General Info
County history coming soon!
CITIES
Cities In County
Not including unincorporated communities
Communities
Grover – A village located south of Saint George, near the Edisto River
Harleyville
North Charleston – Mostly in Charleston County, but a small portion extends into Dorchester County.
Reevesville
Ridgeville
St. George
Summerville – Mostly in Dorchester County, but small portions extend into Berkeley and Charleston counties.
Ladson- A census defined area partly divided between Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley Counties.
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
County Residential Services
A little bit of contact information for all purpose residential needs.
Coming Soon
County Website
*For more information visit: http://www.dorchestercounty.net/
HUNTING
Hunting Seasons
For more information visit:
| Species | Game Zone | Private Land Seasons | WMA Seasons | Limit |
| Mourning Doves | All Game Zones | Sept. 3-5 (afternoons only)
Sept. 6-Oct. 15, Nov. 12-26, Dec. 15-Jan. 15 |
See Public Dove Field List pg. 80-83 | 12/day |
| Crow | All Game Zones | Nov. 1-Mar. 1 | Nov. 1-Mar. 1 | No limit |
| Quail | All Game Zones | Mar. 2-Nov. 20 (dogs only)
Nov. 21-Mar. 1 (guns & dogs) Mar. 2-Nov. 19 (dogs only) |
Sept. 1-14 (dogs only)
Nov. 24-Mar. 1 (guns & dogs) |
12/day |
| Rabbit | All Game Zones | Mar. 2-Sept. 30, 2016 (dogs only)
Nov. 24-Mar. 1 (guns & dogs) Mar. 2-Nov. 22 (dogs only) |
No fox squirrels
Sept. 1-14 (dogs only) Oct. 1-Mar. 1 (guns & dogs) |
5/day |
| Squirrel-grey & fox | All Game Zones | Mar. 2-Sept. 30 (dogs only)
Oct. 1-Mar. 1 (guns & dogs) Mar. 2-Sept. 30 (dogs only) |
Sept. 1-Nov. 23 (dogs only, night only)
Nov. 24-Mar. 1 (guns & dogs, night only) |
10/day |
| Fox | All Game Zones | Mar. 2-Nov. 23 (dogs only)
Nov. 24-Mar. 1 (guns & dogs) Mar. 20Nov. 22 (dogs only) |
Sept. 1-Nov. 23 (dogs only, night only)
Nov. 24-Mar. 1 (guns & dogs, night only) |
No limit |
| Beaver | All Game Zones | Year-rpund | Sept. 1-Mar. 1 | No limit |
| Other Furbearers | All Game Zones | Nov. 24-Mar. 1 | Nov. 24-Mar. 1 | No limit |
| Grouse | Game Zone 1 only | Nov. 24-Mar. 1 | Nov. 24-Mar. 1 | 3/day |
| Raccoon & Opossum | All Game Zones | Mar. 16-Sept. 14 (dogs only)
Sept. 15-Mar. 15 (guns & dogs) Mar. 16-Sept. 14 (dogs only) |
Sept. 1-14 (dogs only, night only)
Sept. 15-Mar. 1 (guns & dogs, night only) |
3 per party per day, no limit for opossum |
Small Game Seasons
| Species | Dates |
| Mourning Doves | Sept. 3-Oct. 15
Nov. 12-26 Dec. 15-Jan. 15 |
| Early Teal | Sept. 9-24 |
| Ducks, American Coots, Mergansers, Brant | Nov. 19-26
Dec. 10-Jan. 29 |
| Canada Geese | Sept. 1-30
Nov. 19-26 Dec. 10-Jan 29 Feb. 12-27 |
| White-fronted Geese & Snow Geese | Nov. 19-26
Dec. 10-Jan. 29 Feb. 12-27 |
| Marsh Hens/Rails, Common Moorhens & Purple Gallinules | Sept. 17-21
Oct. 15-Dec. 18 |
| Common Snipe | Nov. 14-Feb. 28 |
| Woodcock | Dec. 18-Jan 31 |
FISHING
Fishing Seasons
For more information visit:
Bream, Sunfish, Crappie, Yellow Perch, Pickerel, Walleye and Sauger Limits
| Water Body | Fish | Size Limit | Possession Limit |
| Statewide | Bream (includes bluegill, flier,warmouth, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, redear (shellcracker)and spotted sunfish) | Any Length | 30 |
| Statewide | Redbreast sunfish | Any Length | 15 |
| Statewide | Crappie (Black and White) | 8 inches | 20 |
| Statewide | Walleye & Sauger | Any Length | No more than 8 fish per person per day of walleye, sauger or combination |
| Statewide | Chain Pickerel | Any Length | 30 |
| Statewide | Redfin Pickerel | Any Length | 30 |
| Statewide | Yellow Perch | Any Length | 30 |
Largemouth, Smallmouth, Redeye, & Spotted Bass Limits
| Water Body | Fish | Size Limit | Possession Limit |
| Statewide except the water bodies listed below: | Largemouth, Redeye, Smallmouth, or Spotted bass or their hybrids | Any Length | No more than 5 combined total of any black bass species (largemouth, smallmouth, redeye or spotted bass) |
| Lakes Hartwell, Keowee, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell tailwater), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah, the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers and Stevens Creek Reservoir | Largemouth, Redeye, Smallmouth, or Spotted bass or their hybrids | Any length | No more than 10 combined total of any black bass species (largemouth, smallmouth, redeye or spotted bass) |
