South Carolina Code 50-9-540. Recreational statewide saltwater fishing licenses; recreational statewide freshwater fishing licenses; annual saltwater public fishing pier licenses; annual charter vessel licenses
(1) a resident must purchase:
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 50-9-540
- Charter fishing vessel: means a vessel used to transport recreational saltwater fishermen for hire and includes charter, party, and head boats. See South Carolina Code 50-5-15
- Fishing: means all activity and effort involved in taking or attempting to take fish. See South Carolina Code 50-5-15
- Operator: means the person who operates or has charge or command of the navigation or use of a vessel or watercraft. See South Carolina Code 50-21-10
- Owner: means a person, other than a lienholder, who claims lawful possession of a vessel or outboard motor by virtue of legal title or equitable interest in it which entitled him to possession. See South Carolina Code 50-21-10
- Public fishing pier: means piers open to the public which charge a fee to fish. See South Carolina Code 50-5-15
- Total length: means the length of a fish laid flat and measured from the closed mouth (snout) to the tip of the tail fin when pinched together. See South Carolina Code 50-5-15
- Vessel: means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane regulated by the federal government, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. See South Carolina Code 50-21-10
(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.