2026 regulation year
South Carolina Fishing Regulations 2026 — License Fees, Seasons, Bag Limits
Last updated
South Carolina licences are sold by the SC Department of Natural Resources on a July 1 – June 30 fiscal year. SCDNR sells freshwater and saltwater fishing as separate licences — there is no freshwater+saltwater-only combination; an angler who fishes both buys both. No separate trout permit or stamp exists in South Carolina — a standard freshwater fishing licence covers trout. South Carolina's flagship fishery is the Santee Cooper system (Lake Marion + Lake Moultrie) — the world's first introduction of blue catfish (1964) and the country's strongest inland landlocked striped bass population. Lake Wylie on the Catawba River shares boundary-water management with North Carolina, Lake Hartwell + Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) + Lake Russell share boundary-water management with Georgia, and the Blue Ridge corner around Lake Jocassee + Lake Keowee + the Chattooga River Wild & Scenic corridor supports SC's small but trophy-grade cold-water trout fishery. The Atlantic coast from Little River Inlet to Hilton Head supplies redfish + spotted seatrout + flounder under a saltwater licence. The red drum slot is 15–23 inches with a 2-fish bag through June 30, 2026; from July 1, 2026 (Act 231 of 2026) it tightens to an 18–25 inch slot, 1 fish per angler (2 per boat).
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License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual freshwater fishing | $10.00 | |
| Resident annual saltwater fishing | $15.00 | |
| Resident 14-day freshwater fishing | $5.00 | |
| Resident 14-day saltwater fishing | $10.00 | |
| Resident Combination (hunting + big game + freshwater fishing) | $25.00 | Hunting-and-freshwater-fishing bundle — does NOT include saltwater. SC has no freshwater+saltwater-only combination |
| Resident senior (64+) lifetime fishing (fresh + salt) | $9.00 | One-time fee, SC residents 64+. Residents born on/before 7/1/1940 qualify for a free Gratis licence |
| Resident youth (under 16) | Free | No licence required under age 16 |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual freshwater fishing | $35.00 | |
| Non-resident annual saltwater fishing | $75.00 | |
| Non-resident 14-day freshwater | $11.00 | |
| Non-resident 7-day saltwater | $35.00 | |
| Non-resident 1-day saltwater | $10.00 | |
| Non-resident youth (under 16) | Free | No licence required under age 16 |
Buy directly from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Fees may include processing surcharges at point of sale.
Top species — season, bag, size
| Species | Season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bassCompare across states → | Year-round most waters | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + redeye); 10 / day combined on Lake Keowee + Lake Robinson (Greenville) | No statewide minimum on largemouth (any length); smallmouth 12 in min statewide; 14 in min largemouth on Lake Murray + the Savannah chain (Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond) |
| Striped bassCompare across states → | Santee Cooper (Lakes Marion + Moultrie): open Oct 1 – June 15, closed to harvest June 16 – Sept 30; Lake Murray + most inland reservoirs year-round | 3 / day Santee Cooper (Marion + Moultrie + connecting rivers); 5 / day Lake Murray + most inland reservoirs; 10 / day combined striped + hybrid Lake Hartwell + Thurmond | 26 in min Santee Cooper (Oct 1 – June 15); 21 in min Lake Murray (Oct 1 – May 31); Lake Hartwell + Thurmond only 3 of 10 may exceed 26 in |
| Red drum (redfish)Compare across states → | Year-round in saltwater (statewide) | 2 / day, 6 per boat (through June 30, 2026); 1 / day, 2 per boat from July 1, 2026 (Act 231) | 15–23 in slot through June 30, 2026; 18–25 in slot from July 1, 2026 (Act 231) — only fish within slot retainable |
| Spotted seatrout (speckled trout)Compare across states → | Year-round in saltwater (statewide) | 10 / day per angler | 14 in min |
| Trout (rainbow + brown + brook)Compare across states → | Year-round on most public trout waters; Delayed Harvest Nov 1 – May 14 on listed reaches (catch-and-release artificial-only) | Possession 5 trout (within the statewide 40-game-fish daily aggregate) | No minimum size on general waters; Lake Jocassee 15 in min Oct 1 – May 31; catch-and-release / Delayed Harvest reaches vary |
