§ 50-9-540 — Recreational statewide saltwater fishing licenses; recreational statewide freshwater fishing licenses; annual saltwater public fishing pier licenses; annual charter vessel licenses.

South Carolina § 50-9-540

• Jurisdiction: South Carolina
• Title 50: FISH, GAME AND WATERCRAFT
• Ch. 9: HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES

Text

(A) For the privilege of recreational statewide fishing in saltwater: (1) a resident must purchase: (a) a fourteen-day temporary saltwater fishing license for ten dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (b) an annual saltwater fishing license for fifteen dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (c) a three-year saltwater fishing license for forty-five dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (d) a lifetime statewide saltwater fishing license for three hundred dollars at designated licensing locations; or (e) any other license which grants saltwater fishing privileges; (2) a nonresident must purchase: (a) a one-day temporary saltwater fishing license for ten dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (b) a seven-day temporary saltwater fishing license for thirty-five dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (c) an annual saltwater fishing license for seventy-five dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; or (d) any other license which grants saltwater fishing privileges. (B) For the privilege of recreational statewide fishing in freshwater: (1) a resident must purchase: (a) a fourteen day temporary freshwater fishing license for five dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (b) an annual freshwater fishing license for ten dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (c) a three year freshwater fishing license for thirty dollars, three dollars of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (d) a lifetime statewide freshwater fishing license for three hundred dollars at designated licensing locations; or (e) any other license which grants freshwater fishing privileges; (2) a nonresident must purchase: (a) a fourteen day temporary freshwater fishing license for eleven dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (b) an annual freshwater fishing license for thirty-five dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (c) a three year freshwater fishing license for one hundred five dollars, three dollars of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; or (d) any other license which grants freshwater fishing privileges. (C) For the privilege of operating a public fishing pier in the salt waters of this State, the owner or operator must purchase an annual saltwater public fishing pier license. For a pier with a total length: (1) of one hundred feet or less, the fee is one hundred fifty dollars; (2) greater than one hundred feet, the fee is three hundred fifty dollars. (D) For the privilege of operating a charter fishing vessel in the salt waters of this State, the owner or operator must purchase an annual charter vessel license for each vessel. For a vessel: (1) to carry six or fewer passengers, the fee is two hundred seventy-five dollars for residents and five hundred fifty dollars for nonresidents; (2) to carry seven but no more than forty-nine passengers, the fee is four hundred fifty dollars for residents and nine hundred dollars for nonresidents; (3) to carry fifty or more passengers, the fee is six hundred fifty dollars for residents and one thousand three hundred dollars for nonresidents. (E) For the privilege of fishing more than two and up to five crab traps recreationally, a recreational saltwater license holder must purchase an annual enhanced recreational crab trap endorsement at a cost of five dollars.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 2010 Act No. 233, SECTION 8, eff July 1, 2010; 2013 Act No. 94, SECTION 8, eff July 1, 2013; 2021 Act No. 91 (H.3957), SECTION 3, eff July 1, 2021; 2024 Act No. 212 (H.4386), SECTION 9, eff July 1, 2025. Editor's Note Prior laws: 1962 Code SECTION 28-553.2; 1969 (56) 444; 1981 Act No. 94, SECTION 11; 1993 Act No. 181, SECTION 1261; 1996 Act No. 373. SECTION 2; 2008 Act No. 268, SECTION 4; 2009 Act No. 15, SECTION 9. 2021 Act No. 91, SECTION 6, provides as follows: "SECTION 6. The Department of Natural Resources shall furnish a written report to the General Assembly on South Carolina's stock of flounder by December 31, 2023. The report must provide future projections." 2024 Act No. 212, SECTION 12, provides as follows: "SECTION 12. Upon approval of this act by the Governor, a moratorium on the issuance of new commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab takes effect, at which time the department must not issue any new commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab. This moratorium expires on June 15, 2025. Commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab in effect for the 2023-2024 license year are extended and do not expire until June 30, 2025." Effect of Amendment The 2008 amendment added "recreational freshwater fishing" in subsections (A) to (E); in subsection (C), substituted "designated licensing locations" for "Columbia office"; and added subsection (F) relating to recreational saltwater fishing. The 2009 amendment, in subsection (F), substituted "recreational saltwater fishing license" for "saltwater recreational fisheries license" and made nonsubstantive changes. The 2013 amendment, inserted subsections (A)(1)(e), (A)(2)(d), (B)(1)(e), and (B)(2)(d), relating to other license which grants freshwater fishing privileges; in subsection (B)(2)(a) substituted "fourteen day" for "seven day"; deleted former subsection (C), relating to a lakes and reservoirs permit, and redesignated the subsections accordingly; and made other nonsubstantive changes. 2021 Act No. 91, SECTION 3, rewrote (A) and (D). 2024 Act No. 212, SECTION 9, added (E).