| Statewide except the water bodies listed below | Smallmouth Bass | 12 inches | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye, or their hybrids. |
| Lakes Hartwell, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell Tailwaters), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah, the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers and Stevens Creek Reservoir | Smallmouth Bass | Any length | No more than 10 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye, spotted bass or their hybrids. |
| Lake Keowee | Smallmouth Bass | 12 inches | No more than 10 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye, spotted bass or their hybrids. |
| Statewide except the water bodies listed below: | Redeye Bass | Any length | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids |
| Lakes Hartwell, Keowee, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell Tailwaters), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah; Stevens Creek Reservoir; the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers | Redeye Bass | Any length | No more than 10 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye, spotted bass or their hybrids |
| Statewide except the water bodies listed below: | Largemouth Bass | Any length | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids |
| Lakes Blalock, Greenwood, Jocassee, Marion, Monticello, Moultrie, Murray, Secession, Wateree, Wylie and the Middle Reach of the Saluda River and the Upper Reach of the Santee River | Largemouth Bass | 14 inches | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids |
| Lakes Hartwell, Hartwell Tailrace, Keowee, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell tailwater), Robinson (Greenville County), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah, Stevens Creek Reservoir, the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers, and Savannah River Drainage (includes Chattooga River). | Largemouth Bass | 12 inches | No more than 10 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye, spotted bass or their hybrids |
| Lake Robinson (Greenville County) | Largemouth Bass | 12 inches | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids |
| Statewide except the water bodies listed below: | Spotted Bass | Any length | 15 |
| Lakes Hartwell, Keowee, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell tailwater), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah, the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers and Stevens Creek Reservoir | Spotted Bass | Any length | No more than 10 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye, spotted bass or their hybrids |
| Slade’s Lake | Largemouth, Redeye, Smallmouth & Spotted bass | 12 inches | No more than 2 bass per person per day |
Striped, White & Hybrid Bass Limits
| Water Body | Fish | Size Limit | Possession Limit |
| Statewide except the Savannah River | White Bass | Any length | 10 |
| Statewide except on the Savannah River and Lakes Hartwell, Russell and Thurmond see below. | Hybrid Bass | None | 10 |
| Statewide except the water bodies listed below: | Striped Bass | Any length | 10 |
| Ashepoo River; Ashley River; Back River in Jasper County and the Back River in Berkeley County; Black River; Black Mingo Creek; Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek; Combahee River; Cooper River system; Coosawhatchie River; Cuckholds Creek; Edisto River; Horseshoe Creek; Lumber River; Lynches River; Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers; Pocotaligo in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton Counties; Salkehatchie and Little Salkehatchie Rivers; Sampit River;Santee River system; Tulifinny River; Thoroughfare Creek; and Waccamaw | Striped Bass | Oct 1 – May 31: 26 inches | 3 |
| Jun 1 – Sept 30: closed except catch and release on the Lower Saluda River | |||
| Lake Murray | Striped Bass | Oct 1 – May 31: 21 inches | 5 |
| Jun 1- Sept 30: any length | Unlawful to take, attempt to take, or possess more than 5 | ||
| Saluda River (Middle Reach) All waters of Saluda River from backwaters of Lake Murray at SC Hwy 395 upstream to Lake Greenwood Dam |
Striped Bass | Oct 1 – May 31: 21 inches | 5 |
| Jun 1- Sept 30: any length | Unlawful to take, attempt to take, or possess more than 5 | ||
