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United States · SC
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR)
Rules change by area and can change mid-season. We explain what the rules mean and always link you to the official source — we never copy a limit table and call it current.
Licences — what you need
- • Freshwater and saltwater recreational licences are separate; the saltwater licence covers piers and charter passengers in some structures — private boat anglers need their own.
- • The freshwater/saltwater dividing line is defined on coastal rivers — which licence you need depends on which side of the line you fish.
How the rules are organized
- • Freshwater rules are organized by water bodies groupings (lakes, rivers) with named exceptions — Santee Cooper (Marion/Moultrie) has its own famous framework.
- • Saltwater rules are species-based and administered with the Marine Resources framework.
Good to know — common mistakes
- • The freshwater/saltwater dividing lines on coastal rivers (like the Waccamaw, Cooper and Edisto) determine your licence — signs and the official list govern.
- • Santee Cooper catfish and striped bass (rockfish) rules are lake-specific and strictly enforced.
- • Gigging and bowfishing have their own sections; shad and herring river fisheries have special seasons and gear rules.
- • Charter/headboat passengers are covered by the boat's licence in saltwater — private-boat guests are not.
Official links
Fishing locations covered in this guide
This page is a plain-language summary, not the law. Regulations change — including in-season by official notice — and if anything here disagrees with the official source, the official source governs.
AnglerPlan is an information service, not a regulator. If anything here disagrees with an official source, the official source wins — and please tell us so we can fix it.