Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s most prominent place for stripers and big
catfish.
Thanks to geographical diversity, a comparatively small population density, a long coastline, and an abundance of streams, lakes, and ponds, South Carolina has a great deal to offer anglers. The variety of fish, the types of fishing available, and a plethora of easily accessible destinations make South Carolina angling broadly appealing to residents and visitors alike.
The Palmetto State is home to a dozen large man-made lakes with a total surface area of some 463,000 acres. In addition, 16 state-owned lakes are intensively managed for angling. Many public and private waters offer angling opportunities in all of South Carolina’s 46 counties. Altogether, some 1,400 such small lakes and ponds—all larger than 10 acres—offer a total surface area of almost 500,000 acres. Thousands of miles of free-flowing streams, ranging from Appalachian trout streams to coastal blackwater rivers, add to the delightful mix, as does a hefty chunk of Atlantic coast.
The state’s freshwater lakes and streams offer a smorgasbord of species. Rainbow, brown, and brook trout exist in a handful of counties; all three species reproduce naturally in some streams and are stocked in others. Trout grow fairly large in the cold, clear waters of Lake Jocassee, which is also home to smallmouth bass. For the most part, though, the state’s featured freshwater species are of the warmwater variety. These include largemouth, hybrid, and striped bass; various panfish, including bluegills, shellcrackers, redbreasts, warmouth, and perch; black crappie; white crappie; channel, blue, and flathead catfish; pickerel; and nongamefish species like gar and mudfish. Popular saltwater species include seatrout, redfish, amberjack, grouper, sea bass, sea bream, cobia, and tarpon.
