Pay lakes in South Carolina
South Carolina has 25 pay lakes; 2 stock catfish; listed day prices run $15.
Find a pay lake in South Carolina by name or town
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Pay lakes by city in South Carolina
Do you need a fishing license at a pay lake in South Carolina?
It depends. Patrons of an SCDNR-permitted (aquaculture permit/registration) pay pond need no SC freshwater license; at an unpermitted commercial pay pond a license is required, since a pond used commercially is not a 'private pond'.
South Carolina licenses pay lakes through its SCDNR aquaculture permit or registration (CAQ number) for commercial fishing lakes / pay-to-fish businesses (S.C. Code § 50-9-710(C)), run by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The license rule depends on the lake holding that state license, so ask the lake if you are unsure.
"A license is required when fishing in commercial pay ponds, unless the pond is permitted by the SCDNR."
Source: SCDNR - Recreational Fishing and Hunting License, checked November 2026. Compare every state on our pay lake license rules page.
More pay lake states
Browse catfish pay lakes, trout pay ponds or see what pay lakes cost.