This is the Official South Carolina Fishing regulations and Information navigation page for the South Carolina state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state South Carolina Fishing regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the South Carolina state fishing regulations books.
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Weather its South Carolina Trout fishing, South Carolina bass fishing, South Carolina striper fishing, South Carolina Salmon fishing, South Carolina Catfish fishing, South Carolina steelhead fishing, South Carolina Panfish fishing, South Carolina pike/muskie fishing, South Carolina Walleye fishing  We have the South Carolina state fishing regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
If you need South Carolina fishing maps, South Carolina state fishing maps, or just some South Carolina fishing reports to tell you were the bite is hot we have that too.

South Carolina Fishing Report

If you’re planning a fishing trip to South Carolina, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Hartwell Lake, Lake Greenwood, Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Lake Murray, Lake Wylie, Monticello Reservoir, Richard B Russell Lake, Wateree Lake and others. Many of the lakes in South Carolina have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. South Carolina is well known for excellent Bass, Crappie and Striped Bass fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Trout, Walleye, Catfish, Musky, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Bowfin and sunfish including Flier Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Warmouth, White Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch which are plentiful in some waters.Fishing is regulated in South Carolina by the Fish & Game Department. You can check their website for current fishing reports

Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Redeye Bass and Smallmouth Bass Fishing in South Carolina.

Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the South Carolina area.

Bass Fishing Lakes In South Carolina

You can find excellent bass fishing all across South Carolina. Ponds, rivers, small lakes and stream are likely to have bass in them The major lakes in SC with healthy populations of bass include Hartwell Lake, Lake Greenwood, Lake J. Strom Thurmond, Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Lake Murray, Lake Wylie, Monticello Reservoir, Richard B Russell Lake and Wateree Lake.

Lake Marion and a private pond produced the tying South Carolina state records for largemouth bass and the state record smallmouth bass was taken from Lake Jocassee.

Trout Fishing in South Carolina

The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Brown trout are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts and the brook trout is the most sensitive to temperature. The others are comfortable in slightly warmer waters.

Trout Fishing Lakes In South Carolina

Lake Jocassee is the only major lake in South Carolina with a significant population of trout. Some other, smaller lakes, ponds and rivers contain trout as well. Visit the South Carolina Depatment of Natural Resources website for information on trout stocking in South Carolina.

The Chattooga River produced the South Carolina state record brook trout and the state record brown trout and rainbow trout were both taken from Lake Jocassee.

Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss

Known for its tasty pink flesh, beauty and gameness, the rainbow trout is a favorite among the vast majority of trout fishing anglers. It also appeals to the fly fisherman as it can be tempted to take properly presented flies as well as other baits and lures. It feeds on small insects, minnows, crustaceans and worms. Rainbow trout fishing is fun for both sport and dining pleasures.

In waters that allow such migration the rainbow trout will remain in streams until it reaches 6" to 9" in length and then travel to lakes or oceans where it will bulk up and then return to the streams or rivers to spawn. Steelhead trout are rainbow trout which have adapted to the salt water environment. Fishing for steelhead is very similar to fishing for rainbows. However in winter the steelhead typically prefer spoons or bait rather than flies.

Walleye Fishing in South Carolina

Walleye
Stizostedion vitreum

The walleye prefers moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in some warmer water impoundments. It is prized for its great tasting white, flaky flesh.

Walleye Fishing Lakes In South Carolina

Richard B. Russell Lake produced the South Carolina state record walleye. It is the only major lake in the state with a significant population of walleye.

South Carolina walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

This toothy fish will eat virtually anything it can catch and get in its mouth. They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects. They tend to be somewhat wary and prefer the safety of deeper darker water. Try fishing for walleye from sundown to midnight, particularly during the heat of summer.

Fish for South Carolina walleye with live bait, crankbaits, spoons, small spinner baits as well as plastic worms and grubs.

Crappie Fishing in South Carolina

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.

Crappie Fishing Lakes In South Carolina

Find water in South Carolina and it is likely to have a school or two of crappie. Ponds, rivers and small lakes are often populated with crappie. The major lakes with a significant population of crappie include Hartwell Lake, Lake Greenwood, Lake J. Strom Thurmond, Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Lake Murray, Lake Wylie, Monticello Reservoir, Richard B Russell Lake and Wateree Lake.

