A South Carolina single-day fishing license costs $10, but the option is available only to nonresidents fishing in saltwater. Residents and freshwater anglers must choose a different license duration. The correct permit depends on your age, residency, fishing location, gear, and whether a licensed charter boat or public fishing pier covers you.
Quick Answer
A South Carolina nonresident 1-day saltwater fishing license costs $10. It is for anglers age 16 or older fishing in state saltwaters unless an exemption applies. Residents do not have a 1-day option; their shortest saltwater license is a 14-day permit for $10. Carry printed or electronic proof plus identification.
Key Takeaways
- The nonresident 1-day South Carolina saltwater fishing license costs $10.
- South Carolina does not offer a resident 1-day fishing license or a 1-day freshwater license.
- The basic saltwater license does not replace freshwater licenses, nongame-device permits, special tags, or other required privileges.
- Anglers age 16 or older generally need a license, but licensed charter boats, licensed public fishing piers, youth, and certain activities may qualify for exemptions.
- Electronic license proof is allowed, but physical tags must be carried when a particular activity requires them.
Who Needs a Single-Day Fishing License in South Carolina?
A nonresident age 16 or older generally needs a recreational saltwater fishing license when fishing from a boat, beach, bank, private dock, free public dock, or while wading in South Carolina saltwaters. The same basic requirement can apply when recreationally gathering oysters, clams, shrimp, crabs, or marine finfish.
The current SCDNR nonresident price list offers a $10 one-day saltwater license. It does not offer a one-day freshwater license.
The shortest South Carolina fishing license is the $10 nonresident one-day saltwater license.
Children under 16 normally do not need a recreational fishing license. However, age exemptions do not automatically apply when a child fishes commercially or uses regulated freshwater nongame devices such as jugs, trotlines, gill nets, hoop nets, traps, or set hooks.
You also do not need an individual saltwater license when fishing as a paying passenger aboard a properly licensed charter fishing vessel or from a properly licensed public fishing pier. A free public pier or an unlicensed private pier does not provide the same exemption.
Note: The legal freshwater-and-saltwater dividing line is generally U.S. Highway 17, but South Carolina has several location-specific exceptions. Check the official SCDNR dividing-line map when fishing a coastal river, creek, or estuary.
Nonresident 1-Day Saltwater License Cost and Validity
The South Carolina nonresident one-day saltwater fishing license costs $10 and is valid for one day. Check the start and expiration information displayed on the issued license or in your Go Outdoors South Carolina account before fishing.
The license provides basic recreational saltwater privileges. It does not override closed seasons, size limits, possession limits, area closures, protected-species rules, federal-water rules, or equipment restrictions.
| Nonresident Saltwater License | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day saltwater | $10 | 1 day |
| 7-day saltwater | $35 | 7 consecutive days |
| Annual saltwater | $75 | 1 year from purchase |
The one-day permit is normally the lowest-cost choice for one isolated trip. A seven-day license costs less than four separate one-day licenses, while an annual license becomes worth comparing when you expect several coastal trips during the year.
Warning: A South Carolina saltwater license does not authorize freshwater fishing. You may need both a freshwater and saltwater license when your trip crosses the legal dividing line.
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Resident Short-Term Fishing Options and Pricing
South Carolina residents do not have a one-day recreational fishing option. The shortest resident license is a 14-day permit, with separate prices for freshwater and saltwater.
| Resident License | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 14-day freshwater | $5 | 14 consecutive days |
| Annual freshwater | $10 | 1 year from purchase |
| 3-year freshwater | $30 | 3 years from purchase |
| 14-day saltwater | $10 | 14 consecutive days |
| Annual saltwater | $15 | 1 year from purchase |
| 3-year saltwater | $45 | 3 years from purchase |
Resident-license buyers normally need an unexpired South Carolina driver’s license or state identification card to prove residency. SCDNR generally uses a 30-day residency period for regular recreational resident licenses.
A resident who fishes both freshwater and saltwater may need separate privileges. Compare the water location with the official dividing line rather than relying only on whether the water looks fresh or salty.
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Gear-Specific Permits and Nongame Device Tags
The $10 one-day saltwater license does not replace permits or tags required for regulated freshwater nongame devices. A freshwater recreational or commercial license is also required when using these devices.
Current annual nongame permits and tags sold for the 2026–2027 license year expire June 30, 2027. Device rules can limit where, when, and how the equipment may be used. Nongame devices generally may not be used in SCDNR-managed state lakes.
Warning: Do not buy only a one-day saltwater license and assume it covers jugs, set hooks, eel pots, freshwater gill nets, traps, or trotlines. These are separate freshwater privileges with device-specific rules.
Nongame Device Tagging Rules
Marking requirements vary by device. Depending on the equipment, you may need an issued tag, your name and SCDNR customer identification number, and a legal floating marker. The information must remain visible and legible while the device is in use.