| Saluda River (Lower Reach) All waters of Saluda River from confluence with Broad River upstream to Lake Murray Dam |
Striped Bass | Oct 1 – May 31: 26 inches | 3 |
| Jun 1 – Sept 30: any length | Catch and Release only | ||
| Lake Russell | Striped Bass & Hybrid Bass or a combintation | Only 1 fish larger than 34 inches | 2 |
| Lake Hartwell tailwater | Striped & Hybrid Bass or a combination | Only 1 fish over 34 inches | 2 |
| Savannah River (Lower Reach) All waters of Savannah River from its confluence with the Atlantic Ocean upstream to the Lake J. Strom Thurmond Dam |
Striped, Hybrid & White Bass or a combination | 27 inches | 2 |
| Lake Hartwell & Lake Thurmond | Striped & Hybrid Bass or a combination | Only 3 fish over 26 inches | 10 |
Brook, Brown, and Rainbow Trout Limits
| Water Body | Size Limit | Possession Limit | Bait & Tackle Restrictions |
| Statewide except the water bodies listed below | Any Length | 5 | None |
| Waters on Georgia Border | Any Length | 5 | None |
| Chauga River (SC Hwy 290 [Cassidy Bridge Road] upstream to Bone Camp Creek) | Any Length | November 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only | Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures |
| May 15 – October 31: 5 | None | ||
| Chattooga River (Hwy 28 to Reed Creek) | Any Length | November 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only | Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures |
| May 15 – October 31: 5 | None | ||
| Cheohee Creek | Any Length | 5 | None |
| Cheohee Creek (portion that runs through the Piedmont Forestry Center) Open Monday, Wednesday, Saturday or as posted | Any Length | November 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only | Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures |
| May 15 – October 31: 5 | None | ||
| Corbin Creek (from confluence with Howard Creek upstream to SC Hwy 130) | Any Length | November 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only | Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures |
| May 15 – October 31: 5 | None | ||
| Devils Fork Creek | Any Length | November 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only | Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures |
| May 15 – October 31: 5 | None | ||
| Eastatoe Creek (Keowee to Roy Jones Road) | Any Length | November 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only | Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures |
| May 15 – October 31: 5 | None | ||
| Eastatoe Creek (portion on Eastatoe River Heritage Preserve) | Any Length | 5 | Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except artificial lures |
| Howard Creek (from confluence with Corbin Creek upstream to confluence with Limberpole Creek) | Any Length | November 1 – May 14: Catch and Release only | Unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except single hook artificial lures |
| May 15 – October 31: 5 | None | ||
| Lower Saluda River | Only 1 fish may be more than 16 inches | 5 | None |
| Matthews Creek (from Asbury Drive Bridge at Asbury Methodist Camp upstream including all tributaries and headwaters) | Any Length | 5 | It is unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except artificial lures |
| Matthews Creek (downstream from Asbury Drive Bridge at Asbury Methodist Camp downstream to the confluence with South Saluda River ) | Any Length | 5 | None |
| Middle Saluda (from the foot bridge at Jones Gap State Park Office upstream to US Hwy 176 in Greenville County) | Any Length | 5 | It is unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except artificial lures |
| Middle Saluda (from Hugh Smith Road Bridge upstream to the foot-bridge at Jones Gap State Park) | Any Length | Catch and Release only | From Jan 1 – December 31, it is lawful to use or possess only artificial lures with single hooks. |
| Whitewater River (Oconee County) | Any Length | 5 | It is unlawful to use or possess any lure or bait except artificial lures |
| Lake Jocassee | October 1 – May 31: 15 inches, but only 1 fish more than 20 inches | 3 | It is unlawful to use or possess corn, cheese, fish eggs or imitations of them. |
| June 1 – September 30: Any Length | Unlawful to take, attempt to take, or possess more than 3 | ||
| Lake Russell | Any Length | 5 | None |
Common carp
Regulations
Possession Limit: No statewide limits.
