FishingLicenseCheck

South Carolina fishing license

South Carolina requires a recreational fishing license from age 16. The state licenses freshwater and saltwater fishing. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources runs licenses from the date of purchase rather than on a license year: Valid 1 year from date of purchase.

Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources · Reviewed July 30, 2026

Your trip in South Carolina

Special circumstances that can change the answer

Your likely official license

Yes — a licence is required. For a 1-day non-resident freshwater trip in South Carolina, the official match is Nonresident 14-day Freshwater Fishing License.

Published cost for this trip$11
  • Nonresident 14-day Freshwater Fishing License$11 · Valid 14 consecutive days.

What it covers

  • Nonresident 14-day Freshwater Fishing License — freshwater. Base fee published by SCDNR on its nonresident license pricing page; excludes any vendor/agent transaction charge.

Required add-ons

No stamp or endorsement is attached to this licence for your residency, age and trip length. Check “You may also need” below for requirements that depend on where and what you fish.

Why this answer

  1. You selected non-resident status, age 35, freshwater fishing, for 1 day.
  2. Nonresident 14-day Freshwater Fishing License covers the full trip: Valid 14 consecutive days.
Other options you are eligible for
  • Nonresident Annual Freshwater Fishing License — $35 for this trip · Valid 1 year from date of purchase.
  • Nonresident 3 Year Freshwater Fishing License — $105 for this trip · Valid 3 years from date of purchase.

Exceptions that may change it

  • A saltwater recreational fishing license is not required when fishing on a licensed public fishing pier. SCDNR licenses public fishing piers separately (annual pier licences of $150 for piers 100 feet or less and $350 for piers longer than 100 feet).
  • A saltwater recreational fishing license is not required when fishing on a licensed charter vessel while under hire. A charter boat is defined as a vessel under hire; if it is not under hire it is not legally a charter boat and all aboard must have a personal fishing license.
  • A saltwater recreational fishing license is not required when using 3 or fewer drop nets, 3 or fewer fold-up traps, or 3 or fewer handlines with no hooks and single bait per line (chicken necking).
  • A Freshwater Fishing License is required unless you are fishing in a privately-owned pond. A license is required when fishing in commercial pay ponds, unless the pond is permitted by the SCDNR.
  • Active duty military personnel who are residents of SC stationed outside of the state and home on leave may fish and hunt throughout the state without purchasing a hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing license.
  • This answer covers the licence only. Season, size, bag and waterbody rules still apply and change through the year.
Buy on the official South Carolina Department of Natural Resources site

We do not sell licenses and take no commission. This goes to the state agency.

Check current South Carolina regulations

Seasons, size limits, bag limits and waterbody closures are not covered by this tool and change through the year.

Validity
Valid 1 year from date of purchase.
Reviewed
July 30, 2026

Answers at a glance

Common trips, answered from the same official record the checker uses. These assume an adult with no special circumstances — set your own age, water and trip above.

Visiting for a day

Adult visiting from another state · freshwater · one day

Nonresident 14-day Freshwater Fishing License

$11

Resident for the season

Adult South Carolina resident · freshwater · all year

Resident Annual Freshwater Fishing License

$10

Visiting for a saltwater day

Adult visiting from another state · saltwater · one day

Nonresident 1-day Saltwater Fishing License

$10

Age and residency rules

Who counts as a resident. Resident is a person who is a domiciled (permanent) resident of South Carolina. Proof of residency at license vendors is your unexpired State of South Carolina Driver's license or Identification Card. A person licensed by another state as a resident for any purpose is not eligible to apply for, obtain, or hold any South Carolina resident license, permit or tag. Residency is determined based on the date of issue of your SCDMV issued driver's license or identification card: Recreational License 30 days; Lifetime License 180 days; Disability License 365 days.

Age-based rules

  • No child under 16 years of age is required to obtain a hunting or fishing license. If a child engages in the taking of game or fish for commercial purposes or possesses any nongame fishing devices, all licensing requirements apply.

