Map

Smith Branch

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

South Carolina, United States

3.7·17 catches

Top fish species at Smith Branch

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Check which species have trophy potential in Smith Branch

Smith Branch fishing reports

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Bluegill

length · weight

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Bluegill

length · weight

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Blue catfish

42 in · 44 lb

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Striped bass

25 in · 11 lb

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Striped bass

25 in · 11 lb

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Striped bass

24 in · 8 lb

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General info

Smith Branch is a stream located in Richland County, South Carolina, United States. It is most popular for fishing Striped bass, Channel catfish, and Bluegill.

Location

34°01′48.9″N 81°03′2.7″W
Directions

When are Striped Bass biting on Smith Branch?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Smith Branch. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Smith Branch, SC

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in South Carolina can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Striped bass

Striped bass

Regulation boundarySC State Waters
Bag limit10

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

RequirementKeep intact

In waters where minimum-length or slot-size limits apply, game fish may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fin removed until the angler has completed fishing for the day.

Restrictions & requirements

SC Gamefish Gear

Game fish may be caught with only hook and line, pole, artificial pole, or rod and reel. Not more than 4 of these devices may be used by any fishermen at the same time, except when fishing in a boat.

Keep Intact

In waters where minimum-length or slot-size limits apply, game fish may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fin removed until the angler has completed fishing for the day.

Additional information
A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day. This total shall not exceed more than the limits or exceptions listed below. Any game fish or species with a size limit listed must be landed with head and tail fin intact. Special limits and regulations apply in: Ashepoo River: October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassAshley River:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassBack River in Jasper County and the Back River in Berkeley County:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassBlack River:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassBlack Mingo Creek: October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassBull Creek and Little Bull Creek: October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassCombahee River:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassCooper River system:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassCoosawhatchie River: October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassCuckholds Creek:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassEdisto River:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassHartwell Lake: striped or hybrid bass or a combination; only 3 fish over 26-inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined striped bass or hybrid bass;Lake Hartwell Tailwater: striped or hybrid bass or a combination; only 1 fish over 34-inches; bag limit = no more than 2 combined striped bass or hybrid bass;Horseshoe Creek:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassIntracoastal Waterway (Horry County):October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassLumber River: October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassLynches River: October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassMurray Lake October 1 to May31: minimum size = 21 inches; bag limit = 5 striped bassJune 1 to September 30: no size limit; bag limit = 5 striped bassGreat Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassPocotaligo in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton Counties:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassRussell Lake: striped or hybrid bass or a combination; only 1 fish over 34-inches; bag limit = no more than 2 combined striped bass or hybrid bass;Salkehatchie and Little Salkehatchie Rivers: October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassSaluda River (Middle Reach, i.e., all waters of Saluda River from backwaters of Lake Murray at SC Hwy 395 upstream to Lake Greenwood Dam): October 1 to May31: minimum size = 21-inches; bag limit = 5 striped bassJune 1 - Sept. 30: no size limit; bag limit = 5 striped bass Sampit River: October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassSantee River system (includes lower reach of Saluda River): October 1 to June 15: striped bass between 23 and 25 inches may be harvested except that one fish may be greater than 26 inches; bag limit = 3 striped bass;June 16 - September 30 closed except for Lower Saluda River where catch and release is allowedSavannah River (lower reaches): bag limit = 2 striped bass, striped bass hybrids, white bass, or any combination of these species per person per day; minimum size = 27 inches total length. Thoroughfare Creek:October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassThurmond Lake: striped or hybrid bass or a combination; only 3 fish over 26-inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined striped bass or hybrid bass;Tulifinny River: October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassWaccamaw River: October 1 to June 15: minimum size = 26-inches; bag limit = 3 striped bassJune 16 - Sept. 30: season is closed - no harvest of striped bassCheck with state parks, city reservoirs, or county parks for special limits and regulations that apply to those areas. For more information, see SCDNR website.
Synonyms
Morone saxatilis
Season open: year-round
Bluegill

Bluegill

Regulation boundarySC State Waters
Bag limit30

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit30

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

RequirementKeep intact

In waters where minimum-length or slot-size limits apply, game fish may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fin removed until the angler has completed fishing for the day.

Restrictions & requirements

SC Gamefish Gear

Game fish may be caught with only hook and line, pole, artificial pole, or rod and reel. Not more than 4 of these devices may be used by any fishermen at the same time, except when fishing in a boat.

Keep Intact

In waters where minimum-length or slot-size limits apply, game fish may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fin removed until the angler has completed fishing for the day.

Additional information
No size limit.  A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day. This total shall not exceed more than the limits or exceptions listed below.  Special limits and regulations apply to SCDNR managed lakes. Check with state parks, city reservoirs, or county parks for special limits and regulations that apply to those areas.
Edibility
Catch, Clean, Cook Bluegill
Synonyms
Lepomis macrochirus
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Local laws and licenses

South Carolina fishing license

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Reviews of Smith Branch

3.7
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3 ratings

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FAQ about Smith Branch fishing

📍 Where is the Smith Branch located?
the Smith Branch is a stream located in Richland County, South Carolina, United States. Its coordinates are:
34°01′48.9″N 81°03′2.7″W
.
🎣 Where on the Smith Branch is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the Smith Branch by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in the Smith Branch?
The most common species in the Smith Branch are:
📢 What are the latest Smith Branch fishing reports?
The latest Smith Branch fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at the Smith Branch right now?
According to fishing regulations at the Smith Branch, some of the species in season this November include: Northern red snapper, Gag grouper, Atlantic bluefin tuna, and Black grouper. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at the Smith Branch?

Fishing in South Carolina requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual and short-term options, available online or at authorized vendors.

In South Carolina, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. Residents 64 and older qualify for a discounted license. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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