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  4. Bass fishing in South Carolina

Bass fishing in South Carolina

South Carolina provides strong freshwater fishing opportunities for bass. Lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the state offer reliable action for anglers.

Best baits and lures for Bass in South Carolina

According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Bass.

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Biggest Bass catches

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Latest Bass fishing reports in South Carolina

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Largemouth bass

Cypress Lake

7 in · 5 oz

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Largemouth bass

Lake Greenwood

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Lake Greenwood

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

McCorkle Pond

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Lake Hartwell

17 in · 2 lb 8 oz

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Largemouth bass

Lake Hartwell

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Sunrise Lake

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Sunrise Lake

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Magnolia

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Lake Moultrie

length · weight

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Regulations for Bass in South Carolina

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.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of April 6th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

5

Aggregate

5

Keep intact

Keep intact

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. 

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

33°36′12.2″N 80°55′33.6″W
Regulations in the map
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