Do You Need a Fishing License at Lake Murray?

Do you need a fishing license to fish at Lake Murray? The answer is yes, you do need a valid fishing license to fish in South Carolina waters, including Lake Murray. A Lake Murray fishing license allows for recreational anglers of all ages to fish the lakeโ€™s many coves and tributaries for bass, catfish, crappie, and other species of game fish.

For those wanting to fish from a boat on Lake Murray, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires that each vessel have at least one person on board who is licensed or exempt from the stateโ€™s fishing license requirement. Boats must also display valid registration numbers which can be obtained from the SC DNR. The license must be in possession of the person on board when fishing in South Carolina waters.

Those who are exempt from needing a fishing license include residents over 65 years old; disabled veterans and their dependents; and individuals who are blind or disabled. Residents under 16 years old are also not required to have a valid fishing license while fishing in South Carolina waters.

How Much Does A Fishing License Cost?

A resident freshwater fishing license costs $10 for a year or $5 for three days. Non-residents can purchase an annual freshwater fishing permit for $30 or a three-day permit for $11.

A saltwater permit is also required if you plan to fish in saltwater (offshore). The cost of this permit is $15 per year or $7.50 for three days.

Fishing Regulations

Anglers should be aware that there are certain regulations governing how many fish can be caught per day and what size they must be to keep them legally. For example, bass caught on Lake Murray must measure at least 14 inches before they can be kept as a legal catch.

In addition, there is no open season on catfish on Lake Murray so they may be caught year-round. Anglers should check with the SC DNR website and review their regulations before heading out onto the lake so they know exactly what they can and cannot do while out on the water.

Conclusion

To sum up, anyone wanting to fish at Lake Murray will need a valid freshwater or saltwater fishing permit depending on where they plan to fish. Regulations governing how many fish may be kept and what size limit applies should also be reviewed before heading out onto the lake so anglers know exactly what is allowed and what is not allowed while out enjoying the lake’s many fisheries resources.

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Daniel Bennet