UTERStriped bass fishing in South Carolina freshwater
In South Carolina freshwater, striped bass peak October–May and are around year-round, spawning in March–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. March: Santee Cooper stripers run up the Congaree and the Wateree.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Striped bass in South Carolina freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeak
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchSpawningSantee Cooper stripers run up the Congaree and the Wateree.
- AprilSpawningPeak of the river run.
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish striped bass near Santee Cooper, Lake Murray, Lake Hartwell
Santee Cooper's blues, stripers and bass, Murray's stripers, Hartwell and the upstate highland lakes, blackwater rivers for redbreast, and Chattooga trout.
What to use for striped bass
- Live eelsHooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 42–80°F water, best at 50–68°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch striped bass in South Carolina freshwater?
Peak season is October–May, with fish spawning in March–April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Striped bass are here year-round. March: Santee Cooper stripers run up the Congaree and the Wateree.
Where do striped bass hold in South Carolina freshwater?
Look on bridge, dock / pilings, river, reservoir, lake — around Santee Cooper, Lake Murray, Lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee, Edisto River, Chattooga River.
What is the best bait for striped bass in South Carolina freshwater?
Live bait: live eels, menhaden (pogies), herring, bloodworms. Live eels: Hooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for striped bass in South Carolina freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and change — read the current rule at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/licensing.html.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores striped bass for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about striped bass · South Carolina fresh water, the whole year