| Blue catfishCompare across states → | Year-round statewide | 25 / day Santee Cooper (Marion + Moultrie), upper Santee River + Pee Dee River (NC line – Hwy 301); 150 / day all other waters (2026 Act 120) | No minimum; max 2 fish over 32 in / day on Marion, Moultrie, upper Santee, Pee Dee (NC – 301), Congaree + Wateree rivers |
| Channel catfishCompare across states → | Year-round statewide | No statewide daily limit (hook and line) | No statewide size limit |
| Flathead catfishCompare across states → | Year-round statewide | No statewide daily limit (introduced — harvest unrestricted) | No statewide size limit |
Notable water-body special regulations
Santee Cooper flagship — any-length largemouth, 5 / day combined black bass (smallmouth 12 in min statewide); striped bass 26 in min, 3 / day (open Oct 1 – June 15, CLOSED June 16 – Sept 30); 8 in min crappie, 20 / day; 25 / day blue catfish, no more than 2 over 32 in (2026 Act 120); channel + flathead catfish no statewide limit; where SC blue catfish were first stocked (1964)
Santee Cooper lower lake — any-length largemouth, 5 / day combined black bass; striped bass 26 in min, 3 / day (open Oct 1 – June 15, CLOSED June 16 – Sept 30); 25 / day blue catfish, no more than 2 over 32 in (2026 Act 120); world-record channel catfish water (58 lb, 1964); Diversion Canal connects to Lake Marion
Striped bass spawning closures in spring on listed tributaries; 26 in min striped bass, 3 / day on connecting Santee Cooper waters (closed June 16 – Sept 30); tidal saltwater licence required below Mark Clark Expressway bridge
Lake Wylie (Catawba River, NC/SC boundary)
BRIEF flagship water-body — any-length largemouth, 5 / day combined black bass (smallmouth 12 in min statewide); reciprocal management with North Carolina under boundary-water compact; recreational boating + tournament water
Lake Murray (Saluda River, Columbia)
Premier inland striped bass fishery — striped bass 21 in min Oct 1 – May 31 (any length June 1 – Sept 30), 5 / day; 14 in min largemouth, 5 / day combined black bass; trophy crappie + blueback herring forage base
Lake Hartwell (Savannah River, GA/SC boundary)
Bassmaster Classic recurring venue (most recently 2022) — GA/SC reciprocal boundary water; 14 in min largemouth, 5 / day combined black bass; striped + hybrid striped 10 / day combined, only 3 over 26 in
Lake Thurmond / Clarks Hill Lake (Savannah River, GA/SC boundary)
GA/SC reciprocal — 14 in min largemouth, 5 / day combined black bass; striped + hybrid striped 10 / day combined, only 3 over 26 in; one of the largest reservoirs east of the Mississippi
Lake Russell (Savannah River, GA/SC boundary)
GA/SC reciprocal — 14 in min largemouth, 5 / day combined black bass; striped + hybrid striped 15 / day combined
Lake Greenwood (Saluda + Reedy Rivers)
Any-length largemouth, 5 / day combined black bass; striped + hybrid striped 15 / day combined; mid-state recreational water
Deep clear-water reservoir — 12 in min largemouth, 10 / day combined black bass; trophy spotted bass + deep-water trout; smallmouth + trout cold-water releases
1,300+ acre cold deep-water reservoir — SC state-record brown trout waters (17 lb 9.5 oz, 2001); trout possession 3 (Oct 1 – May 31: 15 in min, only 1 over 20 in; Jun 1 – Sept 30: any length); corn/cheese/fish-egg baits prohibited; any-length largemouth, 5 / day combined black bass; freshwater licence required (SC has no separate trout permit)
Chattooga River (SC/GA Wild & Scenic River corridor)
GA/SC boundary — Delayed Harvest Nov 1 – May 14 catch-and-release single-hook-artificial-only on the Hwy 28 to Reed Creek reach; general reaches possession 5, no minimum size; freshwater licence required (no separate trout permit); reciprocal with Georgia on the open river
Eastatoee Creek (Eastatoee Creek Heritage Preserve)
Delayed Harvest Nov 1 – May 14 catch-and-release artificial-only trout reach; general regs balance of year (possession 5, no minimum size); freshwater licence required (no separate trout permit)
Saluda River below Lake Murray Dam (Columbia tailwater)
Delayed Harvest Nov 1 – May 14 catch-and-release artificial-only on the upper tailwater; cold-water release supports trout into the midlands; freshwater licence required (no separate trout permit)
Any-length largemouth, 5 / day combined black bass; striped + hybrid striped 15 / day combined; Catawba chain recreational water
Pee Dee region cooling reservoir — largemouth 5 / day combined black bass (statewide any-length unless posted); crappie 20 / day, 8 in min
Atlantic coast (Little River Inlet to Hilton Head)
