Commercial Saltwater Fishing
Commercial Saltwater Fishing License Pricing
| Type of License | Resident Price | Nonresident Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bait Dealer | $25.00 | $125.00 |
| Blue Crab Traps | $2.00 | $10.00 |
| Blue Crab - Limited Commercial License | $100 | $500 |
| Cast Net | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Channel Net * | $250.00 | not available |
| Charter Vessel 6 Or Less Passengers | $275.00 | $550.00 |
| Charter Vessel 7-49 Passengers | $450.00 | $900.00 |
| Charter Vessel 50 Or + Passengers | $650.00 | $1,300.00 |
| Commercial Freshwater | $50.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Commercial Saltwater | $25.00 | $300.00 |
| Commercial Shrimp Seine | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Drag Dredge | $75.00 | $375.00 |
| Elver/Fyke Net * | per net $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Gig | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Gill Net Not For Shad And Herring per 100' | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Hand Held Equipment | no charge $0.00 | no charge $0.00 |
| Haul Seine per 100' | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Herring Net per 100yds | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Hook And Line | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Mechanical Equipment | $125.00 | $625.00 |
| Minnow Traps | $25.00 | $125.00 |
| Misc. Traps 1st 50 Traps | $25.00 | $125.00 |
| Misc. Traps Each Additional Trap | $1.00 | $5.00 |
| Other Equipment-Dip Net * | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Peeler Crab Dealer (Wholesale Re) | $75.00 | $375.00 |
| Pier Greater Than 100 Ft | $350.00 | not available |
| Pier Less Than Or Equal To 100 Ft | $150.00 | not available |
| Shad Net per 100yds | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Shellfish Dealer (Wholesale Re) | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| State Shellfish Grounds | $75.00 | $375.00 |
| Trawler | $125.00 | $300.00 |
| Trotline | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Wholesale Dealer | $100.00 | $500.00 |
* Licenses with the asterisk are limited entry fisheries
Commercial Saltwater Fishing Laws
Note: The above documents are summaries of the laws; the actual laws can be found in the SC Code of Laws, Title 50.
Commercial Saltwater Fishing Applications
The applicant's signature is required for all commercial saltwater licenses. Proof of residency is required for all resident commercial saltwater licenses.
DNR Verification of Lawful Presence in the United States Affidavit is required prior to sale of commercial licenses. DNR Point of Sale Vendors for Commercial Licenses CANNOT process those affidavits, they must be processed by DNR personnel.
Verification of Lawful Presence in the United States
As required by S.C. Code Section 8-29-10, applicants for a commercial license or permit are required to complete
an affidavit entitled
"Verification of Lawful Presence in the United States"
certifying that the applicant
is lawfully in the United States. The affidavit MUST be completed, notarized and returned with the application.
If you are a US citizen,
the properly filled out affidavit is all that is required. If you are not a US citizen, you will be required to
provide documentation,
which is subject to verification with the Department of Homeland Security. Specific types of documentation that
may be provided can be
found on Page 2 of the form, under "Accepted Immigration Documents." Your application for a commercial license
or permit will be returned
if the affidavit and documentation is not received and notarized. If your license/permit is in a company name
the owner/responsible
party for the company must complete the affidavit and indicate the business information on the bottom right of
the form. The affidavit
only needs to be completed once if you are a U.S. Citizen 18 years of age or older, all others will be required
to resubmit the affidavit
each time an individual applies for a commercial license or permit from the Department.
DNR Point of Sale Agents for Commercial Licenses Information
Charleston Commercial Licensing and Permitting Office hours are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday excluding SC state holidays. New commercial license sales 8:30 am – 4:30 pm and new shellfish license/ permit sales 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.
- Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply - 1734 Ribaut Rd, Port Royal, SC 29935 (843)986-0552 commercial licenses are available for sale Monday- Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm(excluding state holidays).
- DNR Point of Sale Agent cannot process DNR Verification of Lawful Presence in the US Affidavits, all affidavits must be processed by DNR personnel.
- DNR point of sale agents can sell all saltwater commercial licenses except channel net, elver fyke, eel dip net, mechanical equipment, charter and pier licenses. If you are traveling to purchase a commercial license from a DNR Point of Sale Agent, please call first.
Some of the files above are in the Adobe PDF file format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open the files and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.