South Carolina has separate freshwater and saltwater licenses. Residents have more long-term options, while nonresidents can choose from several temporary licenses.
The prices below are current for the 2026-27 licensing year, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
South Carolina fishing license cost: residents and nonresidents compared
| License | Duration | Resident | Nonresident | Key details |
| Freshwater | 14 days | $5 | $11 | Valid for 14 consecutive days. |
| Freshwater | Annual | $10 | $35 | Valid one year from the date of purchase. |
| Freshwater | 3 years | $30 | $105 | Valid three years from the date of purchase. |
| Saltwater | 1 day | Not available | $10 | Nonresidents only. |
| Saltwater | 7 days | Not available | $35 | Nonresidents only. |
| Saltwater | 14 days | $10 | Not available | Residents only. |
| Saltwater | Annual | $15 | $75 | Valid one year from the date of purchase. |
| Saltwater | 3 years | $45 | Not available | Residents only. |
| Disability fishing | 3 years | Free | Not available | Freshwater and saltwater privileges. |
| Senior fishing | Fishing privileges | $9 | Not available | Qualifying residents. |
Resident lifetime licenses are available at age-based prices (see the lifetime section). South Carolina also offers combination licenses with freshwater fishing and hunting privileges. These aren’t a general fresh-and-saltwater license, so anglers who want both types of water normally need the appropriate freshwater and saltwater privileges. There is no 3-year or 14-day saltwater license for nonresidents.
Which South Carolina fishing license should you choose?
| Your situation | License to consider |
| You live here and fish lakes and rivers | Resident annual freshwater ($10) |
| You live here and fish the coast | Resident annual saltwater ($15) |
| You live here and fish both | Both annuals ($25) |
| You’re visiting for a weekend on the coast | Nonresident 1-day (10)or7-day(35) saltwater |
| You’re visiting for two weeks of lake fishing | Nonresident 14-day freshwater ($11) |
| You visit often | Nonresident annual freshwater ($35) |
A few comparisons help. The nonresident annual freshwater ($35)plu sannual saltwater($75) comes to 110,asyouroriginalnotes.Anonresident14-dayfreshwaterlicense(11) costs less than a third of the annual.
The 14-day freshwater license for $11 is the cheapest way for a visitor to fish South Carolina’s big lakes. Look at the lakes within reach of where you’re staying in Fishbox and compare their forecasts, then decide which two weeks to use it.
South Carolina freshwater fishing license
A South Carolina freshwater fishing license is required to fish most public freshwater waters if you’re 16 or older. It covers recreational rod-and-reel fishing in South Carolina’s freshwater lakes, rivers, streams and other public waters.
You don’t need a freshwater license to fish a privately owned pond, unless you’re using a method with separate licensing requirements.
South Carolina also has special rules for nongame fishing devices. If you use equipment such as jugs, set hooks, trotlines, traps or certain nets, you need the appropriate freshwater license plus an additional permit or tag.
Freshwater nongame fishing permits
| Permit or tag | Resident | Nonresident |
| Jug permit | $5 | $50 |
| Set hook permit | $5 | $50 |
| Eel pot tag | $5 | $50 |
| Gill net tag | $5 | $50 |
| Hoop net tag | $10 | $50 |
| Trap tag | $5 | $50 |
| Trotline tag | $2.50 | $50 |
These permits aren’t automatically included with a standard freshwater license.
South Carolina saltwater fishing license
A South Carolina saltwater fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older who harvest marine resources in state waters. This includes recreational fishing for finfish as well as activities involving oysters, clams, shrimp and crab. It’s required whether you’re fishing from a boat, shoreline, beach, private dock or another location, unless a specific exemption applies.
Recreational crab trap endorsement
Anglers who want to use recreational crab traps need the endorsement in addition to their saltwater license. The annual endorsement costs $5 for residents and $5 for nonresidents and allows a saltwater license holder to fish up to five crab traps, subject to current regulations.
Shrimp baiting license
Shrimping over bait requires a separate Shrimp Baiting License and Tags.
| 2026-27 shrimp baiting license | Cost |
| Resident | $25 |
| Nonresident | $500 |
Shrimp baiting is subject to specific season dates, gear restrictions and tagging requirements, so check the current SCDNR regulations before purchasing.
The saltwater license also covers oysters, clams, shrimp and crab, so a coastal day can mean several kinds of harvest. If you’re planning a day on the water, pick a few shoreline and creek spots in Fishbox and compare their forecasts before you decide what to buy.