Children under 16 do not receive the ordinary youth exemption when they possess or use regulated nongame fishing devices. Required licenses, permits, tags, marking rules, seasons, and water restrictions still apply.
Permit Types, Prices, and Limits
| Device | Resident Price | Nonresident Price | Recreational Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jug permit | $5 | $50 | One permit; up to 50 jugs where authorized |
| Set-hook permit | $5 | $50 | One permit; up to 50 hooks where authorized |
| Eel-pot tag | $5 | $50 | Up to 2 recreational pots; reporting requirements apply |
| Gill-net tag, excluding shad and herring | $5 | $50 | Up to 3 nets and no more than 100 total yards |
A resident recreational trotline tag costs $2.50 and covers one trotline with no more than 50 hooks. Other devices, commercial quantities, selling catch, and shad or herring fishing can require different licenses and permits.
Review the SCDNR nongame-device directory before setting equipment because authorized waters, legal hours, bait rules, dimensions, and marking requirements differ by device.
Tag Display and Reporting
Attach every required tag securely before placing the device in the water. Mark equipment with the owner information, customer identification number, and floating markers required for that device.
Eel-pot reporting requirements apply, and other devices may have season, location, daily-removal, or recordkeeping conditions. Carry the matching fishing license and device privilege while the equipment is in use.
- Confirm that the device is legal on the specific water.
- Buy the correct resident or nonresident license and device privilege.
- Attach all tags and owner-identification markings.
- Follow legal hours, seasons, gear quantities, and reporting requirements.
- Remove the device when required and retain any required records.
Where and How to Purchase a Single-Day License
You can buy the $10 nonresident one-day saltwater license through the official Go Outdoors South Carolina licensing portal, the Go Outdoors South Carolina mobile app, an authorized license vendor, or by telephone at 1-866-714-3611.
Use only an official SCDNR page or an authorized agent. SCDNR warns that fraudulent license websites exist.
- Open the official licensing system: Sign in to an existing customer profile or create a new one.
- Enter your identity details: The system may request your date of birth, name, Social Security number, alien identification number, driver’s license information, passport information, or SCDNR customer ID.
- Select the correct privilege: Choose the nonresident one-day recreational saltwater fishing license.
- Review the license dates: Confirm the start and expiration information before paying.
- Save proof: Store the license in the Go Outdoors app, save a screenshot or PDF, or keep the printed receipt with your identification.
Pro Tip: Download or screenshot the license before leaving mobile coverage. South Carolina accepts electronic proof in the department-approved format, but your phone must be usable when an officer requests it.
| Purchase Method | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Official website | Immediate account access and electronic proof |
| Go Outdoors SC app | Purchase, renew, and store licenses on a mobile device |
| Authorized vendor | In-person assistance and printed proof |
| Telephone | Purchase through the official licensing line at 1-866-714-3611 |
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Exemptions: Who Can Fish Without a Daily Permit?
Several South Carolina exemptions may remove the need for an individual recreational fishing license. Each exemption has limits, and normal fishing regulations still apply.
- Children under 16: No recreational license is normally required unless the child fishes commercially or uses regulated nongame devices.
- Licensed charter vessels: Paying customers fishing aboard a properly licensed charter fishing vessel do not need individual saltwater licenses.
- Licensed public fishing piers: Anglers fishing from a properly licensed public fishing pier are covered by the pier license.
- Limited recreational crabbing: A saltwater license is not required when using no more than three drop nets, no more than three fold-up traps, or no more than three hand lines with one bait each and no hooks.
- Shrimp baiting: The recreational saltwater-license exemption does not remove the separate shrimp-baiting license and tag requirements.
- Private freshwater ponds: A recreational freshwater license is not required when fishing a qualifying private pond. You must still have legal permission to access the property.
- Qualifying pay-to-fish businesses: Customers may be exempt when the business has the required SCDNR aquaculture permit or registration.
South Carolina Free Fishing Days
South Carolina residents may fish recreationally in freshwater without the usual license or permit on:
- July 4
- The date observed by South Carolina for National Memorial Day
This exemption is for residents and freshwater recreational fishing. It does not provide free nonresident fishing, free saltwater fishing, commercial privileges, or privileges that require a commercial license for nongame equipment. All size, creel, season, and method rules remain in effect.
Military, Disability, and Senior Licenses
A South Carolina resident serving on active duty outside the state may fish without buying the ordinary freshwater or saltwater license while home on leave when the person presents an official leave-and-earnings statement showing South Carolina as the home state. Separate permits or tags may still be required for nongame devices and other special privileges.
A person who has lived in South Carolina for at least 365 days and receives qualifying disability benefits from an approved agency, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, may apply for a no-cost three-year disability fishing or combination license. The exemption is not automatic merely because someone is a veteran.