Size limit: No statewide length limits
Blue catfish
Regulations
Possession Limit: No statewide limit
Size limit: No statewide length limits
Exceptions to the limits above:
- On Lakes Marion and Moultrie and the upper reach of the Santee River only 2 blue catfish larger than 32 inches may be taken and there is a 25 fish possession limit. On the Congaree and Wateree Rivers there is no possession limit and only 2 fish larger than 32 inches may be taken.
Other Restrictions:
- Lakes Marion, Moultrie, upper reach of the Santee, Congaree and Wateree Rivers – any species with a size limit must be landed with head and tail fin intact.
Channel catfish
Regulations
Possession Limit: No statewide limits
Size limit: No statewide length limits
Flathead catfish
Regulations
Possession Limit: No statewide limits
Size limit: No statewide length limits
Yellow bullhead
Regulations
Possession Limit: No statewide limits
Size limit: No statewide length limits
American shad
Regulations
Possession Limit: 10 shad per person per day
Size limit: No statewide length limits
Exceptions to the limits above:
- Santee River 20 person per day
Other Restrictions:
- It is unlawful to take American shad and herring using the following nongame fishing devices: archery equipment, crayfish trap, eel pot, elver fyke net, gig, hand grabbing, hoop net, jug fishing device, minnow seine, minnow trap, pump net, seine, set hook, spear, trap or trotline.
- Recreational (unlawful to sell catch)
- To take shad for recreational purposes by hook and line, cast net (for bait), or skim bow net in freshwaters a person MUST have a recreational freshwater fishing license.
- To take shad for recreational purposes using a shad gill net, a person MUST have a recreational fishing license, gear license, and related permits.
- Only one shad gill net may be fished by occupants of a boat, and if drifted, it must be attended at all times when deployed. Additional boats in tow may not be used to increase the number of authorized nets. Must adhere to legal commercial fishing areas and the recreational limit.
- Commercial (selling one’s catch)
- MUST use a shad gill net; not to be confused with the nongame gill nets.
- Shad Gill Net: A gill net used for taking or attempting to take shad in the inshore salt waters must have a stretched mesh size of no smaller than five and one-half inches and a length not exceeding nine hundred feet. A gill net used for shad in the freshwaters must have a stretched mesh size of no smaller than five and one-half inches and be no longer than six hundred feet. Gill nets for taking shad may be freely drift fished or set.
- To take shad for commercial purposes using a shad gill net, a person MUST have a commercial fishing license, gear license, and related permits.
- MUST use a shad gill net; not to be confused with the nongame gill nets.
- License Requirements
- If fishing in the freshwaters of the state, a person needs either a recreational or commercial freshwater fishing license. If fishing in the saltwaters of the state, a person needs a either a recreational or a commercial saltwater fishing license. If fishing in both fresh and saltwaters, a person MUST have both freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses—either recreational or commercial.
Blueback herring
Regulations
Possession Limit: 1 US bushel per person per day.
Size limit: No statewide length limits
Other Restrictions:
- Herring fishing is prohibited within one hundred feet of the fish lift exit channel at St. Stephens Powerhouse. Herring fishery closed in the Savannah River seaward of the Augusta Diversion Dam and in all rivers in the Winyah Bay River System except for the Great Pee Dee River.
- It is unlawful to take American shad and herring using the following nongame fishing devices: archery equipment, crayfish trap, eel pot, elver fyke net, gig, hand grabbing, hoop net, jug fishing device, minnow seine, minnow trap, pump net, seine, set hook, spear, trap or trotline.