South Carolina fishing license age requirements
The South Carolina fishing license age requirement is 16. Anyone 16 or older generally needs the appropriate license, and children under 16 don’t need a standard recreational freshwater or saltwater license.
| Angler | What applies |
| Under 16, rod and reel | Generally no license required. |
| Under 16, using a regulated nongame device | May still need the appropriate fishing privileges and permits. |
| 16 and older | Appropriate freshwater and/or saltwater license required. |
Anyone using nongame fishing devices must have the required license and permits regardless of age.
South Carolina fishing license exemptions
| Exemption | Details |
| Children under 16 | No standard hunting or fishing license needed, though additional permits or tags can apply to specific activities. |
| Private ponds | No freshwater license needed, subject to SC rules. Doesn’t necessarily apply to commercial pay ponds or methods needing additional permits. |
| Disability license | Qualifying residents can get a free 3-year license with freshwater and saltwater privileges. Additional permits may still be needed for nongame devices. Disability documentation and proof of residency required. |
| Military personnel | Personnel and dependents stationed in SC for at least 30 days, or domiciled there, may qualify for resident privileges. Active-duty SC residents stationed elsewhere and home on official leave may also fish without a standard license when they meet the requirements. |
| Full-time students | Students enrolled full-time at a South Carolina educational institution can qualify for resident privileges with student identification. |
South Carolina lifetime fishing license
South Carolina offers lifetime licenses for residents, priced by the applicant’s age. For fishing-only privileges, the current options are:
| Applicant age | Lifetime freshwater | Lifetime saltwater |
| Under 2 | Included in qualifying lifetime combination | $120 add-on |
| 2-15 | Included in qualifying lifetime combination | $160 add-on |
| 16-63 | $300 | $300 |
Residents aged 64 or older may qualify for the state’s senior or gratis licensing options depending on their date of birth and eligibility. A lifetime license can make sense for residents who expect to fish regularly in South Carolina for many years. Because eligibility and available packages depend on age and residency, check the current SCDNR lifetime license information before applying.
Where to buy a South Carolina fishing license
Buy a South Carolina fishing license online
The easiest option is the official Go Outdoors South Carolina licensing system. You can use it to:
- Purchase freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses
- Renew existing licenses
- Buy permits and tags
- View current licenses
- Manage your customer account
- Access licenses through the Go Outdoors SC mobile app
When purchasing online, you’ll need to provide the required personal information. South Carolina requires a Social Security number or, for international customers, qualifying identification such as a passport or other government-issued documentation.
Buy a fishing license in person
You can also buy from authorized license vendors throughout South Carolina. Use the official Go Outdoors South Carolina vendor locator to find a nearby agent.
SCDNR also operates full-service offices that can assist with licenses and other services, including locations in West Columbia, Charleston, Aynor, Clemson, Florence and York.
South Carolina residency requirements
To buy a resident license, you must qualify as a South Carolina resident under SCDNR’s residency rules. A standard way to prove residency is an unexpired South Carolina driver’s license or state identification card. Owning property in South Carolina alone doesn’t make you eligible for resident fees. Special residency rules apply to military personnel and full-time students.
How long is a South Carolina fishing license valid?
| License | Validity |
| Annual | One year from the date of purchase |
| 3-year | Three years from the date of purchase |
| 14-day | 14 consecutive days |
| 7-day saltwater | Seven consecutive days |
| 1-day saltwater | One day |
An annual license bought in November doesn’t expire at the end of December. It remains valid for one year from its purchase date. Certain permits, tags and commercial privileges follow different expiration dates, so check the individual permit before using it.
Georgia-South Carolina reciprocal fishing waters
If you’re fishing near the South Carolina-Georgia border, you may be able to use either state’s freshwater license on certain shared waters. The agreement covers parts of the Savannah River and Chattooga River, as well as several border lakes and impoundments, including Lake Hartwell, Lake Russell, Lake Thurmond, Lake Yonah, Lake Tugaloo, Stevens Creek Reservoir and the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam.
The agreement does not automatically extend to tributary streams flowing into these waters. Because the rules vary by waterbody and location, check the current regulations before assuming one state’s license covers your spot.
On a border lake, the license may not matter but the shoreline you fish from still does. Find the lake on the Fishbox map and compare the spots on each side before you launch.
Plan your South Carolina fishing trip with Fishbox
South Carolina runs from largemouth bass and catfish in freshwater lakes and rivers to redfish and other saltwater species along the coast, and each side calls for its own license. Fishbox puts the spots near you on one map with the forecast beside each, so you can choose which one suits the day and spend less time switching between tools.