Saltwater, three years | Resident | 3 years | $45.00 |
| Freshwater, three years | Visitor | 3 years | $105.00 |
Freshwater and saltwater are separate licences in South Carolina, and there is no combined recreational option: fishing both means buying both.
Passing through? A visitor pays $10 for one day here, and the annual works out cheaper after 4 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Fishing the coast? The South Carolina saltwater licence is a separate purchase with its own fees.
Do you need a fishing licence in South Carolina?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$10.00 a year if you live in South Carolina, $35.00 if you are visiting, for fresh water. South Carolina licenses fresh and salt water separately, so check which one your trip needs.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 16, unless fishing commercially or using non-game devices such as traps, trotlines or nets.
- Residents with a qualifying disability, through the free disability licence.
- Everyone on the state free fishing day.
Nobody needs a licence on South Carolinaβs free fishing days (residents only): the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official SCDNR licensing page β
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 13 South Carolina waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Lake Murray β Lexington County
- Myrtle Beach β Horry County
- Lake Marion β Clarendon County
- Lake Moultrie β Berkeley County
- Lake Keowee β Oconee County
- Lake Greenwood β Laurens County
- Charleston β Charleston County
- Lake Wateree β Kershaw County
- Murrells Inlet β Georgetown County
- Lake Jocassee β Oconee County
- Santee River β Berkeley County
- Broad River β Union County
All 13 South Carolina waters β
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in South Carolina?
$10.00 for a resident annual freshwater licence and $35.00 for a non-resident. Short-term licences cost less and are listed in full above.
Do you need a fishing license in South Carolina?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $10.00 for a resident annual freshwater licence, $35.00 for a visitor. 3 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in South Carolina?
From age 16. Anglers under 16 fish without one, though the other rules, bag limits and catch record cards included, still apply to them.
Can I buy a South Carolina fishing licence online?
Yes. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources sells online and through licence agents.
Do I need separate freshwater and saltwater licences in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina sells them separately, so fishing both sides means either two licences or the combined option listed in the fee table.
Can I buy one licence for fresh and salt water in South Carolina?
No. The state sells them separately and offers no recreational combination, so fishing both means two licences. The Combination and Sportsman licences bundle hunting with freshwater only.
Do children need a licence in South Carolina?
Not under 16, with one exception worth knowing: a child using non-game devices such as traps, trotlines, jugs or nets does need one, whatever their age.