South Carolina Fishing License 2026: Freshwater, Saltwater, Shrimp Baiting & Senior Fees

South Carolina does not sell one universal fishing card. Freshwater and saltwater are
priced and licensed as separate products, each with its own annual or 3-year term, and
shrimp baiting sits on top of the saltwater privilege as its own license and tags. The
current license year runs through June 30, 2027; new-year licenses, tags, and commercial
permits went on sale June 16, 2026.

At-a-glance fees (Residents)

At-a-glance fees (Nonresidents)

Sources: SCDNR resident and nonresident pricing pages.

Who needs a license

Anyone 16 or older fishing recreationally in South Carolina fresh or salt water needs the
matching license. Children under 16 are exempt unless they are engaged in commercial
activity or using a nongame fish device (traps, trotlines, gill nets, hoop nets, set
hooks, jugs), in which case the age exemption does not apply.

Shrimp baiting is its own license

Shrimp baiting by cast net over bait requires a separate seasonal license and tags —
it is not included in the base saltwater license. Residents pay $25 for the season;
nonresidents pay $500. Season dates are set annually and applications are handled through
the SCDNR shrimp baiting application.

Shellfish and crab harvest

Recreational shellfish (clams, oysters, mussels, whelks) and crab harvest fall under the
saltwater side of the licensing system, separate from commercial shellfish dealer
licensing, which has its own resident/nonresident fee schedule.

Senior rules: two different paths, don’t confuse them

South Carolina Code Section 50-9-530 sets two distinct senior provisions:

• Gratis lifetime license (free): Residents born before July 1, 1940 qualify for a
  no-cost lifetime hunting and fishing license.
• Senior lifetime license ($9): Residents born on or after July 1, 1940 who have
  reached age 64 can buy a lifetime hunting and fishing license for $9 (one dollar of which
  the vendor retains). This $9 lifetime license also covers freshwater and saltwater
  fishing, big game permit, WMA permit, state waterfowl permit, and the freshwater set-hook
  permit — but no tags are included; deer/turkey tags still need a one-time request and
  annual renewal.

Both require applying in person at a DNR office or by mail with a photocopy of a valid SC
driver’s license or SC ID.

Common pitfalls

• Buying a saltwater license alone and assuming it covers shrimp baiting — it does not; you
  need the separate shrimp baiting license and tags.
• Assuming the $9 senior fee applies to everyone 64+ — anyone born before July 1, 1940 gets
  the license free, not for $9.
• Forgetting that 3-year options exist only for standard annual freshwater/saltwater
  licenses, not for shrimp baiting, piers, or charter vessels, which are season/annual only.
• Overlooking that saltwater public fishing pier and charter vessel licenses carry
  reporting requirements and expire on a fixed date (June 30, 2027 for the current cycle),
  unlike standard 3-year licenses.
• Missing that a Social Security number is legally required on the application, per SC Code
  Section 63-14-1080, for child-support enforcement compliance — omitting it will delay
  processing.

Official links

• SC Resident Fishing & Hunting License Pricing
• SC Nonresident Fishing & Hunting License Pricing
• Senior Lifetime Recreational License (application & rules)
• Purchase a License (SCDNR portal)

FAQs

Does the saltwater license cover shellfish and crab harvest?

Yes. Recreational shellfish and crab harvest are governed under the saltwater side of
South Carolina’s licensing system, not as a separate product.

Is shrimp baiting part of the base saltwater license?

No. Shrimp baiting requires its own seasonal license and tags — $25 for residents, $500
for nonresidents — purchased in addition to the saltwater fishing license.

What’s the difference between the gratis senior license and the $9 senior license?

The gratis (free) lifetime license applies only to residents born before July 1, 1940.
Residents born on or after that date who turn 64 must pay $9 for the equivalent lifetime
license.

Are 3-year licenses available for both freshwater and saltwater?

Yes, for residents ($30 freshwater / $45 saltwater) and nonresidents ($105 freshwater
only — nonresident saltwater tops out at an annual $75 license, with no 3-year option).

Do kids need a fishing license in South Carolina?

No, unless they are under 16 and using a nongame device such as a trotline, gill net, or
jug, or engaged in commercial fishing activity.