Recreational crabbing — pots, endorsement, size, gear

Agency: SCDNR. Effective July 1, 2025, per SCDNR's own announcement: a recreational saltwater fishing licence allows a holder to fish up to two crab pots; an annual enhanced recreational crab trap endorsement, $5, allows up to five crab pots per person. Fishing more than that requires a commercial crabbing licence. Size limit: do not take crabs smaller than 5 inches measured point to point (tip of one lateral spine across the back of the shell to the tip of the opposite lateral spine); all egg-bearing females must be returned to the water. Gear: all crab pots must have escape rings for undersized crabs — single-chambered pots at least one ring, two-chambered pots two rings with at least one in the upper chamber; escape vents must be two and three-eighths inches or greater in inside diameter. Floats must be yellow and at least ten inches in length if rectangular, cylindrical or conical, marked with the owner's name. No crab pot may be left unattended in coastal waters more than 5 days. Verified 2026-09-04.