License at a glance
- Who needs one
- Anyone 16 or older taking finfish, shrimp, crabs, oysters, or clams in salt water
- Covered without your own license
- Fishing from a licensed public pier; aboard a licensed charter or headboat under hire
- Resident options
- 14-day, annual, and 3-year (see SCDNR for current fees)
- Nonresident options
- 1-day, 7-day, and annual
- Where to buy
- GoOutdoorsSC, SCDNR licensing at 1-866-714-3611, or a license agent
- Rules last checked
- October 29, 2026
Who needs a license
South Carolina requires a saltwater recreational fisheries license for anyone 16 or older who takes, or tries to take, finfish, shrimp, crabs, oysters, or clams in salt water, according to SCDNR. That covers most of what visitors do on the Grand Strand: surf fishing, fishing the jetties at Murrells Inlet or Little River, casting from a dock or the Intracoastal Waterway, crabbing with more than a few traps, and fishing from your own or a rented boat.
When you are already covered
There are two big exemptions, and they cover a large share of visitors:
- Licensed public piers. When you fish from a pier that holds an SCDNR pier license, the pier's license covers you. Cherry Grove, Apache, Pier 14, Second Avenue, Springmaid, the State Park pier, Surfside, and Garden City all charge a daily fishing fee; confirm at the gate that the pier is licensed.
- Licensed charter and headboats. When you fish aboard a licensed charter vessel under hire, the boat's license covers you. That includes headboats such as the big deep sea party boats in Murrells Inlet and Little River.
SCDNR also exempts a few small-scale methods, such as using three or fewer drop nets, fold-up traps, or handlines without hooks for crabs. Above that number, or with other gear, you need a license.
What it costs
SCDNR sets the fees, and they change by law. As listed on SCDNR's pricing pages when we checked on October 29, 2026:
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term | 14-day: $10 | 1-day: $10; 7-day: $35 |
| Annual | $15 | $75 |
| Multi-year | 3-year: $45 | not offered |
Check the resident and nonresident pricing pages before you buy; SCDNR also sells combination and lifetime licenses for residents.
How to buy one
The fastest way is online at GoOutdoorsSC, SCDNR's licensing system. You can also call SCDNR licensing at 1-866-714-3611 or buy from a license agent, which includes many tackle shops and sporting goods stores. A license bought online is valid right away; keep it on your phone along with an ID.
Federal permits you might also need
Most visitors never need one, but if you fish from a private boat in federal waters for tunas, billfish, swordfish, or most sharks, NOAA Fisheries requires an HMS Angling permit. Charter and headboats carry their own federal permits. Red snapper also had a separate free state experimental permit in 2026; see the red snapper news item.
What the license does not change
A license lets you fish; it does not change what you can keep. Size limits, bag limits, closed seasons, and gear rules apply to everyone, including kids and pier anglers. See size and bag limits: where to check.
Who you will deal with
SCDNR licensing
More offices, with notes, are on the local resources page.
Find local help
- Fishing piers on the Grand Strand
- Fishing charters on the Grand Strand
- Bait and tackle shops on the Grand Strand
Listings come from public records or from the business itself. A listing is not a recommendation.
Common questions
Do kids need a fishing license in South Carolina?
No. The saltwater license requirement applies to people 16 and older. Children under 16 can fish without one, but size and bag limits still apply to what they keep.
Do I need a license to fish from a pier in Myrtle Beach?
Not on a licensed public fishing pier. SCDNR licenses piers so that anglers who pay the pier's fee are covered. You still pay the pier's daily fishing fee, and the pier's own rules apply.
Do I need a license on a charter or headboat?
Not while you fish aboard a licensed charter vessel that is under hire. The boat's license covers its passengers. If you fish from your own boat or a rental, you need your own license.
Can I use my North Carolina license in Little River or Cherry Grove?
No. South Carolina does not honor other states' saltwater licenses. If you fish from shore or a private boat in South Carolina waters, buy a South Carolina nonresident license. The state line is just north of Little River Inlet.
Is there a separate license for shrimp baiting?
Yes. Shrimp baiting has its own license and season set by SCDNR, separate from the saltwater fishing license. Check SCDNR for the current season and rules.
Related guides
Sources
Official sources checked on October 29, 2026.