Where to Catch Seafood in South Carolina

How to catch seafood in South Carolina's waters

You can catch seafood in South Carolina's ocean, sounds, rivers, and creeks without a saltwater fishing license if you're fishing from shore, a public pier, or a chartered boat. If you fish from a private boat or wade into the water, you need a saltwater recreational fishing license from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The license costs around $11 for a three-day pass or $34 for an annual resident license, and you buy it online or at tackle shops and sporting goods stores across the state.

What you can catch depends on the season and where you fish. Flounder, redfish, spotted seatrout, and shrimp are common in the sounds and creeks. Grouper, snapper, and amberjack live in deeper offshore waters. Crab—blue crab especially—thrive in marshes and shallow bays. The state publishes seasonal closures and size limits for each species, and those rules change throughout the year to protect breeding populations.

Key Takeaways

• You do not need a license to fish from shore, a public pier, or a charter boat, but you do need one to fish from a private boat or wade into saltwater.
• Saltwater recreational licenses cost $11 for three days or $34 annually and are sold online and at tackle shops statewide.
• Each species has a minimum size limit and a closed season; the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources publishes current rules online and at boat ramps.
• Public piers, creek access points, and boat ramps are free or low-cost places to fish without owning a boat.
• Charter boats provide equipment, expertise, and a licensed captain, and they handle licensing requirements for their passengers.

Public piers and shore access

South Carolina's public piers let you fish without a boat or a license. Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort has a 1,120-foot fishing pier where you can catch flounder, redfish, and Spanish mackerel. The pier is open year-round, and parking costs $5 per vehicle. Edisto Beach State Park offers both a pier and beach access; the park entrance fee is $7 per vehicle, and you can fish the pier or the surf.

Smaller public piers dot the coast. Folly Beach Pier in Charleston is a historic 1,045-foot structure where you pay $3 to $5 to fish and can catch king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and flounder. Murrells Inlet Pier near Myrtle Beach charges $5 to fish and is known for redfish and spotted seatrout. Many towns also maintain free creek access points and boat ramps where you can wade or launch a kayak; check your local town or county parks department for locations.

Wading and creek fishing

Wading into creeks and shallow bays is one of the most productive ways to catch redfish, spotted seatrout, and flounder. The ACE Basin—a 350,000-acre network of tidal creeks near Beaufort and Walterboro—is famous for this kind of fishing. You wade at low tide when fish concentrate in deeper channels, and at high tide when they move into shallow marsh grass to feed. A saltwater license is required if you wade, but the three-day pass makes it affordable for a weekend trip.

Shallow-water flats near Georgetown, Murrells Inlet, and Charleston's creeks hold redfish year-round. Spring and fall are peak seasons when water temperatures are mild and fish are most active. Wear wading boots or shoes with good grip because marsh bottoms are soft and slippery. Bring a headlamp if you fish early morning or late afternoon, when light is low but feeding is best.

Offshore and deep-water fishing

Grouper, snapper, amberjack, and king mackerel live in deeper waters 20 to 100 miles offshore. A private boat requires a saltwater license for everyone aboard who is fishing. Charter boats handle licensing for their passengers and provide all equipment—rods, reels, tackle, and bait—so you show up and fish. Half-day charters run 4 to 5 hours and cost $60 to $100 per person. Full-day charters run 8 to 10 hours and cost $120 to $200 per person.

Charleston, Beaufort, and Myrtle Beach have the most charter operations. Popular offshore grounds include the Charleston Bump, a deep-water ridge 80 miles southeast of Charleston where large grouper and snapper congregate. Summer and fall are peak seasons for offshore fishing, though weather can close boats for days. Book charters through the South Carolina Charter Boat Association or ask at local marinas for captains with good safety records and recent catch reports.

Crabbing in marshes and sounds

Blue crab is one of the easiest seafood to catch and requires no license. You can crab from docks, piers, and shallow water using a hand line, a crab net, or a crab trap. Hand lines—a weighted line with bait tied to the end—cost a few dollars and work well from any dock. Crab nets are circular nets on a handle that you lower into the water and scoop up when a crab crawls in. Crab traps are wire or mesh boxes that you bait and leave overnight, then pull up in the morning.

Crab year-round in South Carolina, but late spring through early fall is when they are most abundant and easiest to catch. Use chicken necks, fish heads, or squid as bait. Crabs are most active at high tide and at night. A bushel of crabs—about 100 crabs—takes a few hours of hand-lining from a dock or a night of trap fishing. Crabs must be at least 5 inches across the shell to keep, and you can take up to 100 per day without a license.

Shrimping seasons and methods

Shrimp are caught commercially in South Carolina, but recreational shrimping is also allowed during open seasons. The state sets shrimping seasons based on population surveys, and they typically run from May through December with closures in between. You can shrimp from docks, piers, and shallow water using a cast net or a shrimp net. A cast net is circular and weighted around the edge; you throw it over shrimp and pull it closed. A shrimp net is a long-handled dip net that works from docks and piers.

Shrimp congregate in shallow creeks and marsh grass, especially at dusk and dawn. You do not need a license to shrimp recreationally, but you must follow the state's seasonal closures and daily catch limits, which vary by year. Check the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website before you go to confirm the current season and any restrictions. Shrimp are most abundant in late summer and early fall when they move from nursery creeks toward deeper water.

Regulations, seasons, and size limits

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources sets all fishing rules, and they change throughout the year. Flounder season typically runs March through October, but the exact dates shift. Redfish and spotted seatrout have year-round seasons but closed months for spawning. Grouper and snapper have strict seasonal closures in summer to protect breeding populations. Minimum size limits range from 12 inches for flounder to 16 inches for redfish, and some species have maximum size limits too.

Bag limits—the number of fish you can keep per day—also vary by species. You can keep 10 flounder per day, 5 redfish, and 15 spotted seatrout. Offshore species like grouper and snapper have lower bag limits, often 3 to 5 fish per day. The state publishes a current saltwater fishing guide online and at every boat ramp and tackle shop. Read it before you fish because rules change and ignorance of the law does not protect you from fines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to fish from a public pier?

No. You can fish from a public pier without a saltwater license. You do need a license if you fish from a private boat or wade into the water. Charter boats handle licensing for their passengers, so you do not need your own license on a charter.

What is the best time of year to catch redfish in South Carolina?

Redfish are active year-round, but spring and fall offer the best conditions. Water temperatures are mild, and fish move into shallow creeks to feed. Summer heat pushes them deeper, and winter cold slows their feeding, though both seasons still produce fish.

How much does a saltwater fishing license cost?

A three-day license costs around $11, and an annual resident license costs around $34. Non-residents pay more for annual licenses. Prices vary slightly by year. You buy licenses online through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website or at tackle shops and sporting goods stores.

Can I keep crabs without a license?

Yes. Recreational crabbing does not require a license in South Carolina. You can keep up to 100 crabs per day, but each crab must be at least 5 inches across the shell. Check local ordinances because some towns have additional rules for crabbing from docks and piers.

What should I bring when I go wading to fish?

Bring wading boots or water shoes with good grip, a headlamp for early morning or late afternoon fishing, a small cooler for your catch, and a net to land fish. Wear light, quick-dry clothing and sunscreen. Bring your saltwater license and a copy of the current size and bag limits for the species you are targeting.