South Carolina changes blue crab fishing laws to regulate industry

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – South Carolina has added several modifications to its blue crab fishing rules set to take effect in 2025 to preserve the blue crab population.

The state Department of Natural Resources has already informed commercial crabbers about the changes passed by the South Carolina Legislature, the agency said.

Most of the changes pertain to commercial fishers; however, natural resources want recreational crabbers to be aware of a few.

1. The state has enacted a harvest limit. Recreational crabbers can only harvest one bushel of crabs per day or two bushels per boat.
2. Crab pots have to have escape rings for undersized crabs. Single chambered pots need to have at least one escape ring and two-chambered pots must have at least two. SCDNR has a tutorial for how to install escaped vents on their YouTube.
3. Recreational crabbers will be allowed to purchase an annual enhanced recreational crab pot endorsement allowing them to fish up to five pots.

All changes will take effect July 1, 2025.

The modifications are an effort to enforce regulations on a fairly unregulated industry in South Carolina and put the state on par with neighbors.

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