Saltwater Recreational Licence required — red drum 2 / day, 6 / boat, 15–23 in slot (1 / day, 2 / boat, 18–25 in slot from July 1, 2026, Act 231); spotted seatrout 10 / day, 14 in min; flounder 5 / day, 10 / boat, 16 in min; sheepshead 10 / day, 30 / boat, 14 in min; black drum 5 / day, 14–27 in slot; red drum + spotted seatrout may not be gigged Dec 1 – Feb 28
ACE Basin (Ashepoo + Combahee + Edisto Rivers)
Tidal blackwater estuary — premier inshore red drum + spotted seatrout + flounder + sheepshead fishery; saltwater licence required on tidal reaches
Charleston Harbor + Cooper / Wando / Ashley Rivers (tidal)
Saltwater licence required — inshore red drum 15–23 in slot, 2 / day, 6 / boat (18–25 in, 1 / day, 2 / boat from July 1, 2026, Act 231); spotted seatrout 14 in min, 10 / day; black drum 14–27 in slot, 5 / day
Winyah Bay + Waccamaw / Pee Dee / Black / Sampit Rivers (Georgetown)
Saltwater licence on tidal reaches — red drum, spotted seatrout, flounder, sheepshead; freshwater licence above the salt line; tarpon migration July – September offshore
Lake Ashwood (SCDNR State Lake, Lee County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (75 acres, Lee County) — largemouth bass 3 / day (statewide 12 in min applies), bream 20 / day, catfish 3 / day; statewide crappie limits apply; gas motors limited to 7.5 hp
Lake Edgar Brown (SCDNR State Lake, Barnwell County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (100 acres, Barnwell County) — largemouth bass 3 / day, 16 in min; bream 20 / day; catfish 3 / day; gas motors 10 hp or less north of Hospital Road, electric only south of the road
Lake Cherokee (SCDNR State Lake, Cherokee County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (50 acres, Cherokee County) — largemouth bass 5 / day (statewide 12 in min applies), bream 25 / day, catfish 3 / day; statewide crappie limits apply; electric motors only
Lake Thicketty (SCDNR State Lake, Cherokee County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (100 acres, Cherokee County) — largemouth bass 10 / day (statewide 12 in min applies), bream 25 / day, no daily limit on catfish; statewide crappie limits apply; gas motors 6 hp or less
Lake Oliphant (SCDNR State Lake, Chester County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (40 acres, Chester County) — largemouth bass 3 / day, 14 in min; bream 20 / day; catfish 3 / day; electric motors only; open Monday, Wednesday + Saturday
Mountain Lakes (SCDNR State Lakes, Chester County)
Two SCDNR-managed State Lakes (Mountain Lake 1, 42 acres + Mountain Lake 2, 10 acres; Chester County) — largemouth bass 1 / day, 16 in min (the most protective black-bass creel in the State Lakes system); bream 10 / day over 5 in; catfish 3 / day; electric motors only; open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday + Sunday
Lake John D. Long (SCDNR State Lake, Union County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (80 acres, Union County) — largemouth bass 3 / day (statewide 12 in min applies), bream 20 / day, catfish 3 / day; statewide crappie limits apply; electric motors only
Jonesville Reservoir (SCDNR State Lake, Union County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (35 acres, Union County) — largemouth bass 3 / day, 12 in min; bream 20 / day; catfish 3 / day; electric motors only; open Monday, Wednesday + Saturday
Lancaster Reservoir (SCDNR State Lake, Lancaster County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (62 acres, Lancaster County) — largemouth bass 2 / day, 16 in min; bream 20 / day; crappie 30 / day; catfish 3 / day; electric motors only; open Thursday + Saturday
Sunrise Lake (SCDNR State Lake, Lancaster County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (25 acres, Lancaster County) — largemouth bass 2 / day, 16 in min; bream 20 / day; catfish 3 / day; electric motors only; open Monday, Wednesday + Saturday
Lake Edwin Johnson (SCDNR State Lake, Spartanburg County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (40 acres, Spartanburg County) — largemouth bass 3 / day, 16 in min; bream 20 / day; catfish 3 / day; electric motors only
Oak Grove Lake (SCDNR State Lake, Greenville County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (18 acres, Greenville County) — largemouth bass 3 / day, 12 in min; bream 20 / day; catfish 3 / day; electric motors only; open Wednesday + Saturday, March 1 – September 30
