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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

Explore your local leaderboard—see the top catches in the app.

Latest Bass fishing reports in South Carolina

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Spotted bass

Lake Keowee

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Lake Hartwell

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Largemouth bass

North Charleston Wannamaker County Park

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Largemouth bass

Lindera Preserve

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Largemouth bass

Lindera Preserve

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Largemouth bass

Fishing Creek Reservoir

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Largemouth bass

Black River

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Largemouth bass

Black River

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Largemouth bass

Fishing Creek Reservoir

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Largemouth bass

Fishing Creek Reservoir

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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 May 16th, 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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FAQ

Anglers in South Carolina commonly catch several Bass species, including Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Spotted bass, Alabama bass, and Florida bass, according to reports from Fishbrain members.

These species can be found in many lakes, coastal waters throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
Bass are caught in lakes, coastal waters throughout South Carolina. Popular fishing waters reported by Fishbrain members include Lake Hartwell, Lake Murray, and J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir (SC).

The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Bass have recently been caught.