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Fishing regulations at Lake Hartwell, 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
Largemouth bass
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.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
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.
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.
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. 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:
- Blalock Lake: minimum size = 14- inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Chattooga River: minimum size = 12- inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Greenwood Lake: minimum size = 14-inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Hartwell Lake: minimum size = 12- inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Jocassee Lake: minimum size = 14- inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Keowee Lake: minimum size = 12- inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Marion Lake: minimum size = 14- inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Monticello Lake: minimum size = 14- inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Moultrie Lake: minimum size = 14- inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Murray Lake: minimum size = 14- inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Robinson Lake: minimum size = 12- inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Russell Lake (including Lake Hartwell Tailwater): minimum size = 12-inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Saluda River (middle reach): minimum size = 14-inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Santee River (upper reach): minimum size = 14-inches; bag limit no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Savannah River: minimum size = 12- inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Secession Lake: minimum size = 14- inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Slade's Lake: minimum size = 12- inches; bag limit = no more than 2 combined total of black bass;
- Stevens Creek Reservoir: minimum size = 12-inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Thurmond Lake: minimum size = 12- inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Tugaloo Lake: minimum size = 12- inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Wateree Lake: minimum size = 14- inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Wylie Lake: minimum size = 14- inches; bag limit = no more than 5 combined total of black bass;
- Yonah Lake: minimum size = 12- inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
Check with state parks, city reservoirs, or county parks for special limits and regulations that apply to those areas. For more information, see SCDNR website.
Spotted bass
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.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
GA Spearing
Harvest of this species by spearing is prohibited. Spearing is the use of a handheld spear or similar device and the use of a weapon, other than a firearm, which propels the spear to which a wire, rope, line, etc. is attached and secured to the weapon or the person using the weapon.
Bow Fishing
Harvest of this species by bow fishing is prohibited.
GA FW Gamefish
It is unlawful to possess more than a total of 50 individuals of all Georgia freshwater game fish, except channel and flathead catfish.Georgia freshwater gamefish include: Bass: Largemouth, Redeye (Coosa), Shadow, Shoal, Smallmouth, Spotted, Suwannee; Catfish: Channel and Flathead; Crappie: Black and White; Pickerel: Chain, Grass, Redfin; Shad: American and Hickory; Sunfish: Bluegill, Flier, Redbreast, Redear, Rock, Spotted, Warmouth; Trout: Brook, Rainbow, and Brown; Walleye.
Exceptions to state-wide size limit:
- Lake Lanier: 14-inches total length
Channel catfish
No bag limit. No size limit.
No closed season, but Noodling or Grabbling season is only open March 1–July 15 statewide in freshwater.
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