Rules & Regulations
Cast net laws in South Carolina
Legal with restrictionsInformational only — this is not legal advice
Fishing regulations change, sometimes with little notice, and can vary further by county, water body, or season within a state. This page is a starting point for research, not a substitute for the law. Always verify current rules directly with your state's fish & wildlife agency or TakeMeFishing.org before you fish. BasicGear is not responsible for citations, fines, or gear seizures resulting from reliance on this page.
Last verified: 2026-07-08 — regulations are re-checked periodically; see the date above before assuming this is current.
Summary
No statutory size cap for general baitfish/mullet cast-netting. A separate minimum mesh applies specifically to shrimp: nets used to bait shrimp need mesh no smaller than 1/2 in square (1 in stretch).
Size, mesh & licensing
- Max size
- Not specified for general baitfish use
- Mesh
- For shrimp specifically: minimum 1/2 in square / 1 in stretch measure
- Water type
- Both — freshwater (except SCDNR Managed State Lakes) and saltwater/coastal
- License
- Recreational fishing license; separate Shrimp Baiting License plus tags for shrimp season
Recommended BasicGear net
Cast Net — Basic Series — No size cap. For shrimp specifically, choose the 1/2" mesh option to meet SC's minimum — the 1/4" and 3/8" options are fine for other bait but too small to legally bait shrimp.
Official source
SCDNR — "Nongame Device: Cast Nets" (SC Code §50-5-1110)↗
High confidenceThe mesh rule was verified against the actual statute text, not a paraphrase.
Last verified: 2026-07-08
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