- Recreational (unlawful to sell catch)
- To take herring for recreational purposes by hook and line, cast net (for bait), or skim bow net in freshwaters a person MUST have a recreational freshwater fishing license.
- To take herring for recreational purposes using a herring gill net, a person MUST have a recreational fishing license, gear license, and related permits.
- Only one herring gill net may be fished by occupants of a boat, and if drifted, it must be attended at all times when deployed. Additional boats in tow may not be used to increase the number of authorized nets. Must adhere to legal commercial fishing areas and the recreational limit.
- Commercial (selling one’s catch)
- MUST use a herring gill net; not to be confused with the nongame gill nets.
- Herring Gill Net: A gill net used for taking or attempting to take herring in the salt waters of this State must have a mesh size of two and one-half inches stretched and a length no greater than nine hundred feet. A gill net used for taking or attempting to take herring in freshwaters must have a stretched mesh of two and one-half inches stretched and a length no greater than six hundred feet.
- To take herring for commercial purposes using a herring gill net, a person MUST have a commercial fishing license, gear license, and related permits.
- To use a cast net to take herring for commercial purposes, a person MUST have a commercial license, a gear license, and related permits.
- MUST use a herring gill net; not to be confused with the nongame gill nets.
- License Type Requirements
- If fishing in the freshwaters of the state, a person needs either a recreational or commercial freshwater fishing license. If fishing in the saltwaters of the state, a person needs a either a recreational or a commercial saltwater fishing license. If fishing in both fresh and saltwaters, a person MUST have both freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses—either recreational or commercial.
Gizzard shad
Regulations
Possession Limit: No statewide limit
Size limit: No statewide length limits
Hickory shad
Regulations
Possession Limit: 10 shad per person per day
Size limit: No statewide length limits
Exceptions to the limits above:
- Santee River 20 person per day
Other Restrictions:
- Recreational (unlawful to sell catch)
- To take shad for recreational purposes by hook and line, cast net (for bait), or skim bow net in freshwaters a person MUST have a recreational freshwater fishing license.
- To take shad for recreational purposes using a shad gill net, a person MUST have a recreational fishing license, gear license, and related permits.
- Only one shad gill net may be fished by occupants of a boat, and if drifted, it must be attended at all times when deployed. Additional boats in tow may not be used to increase the number of authorized nets. Must adhere to legal commercial fishing areas and the recreational limit.
- Commercial (selling one’s catch)
- MUST use a shad gill net; not to be confused with the nongame gill nets.
- Shad Gill Net: A gill net used for taking or attempting to take shad in the inshore salt waters must have a stretched mesh size of no smaller than five and one-half inches and a length not exceeding nine hundred feet. A gill net used for shad in the freshwaters must have a stretched mesh size of no smaller than five and one-half inches and be no longer than six hundred feet. Gill nets for taking shad may be freely drift fished or set.
- To take shad for commercial purposes using a shad gill net, a person MUST have a commercial fishing license, gear license, and related permits.
- MUST use a shad gill net; not to be confused with the nongame gill nets.
- License Requirements
- If fishing in the freshwaters of the state, a person needs either a recreational or commercial freshwater fishing license. If fishing in the saltwaters of the state, a person needs a either a recreational or a commercial saltwater fishing license. If fishing in both fresh and saltwaters, a person MUST have both freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses—either recreational or commercial.
Threadfin shad
Regulations
Possession Limit:No statewide limit
Size limit: No statewide length limits
American eel
Regulations
Possession Limit: For recreational fishermen, no more than 25 eels per day
Size limit: For recreational fishermen, eels must be at least 9 inches long
Other Restrictions:
- Any species with a size limit must be landed with head and tail intact.
Bowfin
Regulations
Possession Limit: No statewide limits.
Size limit: No statewide length limits
Longnose gar
Regulations
Possession Limit: No statewide limits.
Size limit: No statewide length limits
White perch
Regulations
Possession Limit:No statewide limits
Size limit: No statewide length limits
Other Restrictions:
- Game fish must be landed with head and tail fin intact.