Lake Moultrie produced the South Carolina state record black crappie and the state record white crappiewas taken from Lake Murray.

Catfish Fishing in South Carolina

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Catfish Fishing Lakes In South Carolina

Most waters in SC have catfish of one or more species. All the major lakes including Hartwell Lake, Lake Greenwood, Lake J. Strom Thurmond, Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Lake Murray, Lake Wylie, Monticello Reservoir, Richard B Russell Lake and Wateree Lake have significant populations of catfish. Major rivers, ponds and creeks across the state are also populated with catfish.

Tailrace Canal produced the South Carolina state record blue catfish and the state record channel catfish was taken from Lake Moultrie. Santee Cooper served up the SC state record flathead catfish and Lake Murray served up the state record white catfish.

Sunfish Fishing in South Carolina for Bluegills, Flier Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Warmouth, White Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch and Other SC Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout South Carolina and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In South Carolina

They are everywhere. Lakes , rivers, ponds and parks have one or more species of sunfish. The major lakes including Hartwell Lake, Lake Greenwood, Lake J. Strom Thurmond, Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Lake Murray, Lake Wylie, Monticello Reservoir, Richard B Russell Lake and Wateree Lake all have sunfish.

Hemingway produced the South Carolina state record flier sunfish and the state record pumpkinseed sunfish was taken from the North Saluda River. The SC state record redbreast sunfish came from the Lumber River and the state record redear sunfish was pulled from the Diversion Canal. Lake Murray gave up the state record white perch and the state record yellow perch came from Lake Keowee.

Striper Fishing in South Carolina

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams which drain into the ocean become the spawning grounds for stripers.

Striper Fishing Lakes In South Carolina

South Carolina is notorious for good striper fishing and lots of big stripers come out of major lakes including Hartwell Lake, Lake Greenwood, Lake J. Strom Thurmond, Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Lake Murray, Lake Wylie and Wateree Lake. Lake Hartwell produced the South Carolina state record striper.

Fishing for Musky, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Bowfin in South Carolina.

Musky - Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
World Record: 69.9 lbs
The largest of the pike family, they are found in about half the states, primarily the northern and northeastern states. They prefer clear water with temperatures from 60 to 70 degrees. Also known as musky, muskie and great pike, they eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush their prey. They also eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures (salt-water sizes) and heavy line when fishing for muskellunge. They will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are known for their speed and are exceptionally strong for short runs.

Chain Pickerel
Esox niger
World Record: 9.4 lbs.
A freshwater fish in the pike family easily identified by the "chain-like marking along its sides. It can be found in the northwest, northeast and southeast sections of the USA. Its primary food source is smaller fish and is known to lie in wait to ambush its prey. While it can be eaten it is not considered one of the better sport fishes for table fare. The chain peickere can be caught on fish-imitation lures and live or cut bait. Watch the sharp teeth when handling. Prefers water temperatures from 62 to 70 degrees. Also known as pickerel, eastern pickerel, pike, grass pike, jackfish, jack and others.

Sauger
Stizostedion canadense
World Record: 17.7 lbs.
Excellent eating fish which typically runs a bit smaller than its cousin the walleye. The sauger prefers cold and cloudy, moving water in the 60s to low 70s. They spawn in the low to mid 40s. You can tell them from a walleye by the dark spotting on the dorsal fin, darker coloring and the rough covering of the gill area. Due to their resembelance to pickerel, they are also known as gray pickerel spotfin pike, gray pike, river pike and others. When the water turns cold and other fish are hard to come by, this is the time to fish for sauger.Fish with jigs, spoons and crankbaits imitating crayfish or baitfish. Fish near the bottom and experiment with presentation action and speed.

Bowfin
Amia calva
World Record: 21.5 lbs.
Found in waters around Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, the bowfin prefers water temperatures of the warmer climates. It has an exceptionally long dorsal fin which extends back to the tail, made of about 50 spines or rays. Near the upper tail is an eye spot. They have very sharp teeth and a nasty disposition when hooked. Handle with caution. They are most often caught on cut bait and crayfish. They put up quite a fight and are not considered good eating. The bowfin is also known as dogfish, mud pike, mudfish, grindle, swamp bass and others.

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