Does a South Carolina fishing license work in North Carolina?

No. Anglers 16 and older need a South Carolina saltwater license in SC waters and a North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License in NC coastal waters, such as off Brunswick County.

How much is a one-day fishing license in South Carolina?

A one-day South Carolina saltwater fishing license costs $10 for nonresidents, as of Oct. 30, 2026, per SCDNR. Residents can buy a 14-day saltwater license for $10.

How much is a North Carolina saltwater fishing license for a nonresident?

A nonresident North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License costs $15 for 10 days or $40 for a year, as of Oct. 30, 2026, according to the NC Division of Marine Fisheries.

Do I need a fishing license to fish off a pier in Myrtle Beach?

At Myrtle Beach State Park, no SC license is needed on the pier, but a daily pier fishing fee applies, per South Carolina State Parks. SCDNR exempts anglers on licensed commercial public fishing piers.

Is there a free fishing day in North Carolina?

Yes. July 4 is a free fishing day in North Carolina every year, and size and possession limits still apply, according to the NC Division of Marine Fisheries.

Fishing licenses on the Grand Strand: South Carolina vs. North Carolina saltwater rules

Anglers 16 and older on the Grand Strand need a South Carolina saltwater fishing license to fish in Horry and Georgetown counties and a North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) to fish in Brunswick County, as of Oct. 30, 2026. A South Carolina license does not cover North Carolina waters, and a North Carolina license does not cover South Carolina waters.

A visitor’s cheapest short-term option is a $10 one-day South Carolina license, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), or a $15 10-day North Carolina CRFL, according to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF).

How much is a fishing license in South Carolina vs. North Carolina?

Saltwater fishing license prices for the Grand Strand, as of Oct. 30, 2026, per SCDNR and the NC DMF:

License	South Carolina resident	South Carolina nonresident	North Carolina resident	North Carolina nonresident
1-day	Not offered	$10	Not offered	Not offered
7-day	Not offered	$35	Not offered	Not offered
10-day	Not offered	Not offered	$9	$15
14-day	$10	Not offered	Not offered	Not offered
Annual	$15	$75	$20	$40
3-year	$45	Not offered	Not offered	Not offered

South Carolina stopped selling nonresident 14-day and three-year saltwater licenses on July 1, 2021, when it raised the resident annual license from $10 to $15, according to an SCDNR announcement. SCDNR’s saltwater FAQ page still shows the older prices; the prices above come from the SCDNR resident and nonresident price lists.

North Carolina residents can also buy a Unified Inland/Coastal license, which covers fresh and salt water, for $51 a year, per the NC DMF.

Who needs a fishing license on the Grand Strand?

In South Carolina, anyone 16 or older who fishes from shore, a boat or a private dock, or while wading, needs a saltwater license, according to the SCDNR saltwater FAQ. That includes cast netting, seining and gigging. Passengers on a private boat that is not a hired charter each need their own license.

In North Carolina, anyone 16 or older who recreationally takes finfish in coastal fishing waters needs a CRFL, according to the NC DMF. Shellfish harvesters do not need a CRFL, per the NC DMF license FAQ.

Who can fish without a license in SC and NC?

These anglers do not need a saltwater license, as of Oct. 30, 2026:

South Carolina (SCDNR):
– Anglers under 16.
– Anyone fishing aboard a hired charter boat.
– Anyone fishing from a licensed commercial public fishing pier.
– Crabbers using three or fewer drop nets, fold-up traps or baited hand lines.

North Carolina (NC DMF):
– Anglers under 16.
– Anglers on a public pier that holds a blanket license; ocean pier licenses include blanket privileges.
– Anyone fishing on July 4, which North Carolina has declared a free fishing day every year. Size and possession limits still apply.
– People receiving Medicaid, food stamps or Work First benefits through their county Department of Social Services may qualify for a waiver.

Do seniors need a fishing license in South Carolina?

Yes, but it costs less. South Carolina residents 64 and older can buy a Senior Fishing License for $9 that includes saltwater fishing, and residents born on or before July 1, 1940, can get a free Gratis License, according to SCDNR.

North Carolina residents can buy a lifetime senior CRFL for $20, per the NC DMF.

Do I need a license to fish from a pier on the Grand Strand?

It depends on the pier. You do not need a South Carolina license to fish from the pier at Myrtle Beach State Park, but you do pay a daily pier fishing fee, and you need a license to fish from the park’s beach, according to South Carolina State Parks.

You do not need a North Carolina CRFL to fish from the Oak Island Pier, which the Town of Oak Island owns at 705 Ocean Drive, but you do need a pier fishing pass, according to the Town of Oak Island.

What else do North Carolina anglers have to do?

North Carolina requires anglers to report every red drum, spotted seatrout and flounder they keep, under a rule that took effect Dec. 1, 2025, according to the NC DMF 2026 recreational guide. Reports are filed online through the DMF.

Owners of private boats 23 feet or longer that are registered in North Carolina or documented with the U.S. Coast Guard can buy a block of 10 ten-day CRFLs for $150 to cover guests, per the NC DMF. The blocks cannot be used on charter boats.

Where to buy a South Carolina or North Carolina fishing license

South Carolina saltwater licenses are sold online through SCDNR and by SCDNR license agents across the state, according to the SCDNR FAQ.

North Carolina CRFLs are sold online at license.gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com, by NC Wildlife Resources Commission license agents and at most DMF offices, according to the NC DMF. The DMF answers license questions at 252-515-5500 or 800-682-2632.

Spotted a rule change or a closed ramp? Send it to the Grand Strand Dispatch through the contact page.

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