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View Fishing Regulations from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Fishing is allowed within Congaree National Park with a valid South Carolina fishing license. All South Carolina laws pertaining to licensing, size, and creel limits apply.
Violation of the below fishing regulations could result in fines and/or seizure of fishing equipment.
Fishing Areas
Fishing is permitted in all areas of Congaree National Park. Fishing is not allowed from or within 25 feet of any man-made structure, including bridges, boardwalk, and overlooks.
Watercraft
Boats propelled by inboard/outboard motors are prohibited.
Bait
To avoid introducing new, nonnative and/or potentially diseased, species to the ecosystem, please do not use minnows, amphibians or fish eggs as bait.
To preserve this natural environment for future generations, drugs, poisons, explosives, electrical devices or similar means in order to take or attract game and/or non-game fish are NOT allowed.
To ensure the natural condition of the park, do not dig for bait or chum for fish.
Game fish may be used to catch game fish but must be included in South Carolina regulated daily bag limit.
Equipment
Fish only with closely attended hook and line, fly rod, casting rod, pole and line or hand line.
General Rules
To preserve the quantity and biodiversity of the fish population, only recreational fishing is allowed. Catch and release sportsmanship is encouraged.
Please return illegal or unwanted fish carefully and immediately to the water.
Help maintain the natural beauty and health of the park by refraining from littering.
Congaree National Park Fish Consumption Information & Advisories
While anglers are permitted to eat the fish that they catch, those who are planning to consume fish caught in the park should be aware of the possible presence of possible toxins and contaminants that may be present in game fish. Fishing advisories are issued as recommendations on the consumption of, or avoidance of eating entirely, certain species of fish due to chemical or biological contamination.
The South Carolina Department Environmental Services maintains information on fish species with consumption advisories in place within the Congaree River and its tributaries , as well as a map that shows what advisories are in place for the area in and around the park. The National Park Service also maintains information on Fish Consumption Advisories for NPS managed lands.
