Do you need fishing license to crab in South Carolina?
A South Carolina fishing license is generally required to harvest clams, shrimp, crab, oysters and fish. Exceptions include fishing on a licensed public fishing pier charging a fee for fishing. For more information on South Carolina saltwater fishing regulations, click here.
Can you catch crab in South Carolina?

Despite its fearsome appearance and aggressive nature, the blue crab is greatly cherished in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Gourmets prefer the blue crab’s sweet meat over all other locally caught seafood. Recreational fishermen seek this easy to catch crab, which also supports a considerable commercial fishery.
What is the best time to go crabbing in South Carolina?
I recommend going crabbing an hour to two after low tide, when the tide is coming in, all the way through two hours after high tide. This is the perfect time to go crabbing in South Carolina. You can also find luck crabbing at exactly low tide, or exactly high tide.
Is there a crab season in South Carolina?
According to the SC Department of Natural Resources, “crabs can be caught all year but…. the best time of year to harvest large, heavy crabs is usually from October to December”. South Carolina law requires that crabs smaller than five inches be returned to the water.

Is there a blue crab season in SC?
There is no season for blue crabs in South Carolina. You will not have to wait for the DNR to open the gates and allow crabbing in SC. The only thing that is going to prevent you from pulling in crabs is the water temperature.
How much is a crabbing license in South Carolina?
Commercial Saltwater Fishing License Pricing
Type of License | Resident Price | Nonresident Price |
---|---|---|
Crab Traps Each Additional Trap | $1.00 | $5.00 |
Drag Dredge | $75.00 | $375.00 |
Elver/Fyke Net * | per net $10.00 | $50.00 |
Gig | $10.00 | $50.00 |
How many crab traps per person in SC?
Two pots
Two pots are permitted per person and they must have an attached yellow buoy with your name and address or license number if you are going to leave your pots unattended.
Is there a blue crab season in South Carolina?
There is no season for blue crabs in South Carolina. You will not have to wait for the DNR to open the gates and allow crabbing in SC. The only thing that is going to prevent you from pulling in crabs is the water temperature. If the water temperature is not exactly right for the blue crab, you will not catch anything.
Where can I find information on the blue crab?
The above information on the blue crab is available in a brochure, please download the Sea Science-Blue Crabs information pamphlet which is 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.
What is the best way to catch crab in Broad River?
However, the fishing pier stretches a quarter of the width of Broad River, so there’s plenty of room to go around. For this spot, I would recommend using collapsible traps. Ring nets, star traps, and box traps will work best for this crabbing spot.
Where are the best blue crabs in Washington State?
We’re also in Murrel’s Inlet, which is notorious for its blue crabs. Morse Park Landing is a small park, but it has a convenient crabbing pier. If you can snag the pier when it isn’t too crowded with avid recreational crabbers, it can be a great crabbing spot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwj8lAuM6M8