License options

LicenseWhoWaterValid forPrice
Resident Annual Freshwater Fishing LicenseNot required when fishing in a privately-owned pond. A license is required in commercial pay ponds unless the pond is permitted by SCDNR. Separate nongame device permits/tags are required to use jugs, set hooks, gill nets, traps, eel pots or trotlines.ResidentNo hunting or fishing license or permit required until person reaches age 16.freshwaterValid 1 year from date of purchase.$10
Resident 14-day Freshwater Fishing LicenseResidentNo hunting or fishing license or permit required until person reaches age 16.freshwaterValid 14 consecutive days.$5
Resident 3 Year Freshwater Fishing LicenseResidentNo hunting or fishing license or permit required until person reaches age 16.freshwaterValid 3 years from date of purchase.$30
Resident Annual Saltwater Fishing LicenseRequired when harvesting marine resources including finfish, oysters, clams, shrimp and crab, and when fishing from shore or the beach. Not required when fishing from a licensed public fishing pier or aboard a licensed charter vessel under hire. Shrimp baiting requires a separate Shrimp Baiting License.ResidentAnyone 16 years old or older who is fishing from shore, boat, private dock, free public dock or while wading requires a license.saltwaterValid 1 year from date of purchase.$15
Resident 14-day Saltwater Fishing LicenseResidentAnyone 16 years old or older who is fishing from shore, boat, private dock, free public dock or while wading requires a license.saltwaterValid 14 consecutive days.$10
Resident 3 Year Saltwater Fishing LicenseResidentAnyone 16 years old or older who is fishing from shore, boat, private dock, free public dock or while wading requires a license.saltwaterValid 3 years from date of purchase.$45
Resident Annual Combination LicenseIncludes State Hunting, Big Game and Freshwater Fishing. Does not include saltwater fishing; a separate Saltwater Fishing License is required for salt waters.ResidentNo hunting or fishing license or permit required until person reaches age 16.freshwaterValid 1 year from date of purchase.$25
Resident Annual Sportsman LicenseIncludes State Hunting, Big Game, Wildlife Management Areas and Freshwater Fishing. Does not include saltwater fishing.ResidentNo hunting or fishing license or permit required until person reaches age 16.freshwaterValid 1 year from date of purchase.$50
Resident Annual Junior Sportsman LicenseIncludes State Hunting, Big Game, Wildlife Management Areas and Freshwater Fishing. Does not include saltwater fishing.ResidentFor applicants 16-17 years of age. Remains valid, regardless of age, until expiration.freshwaterExpires 1 year from date of purchase.$16
Senior Fishing License (Lifetime, age 64 or older)Covers Freshwater Fishing, Freshwater Set Hook and Saltwater Fishing. Applicant must have been a resident of South Carolina for 180 days or longer.ResidentA person who has been a resident of SC for 180 days or longer and has reached the age of 64 may apply for a Lifetime License for $9.00.freshwater and saltwaterLifetime license issued to qualifying residents age 64 or older.$9
Gratis License (Lifetime, residents born on or before 7/1/1940)Covers Freshwater Fishing, Freshwater Set Hook, Saltwater Fishing, State Hunting, Big Game, Wildlife Management Area Permit and Migratory Waterfowl. Available only to residents born on or before 7/1/1940.ResidentListed by SCDNR in the age band '64 or older'; available only to residents born on or before 7/1/1940 — both conditions are encoded and both must hold.freshwater and saltwaterLifetime license.No charge
Disability Fishing License (3 Year)Covers freshwater and saltwater fishing. Applicant must submit an unexpired state identification card and a current disability certification from the Social Security Administration, SC Retirement System, Railroad Retirement Board, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Civil Service or Medicaid. Licensee must still purchase any additional permits for nongame fishing devices.Residentfreshwater and saltwaterDisability licenses expire on the third anniversary of the date issued.No charge
Nonresident Annual Freshwater Fishing LicenseNon-residentNo child under 16 years of age is required to obtain a hunting or fishing license.freshwaterValid 1 year from date of purchase.$35
Nonresident 14-day Freshwater Fishing LicenseNon-residentNo child under 16 years of age is required to obtain a hunting or fishing license.freshwaterValid 14 consecutive days.$11
Nonresident 3 Year Freshwater Fishing LicenseNon-residentNo child under 16 years of age is required to obtain a hunting or fishing license.freshwaterValid 3 years from date of purchase.$105
Nonresident Annual Saltwater Fishing LicenseNot required when fishing from a licensed public fishing pier or aboard a licensed charter vessel under hire.Non-residentAnyone 16 years old or older who is fishing from shore, boat, private dock, free public dock or while wading requires a license.saltwaterValid 1 year from date of purchase.$75
Nonresident 7-day Saltwater Fishing LicenseNon-residentAnyone 16 years old or older who is fishing from shore, boat, private dock, free public dock or while wading requires a license.saltwaterValid 7 consecutive days.$35
Nonresident 1-day Saltwater Fishing LicenseSCDNR does not publish a nonresident 1-day or 3-day freshwater licence; the shortest nonresident freshwater option is the 14-day licence.Non-residentAnyone 16 years old or older who is fishing from shore, boat, private dock, free public dock or while wading requires a license.saltwaterValid 1 day.$10

Freshwater and saltwater

South Carolina licenses freshwater and saltwater fishing. Check which waters your license covers before you fish — a freshwater license does not cover saltwater unless the option explicitly says it does.

State license vs federal registry. NOAA Fisheries states that all Atlantic Coast states submit state licence data to NMFS, so anglers holding a South Carolina saltwater recreational fishing licence are automatically registered in the National Saltwater Angler Registry and do not register separately.

Exemptions worth knowing

  • A saltwater recreational fishing license is not required when fishing on a licensed public fishing pier. SCDNR licenses public fishing piers separately (annual pier licences of $150 for piers 100 feet or less and $350 for piers longer than 100 feet).
  • A saltwater recreational fishing license is not required when fishing on a licensed charter vessel while under hire. A charter boat is defined as a vessel under hire; if it is not under hire it is not legally a charter boat and all aboard must have a personal fishing license.
  • A saltwater recreational fishing license is not required when using 3 or fewer drop nets, 3 or fewer fold-up traps, or 3 or fewer handlines with no hooks and single bait per line (chicken necking).
  • A Freshwater Fishing License is required unless you are fishing in a privately-owned pond. A license is required when fishing in commercial pay ponds, unless the pond is permitted by the SCDNR.
  • Active duty military personnel who are residents of SC stationed outside of the state and home on leave may fish and hunt throughout the state without purchasing a hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing license. Still required: Must present an earnings and leave statement declaring South Carolina as the home state. Permits are still required to hunt big game, migratory birds, migratory waterfowl and to hunt on WMA lands, and tags are still required to hunt deer and turkey, use nongame fish devices or take shrimp over bait.

Where this comes from

Primary source
SC Resident Fishing and Hunting License Pricing — South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Retrieved
July 26, 2026
Reviewed
July 30, 2026
Also consulted

Found something out of date? Email corrections@fishinglicensecheck.com and tell us which figure and which page — see corrections.

Nearby states

Licenses are issued state by state — a South Carolina license does not carry its own rules across the border, so if your trip crosses one, check both states.

Across all states