Fishing in South Carolina
Savannah chain reservoirs, Santee Cooper, blackwater rivers, mountain trout, salt marsh, piers and offshore reefs, with the state guide limits for every water.
Search a town, county, lake or bait shop
- 47lakes
- 141rivers
- 23coast pages
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Marion: Andrew Parlette, CC BY 2.0
South Carolina reservoirs, blackwater rivers, marsh and reefs
South Carolina fishing runs from the cold mountain lakes and trout streams of Oconee and Pickens counties, down the Savannah chain of Hartwell, Russell and Thurmond, through the midlands reservoirs (Murray, Wateree, Greenwood, Monticello) to the Santee Cooper lakes, the blackwater rivers of the Pee Dee and Edisto basins, and the salt marsh, inlets, piers and offshore reefs of the coast.
This guide holds 47 lake pages, 141 river and creek pages, 23 sounds, bays and inlets, 43 reef areas, 501 boat landing pages, 219 bank and pier sites, all 46 counties and 211 towns, each with the 2026-2027 guide rows for its water.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The largest South Carolina lakes on this site
Lake Marion
90,000 acres, Berkeley County and 4 other counties
Lake pageLake Thurmond
71,100 acres, McCormick County
Lake pageLake Moultrie
60,400 acres, Berkeley County
Lake pageLake Hartwell
56,000 acres, Anderson County and 2 other counties
Lake pageLake Murray
48,579 acres, Lexington County and 3 other counties
Lake pageLake Keowee
18,500 acres, Oconee and Pickens counties
Lake pageLake Wateree
13,025 acres, Fairfield County and 2 other counties
Lake pageLake Greenwood
11,400 acres, Greenwood County and 2 other counties
Lake pageSouth Carolina rivers with SCDNR landings and gauges
Little Pee Dee River
Dillon County and 2 other counties
River pageEdisto River
Bamberg County and 3 other counties
River pageSaluda River
Anderson County and 6 other counties
River pageSavannah River
Aiken County and 5 other counties
River pageChattooga River
Oconee County
River pageChauga River
Oconee County
River pageWateree River
Kershaw and Richland counties
River pageCooper River
Berkeley and Charleston counties
River pageSouth Carolina sounds, inlets and harbors
Charleston Harbor
Charleston County
Coast pageMurrells Inlet
Georgetown County
Coast pageLighthouse Inlet
Charleston County
Coast pagePort Royal Sound
Beaufort County
Coast pageWinyah Bay
Georgetown County
Coast pageCherry Grove Inlet
Horry County
Coast pageBreach Inlet
Charleston County
Coast pageMidway Inlet
Georgetown County
Coast page43 SCDNR permit-area reefs lie off the coast from Little River to Hilton Head, and 45 saltwater piers stand along the beaches.
South Carolina trout water in the mountains
- Saluda RiverAnderson County and 6 other counties
- Savannah RiverAiken County and 5 other counties
- Chattooga RiverOconee County
- Chauga RiverOconee County
- Cedar CreekLancaster County and 2 other counties
- Eastatoe CreekPickens County
- Middle Saluda RiverGreenville County
- North Saluda RiverGreenville County
- South Saluda RiverGreenville County
- Brasstown CreekOconee County
- East Fork Chattooga RiverOconee County
- Little Eastatoe CreekPickens County
South Carolina fishing dates to keep
- Free fishing days 2027: May 31 and July 4residents, fresh water only
- Red drum slot and bag change: July 1, 202618 to 25 inches, 1 a person, 2 a boat
- Guide in force: August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027the limits quoted on this site
- Lake Marion closures: November 1 to February 28Cantey Bay, Black Bottom and Savannah Branch
South Carolina bass, catfish and billfish tournaments
54 upcoming events and posted results on Murray, Wateree, Greenwood, Hartwell, the Santee Cooper lakes and the coast, each with its organizer source.
Top weights on the Palmetto State record lists
- Blue Marlin, 881 lb 13 ozCharleston, 2005
- Hammerhead Shark, 588 lb 3 ozCharleston, 1989
- Swordfish, 500 lbGeorgetown, 1978
- Bull Shark, 477 lb 12 ozStono Inlet, 1985
- Dusky Shark, 466 lb 12 ozCharleston, 1981
- Bigeye Thresher Shark, 406 lbEdisto Island, 1978
Booking a captain, finding tackle and packing gear in South Carolina
- Guides and charters165 listings
- Bait and tackle shops299 shops and marinas
- Popping corks and circle hooks on Amazonfor redfish and trout in the marsh
- Striper live-bait rigs on Amazonfor Murray, Hartwell and Santee Cooper
Pick a South Carolina water, county or town
- Lakes47 lakes
- Rivers and creeks141 rivers
- Coast23 sounds and inlets
- Countiesall 46
- Towns211 towns
- Species64 fish
- Water levelsCorps readings, USGS gauges, tides
South Carolina rules, records and directories
- Every South Carolina water A to Zlakes, rivers, sounds, reefs, counties, towns and fish
- License prices and freshwater limitsSCDNR prices and the 2026-2027 guide table
- Saltwater limitsinshore, offshore and snapper-grouper rows
- Trout water rulesmountain streams, Lake Jocassee and the Chattooga
- State lakesRegulation 123-210 days, hours, motors and creels
- Georgia and North Carolina line watersthe Savannah chain license deal, Lake Wylie
- Free fishing daysMemorial Day and July 4 for residents in fresh water
- State record fishfreshwater and saltwater marks without names
- Trout stocking summarythe weekly SCDNR list of stocked streams
- Lake levels, river flow and tidesSavannah District dams, USGS and NOAA
- Boat rampsSCDNR-mapped landings and paddle launches
- Bank and pier fishingSCDNR bank sites and freshwater piers
- Saltwater piersocean and sound piers SCDNR maps
- Artificial reefsSCDNR permit areas from Little River to Hilton Head
- Bait and tackle shopsstores and marinas by SCDNR region number
- Guides and chartersinshore captains and lake guides with phones
- Tournamentsbass trails, catfish events, billfish series
- Protected fishsturgeon and other fish to let go
Palmetto State fishing questions with short answers
What does South Carolina charge for a fishing license?
Anglers 16 and older need a South Carolina freshwater fishing license; SCDNR prints $10 for a resident annual license and $35 for a nonresident annual license. Anglers 16 and older need a South Carolina saltwater fishing license; SCDNR prints $15 for a resident annual license and $75 for a nonresident annual license.
Which reservoir on the Palmetto State pages covers the most acres?
Lake Marion, 90,000 acres.
On which days may a Carolina resident skip the license?
Residents may fish fresh water free on Memorial Day and July 4 (May 31 and July 4 in 2027); children under 16 need no license at any time.
Where are South Carolina limits set?
In the 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide, valid August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027, quoted on each water page.
Where is trout fishing in South Carolina?
In the mountain streams of Oconee, Pickens and Greenville counties, the Chattooga and Lake Jocassee, plus the Lower Saluda below Lake Murray.
Does a Georgia license work on Hartwell or Thurmond?
Yes. The reciprocal agreement covers the Savannah chain lakes and river; tributary streams are not included.
What changed for red drum?
Since July 1, 2026: 1 a person and 2 a boat a day in state waters, 18 to 25 inches, none from federal waters.
Where are South Carolina tournaments listed?
The Palmetto State tournament page carries the calendar and the winners organizers posted.