A South Carolina resident age 64 or older who meets the residency requirement may apply for a $9 senior lifetime license that includes freshwater and saltwater fishing privileges.
Penalties and What to Do If You Lose Your License
South Carolina law requires you to carry your license, permit, or stamp while using the privilege and to show it to a law-enforcement officer on request. You may use a physical copy or approved electronic proof.
Fishing without the required license is a misdemeanor. A conviction can result in a fine of $50 to $500 or imprisonment for up to 30 days. The same statutory range can apply when you own the required license but fail to carry it or provide electronic proof.
Warning: Never borrow, lend, or transfer a fishing license. A conviction for borrowing or lending a license can carry a $200 to $500 fine, up to 30 days in jail, and loss of hunting and fishing privileges for one year.
Penalty Amounts Overview
| Violation | Possible Statutory Penalty |
|---|---|
| Fishing without the required license or privilege | $50–$500 fine or up to 30 days’ imprisonment |
| Failing to carry or display an issued license | $50–$500 fine or up to 30 days’ imprisonment |
| Borrowing or lending a license | $200–$500 fine, up to 30 days’ imprisonment, and one-year privilege forfeiture |
Additional court costs, penalties for other fishing violations, and privilege suspensions may apply depending on the circumstances.
Steps to Replace a Lost License
- Check your Go Outdoors SC account or app: Your current license may already be available electronically.
- Use electronic proof: Display the license in the approved format with your identification when requested.
- Recover the order number: SCDNR may allow you to fish using the order number and photo identification after an online purchase.
- Buy a duplicate if needed: A standard duplicate recreational license currently costs $3 at an SCDNR regional office or authorized license vendor.
- Replace physical tags separately: Do not use an activity requiring a physical tag until the required tag is in your possession.
Keep your license screenshot, order number, customer identification number, and a physical or cloud backup in separate places. Make sure the electronic copy remains readable and current.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my 1-day license to someone else?
No. South Carolina licenses are issued to a specific person and may not be borrowed, lent, reassigned, or transferred. Borrowing or lending a license can lead to a $200–$500 fine and a one-year loss of hunting and fishing privileges.
Are refunds available for unused single-day permits?
Do not assume that a short-term license is refundable. SCDNR’s public pricing pages do not promise refunds for an unused one-day license. Contact the licensing office immediately after a mistaken purchase and do not use the privilege while requesting a review.
Does a 1-day license cover both shore and boat fishing?
Yes. The nonresident one-day saltwater license can cover ordinary recreational fishing from shore or a private boat in South Carolina saltwaters. Species, area, season, equipment, and federal-water restrictions still apply.
Is proof of residency required when buying the license?
The one-day saltwater license is a nonresident privilege, so you do not need to prove South Carolina residency. You must still provide the identity information required to create or locate your SCDNR customer profile.
Can I buy a 1-day license online and use it immediately?
Yes. You can purchase through Go Outdoors South Carolina and access the license or order information electronically. Confirm the displayed start date and carry photo identification. Activities requiring physical tags cannot begin until those tags are in your possession.
Does the $10 license cover freshwater fishing?
No. The $10 one-day license is for nonresident saltwater fishing only. A nonresident freshwater angler can instead buy a 14-day freshwater license for $11, an annual license for $35, or a three-year license for $105.
Do I need a license on a South Carolina charter boat?
Not when you are fishing as a customer aboard a properly licensed charter fishing vessel. Ask the operator whether the vessel’s current SCDNR charter license covers passengers before the trip.
Conclusion
A South Carolina single-day fishing license costs $10 for a nonresident fishing in saltwater. Residents must choose a 14-day or longer license, and freshwater anglers need a separate freshwater privilege. Before fishing, confirm the legal water type, license dates, exemptions, gear permits, and current catch regulations.
Carry printed or electronic proof with identification. Buying the correct license helps you avoid fines while supporting South Carolina saltwater fisheries research, management, enforcement, habitat work, and public fishing programs.
Note: Prices and rules were verified on July 28, 2026. Regulations can change during the license year, so review the live SCDNR fishing-regulations page before your trip.
Sources
- SCDNR Nonresident License Pricing — nonresident freshwater and saltwater license prices and nongame-device fees.
- SCDNR Resident License Pricing — resident fishing-license prices, residency requirements, permit fees, and expiration dates.
- SCDNR License Frequently Asked Questions — age requirements, electronic purchase proof, duplicate licenses, charter exemptions, and disability qualifications.
- South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 50, Chapter 9 — license requirements, exemptions, possession rules, transfer restrictions, and statutory penalties.
- South Carolina Saltwater Recreational Fishing License Program — current resident and nonresident saltwater license options.
- SCDNR Freshwater Nongame Devices — device definitions, legal waters, equipment limits, tags, marking rules, and reporting requirements.