Star Fort Pond (SCDNR State Lake, Greenwood County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (18 acres, Greenwood County, beside Ninety Six National Historic Site) — largemouth bass 3 / day, 12 in min; bream 20 / day; catfish 3 / day; electric motors only; open Wednesday, Friday + Saturday, April 1 – November 1
Lake Paul Wallace (SCDNR State Lake, Marlboro County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (280 acres, Marlboro County, near Bennettsville) — largemouth bass catch-and-release only (no harvest); bream 20 / day; catfish 3 / day; gas motors 10 hp or less
Lake George Warren (SCDNR State Lake, Hampton County)
Largest SCDNR-managed State Lake (400 acres, Hampton County) — largemouth bass 3 / day (statewide 12 in min applies), bream 20 / day, catfish 3 / day; statewide crappie limits apply; gas motors 10 hp or less
Dargan's Pond (SCDNR State Lake, Darlington County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (50 acres, Darlington County) — largemouth bass 3 / day, 16 in min (2 of the 3 may be under the size limit); bream 20 / day; catfish 3 / day; electric motors only; open Wednesday + Saturday, March 1 – September 30
Draper WMA Lakes (SCDNR State Lakes, York County)
Three small SCDNR-managed State Lakes on Draper WMA (1, 2 + 5 acres; York County) — largemouth bass 3 / day, 14 in min; bream 15 / day; catfish 3 / day; daily creel limits combined across all three ponds; bank fishing only (no boats); open Wednesday – Monday
Webb Center Lakes (SCDNR State Lakes, Hampton County)
Two SCDNR-managed State Lakes at the Webb Wildlife Center (7 + 10 acres, Hampton County) — largemouth bass 10 / day (statewide 12 in min applies), bream 30 / day, no daily limit on catfish; electric motors only; combined daily creel limits across both ponds; closed on deer-hunting days
Bonneau Ferry WMA Lake (SCDNR State Lake, Berkeley County)
SCDNR-managed State Lake (100 acres, Berkeley County) — largemouth bass 2 / day (statewide 12 in min applies), bream 10 / day, no daily limit on catfish; electric motors only; adult/youth fishing access; open Wednesday, Saturday + Sunday, March 2 – October 31; closed on deer-hunting days and Saturdays in April until 11:00 AM
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fishing license to fish in South Carolina?
- Yes. South Carolina requires residents and non-residents alike to hold a valid fishing license, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. Buy directly from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; resident and non-resident fees are listed in the tables above.
- How much is a fishing license in South Carolina?
- Resident fees range from $5.00 (resident 14-day freshwater fishing) to $25.00 (resident combination (hunting + big game + freshwater fishing)); Non-resident fees range from $10.00 (non-resident 1-day saltwater) to $75.00 (non-resident annual saltwater fishing). The full breakdown — annual, multi-day, senior, and lifetime options — is in the license-fee tables above, and you can compare South Carolina against every other state on the license-fee comparator.
- What fish can you catch in South Carolina?
- South Carolina anglers most commonly target Largemouth bass, Striped bass, Red drum (redfish), Spotted seatrout (speckled trout), Trout (rainbow + brown + brook), Blue catfish, and others. Each species sets its own season, daily bag, and size or slot limit — compare them in the species table above, or open a species page for the full 2026 rule.
- When does fishing season open in South Carolina?
- It depends on the species — South Carolina sets a separate season for each. Warmwater fish like bass, catfish, and panfish are open year-round in most of the state, while trout, walleye, salmon, and other cold-water or migratory species have dated seasons. The season column in the table above shows each one, and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources can shift dates by emergency order.
- Are there special fishing rules on specific South Carolina waters?
- Yes. 39 named South Carolina waters carry regulations that differ from the statewide rule, including Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Cooper River, and 36 more. See the notable water-body special regulations above for the exact rule on each.
Official source
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is the authoritative source for South Carolina fishing regulations. Always verify rules before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override published booklets.
Visit official South Carolina fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any South Carolina trip during the active season.