2018 - 2019 Saltwater Fishing Regulations - Crab, Lobster & Shellfish

Crustacean & Shellfish Methods & Devices

When fishing for crustaceans or shellfish, a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License is required - unless you are using 3 or fewer drop nets, 3 or fewer fold up traps, or 3 or fewer handlines with no hooks and a single bait per line (chicken necking); or shrimp baiting (which requires a shrimp baiting license).

Crab Pots

Permits/Licenses

Saltwater Recreational Fishing License required.

Restrictions

Licensee can fish no more than two pots recreationally. A Commercial Saltwater Fishing License, Vessel Decal, and Gear license are required for over two pots.
If unattended each pot float must bear the name and address or license number of owner.
No crab pot shall be left unattended in coastal waters more than 5 days.
No crab trap or pot may be set within 200 yards of a public boat landing or launching area or set so as to be left dry at low tide.
A float attached to a crab pot or trap must be made of solid, buoyant material which does not sink upon being punctured or cracked. The floats must be constructed of plastic, PVC Spongex, plastic foam, or cork. The primary float for a recreational pot or trap must be yellow in color and at least ten inches in length if rectangular, cylindrical, or conical and at least five inches in diameter or width. Round or spherical floats must be at least six inches in diameter. Buoy lines for crab pots must be made of nonfloating material.

Shellfish (Oysters, Clams, Mussels, Whelks, and other Mollusks)

Permits/Licenses

Saltwater Recreational Fishing License required.

Season

Typically open Oct. 1 through May 15 (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.) Call 843-953-9300 for season dates.

Restrictions

Shellfish may be harvested recreationally from State shellfish grounds and Public shellfish grounds. Public and State shellfish grounds are marked with signs. Recreational harvesting is allowed on culture permit grounds (formerly leases), but only when the harvester has in possession written permission from the culture permit holder. License must be in possession while harvesting.

*A bushel is two 5 gallon buckets filled to a level top. Three personal limits is 6 bushels for oysters and 1.5 bushels for clams.

Maps of areas where shellfish may be gathered in season for recreation may be found on the web at www.dnr.sc.gov, by calling 843-953-9854 or by writing Marine Resources at PO Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422.

Shell Recycling

Oyster shells are collected throughout the coastal area and reused for maintenance of public grounds. Call 843-953-9300 for shell drop-off site locations, or visit www.saltwaterfishing.sc.gov/oyster.html for detailed maps of locations.

Crab, Lobster & Shellfish

Species	Closed Season	Possession & Size Limit	Restrictions
Blue Crabs		Size Limit: 5-inch minimum carapace width (point to point)	Females with egg mass (sponge) must be returned to water unharmed immediately.
Stone Crabs		Size Limit: Claws must be 2 3/4-inch minimum forearm (propodus)	Only crabs with 2 claws can have one removed. Only the larger of the 2 claws may be kept. No claw may be removed from a female with egg mass. It is unlawful to possess any stone crab body live or dead.
Spiny Lobster		Possession Limit: 2 per person per day Size Limit: 3-inch minimum carapace	Removal of tail at sea prohibited. No harvest of berried females. No explosives, poisons, spears, or piercing devices other than fishing hooks are allowed.
Oysters	Typically closed May 16 – Sept. 30; may be shortened or extended by the SCDNR. Call 843-953-9300 for season dates.	Possession Limit: 2 U.S. bushels per person per day from public or state shellfish grounds; No boat, vehicle, or boat/vehicle combination may contain more then 3 personal limits regardless of the number of people on the boat or in the vehicle.	A person may recreationally harvest shellfish (oysters and/or clams) no more than 2 days per 7 day period.
Clams	Typically closed May 16 – Sept. 30; may be shortened or extended by the SCDNR. Call 843-953-9300 for season dates.	Possession Limit: 1/2 U.S. bushel per person per day from public or state shellfish grounds; No boat, vehicle, or boat/ vehicle combination may contain more then 3 personal limits regardless of the number of people on the boat or in the vehicle. Size Limit: 1-inch minimum thickness	A person may recreationally harvest shellfish (oysters and/or clams) no more than 2 days per 7 day period.

The Crab, Lobster and Shellfish information above is found in the 2018-2019 Saltwater Regulations which is available in the Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format.