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Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing

Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing

Santee Cooper Lakes consists of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie. Approval for constructing the lakes came from the New Deal, which was a series of programs enacted in the 30s. Santee Cooper, a utility company in South Carolina, led construction of the lakes. At the time, this project was the largest land-clearing initiative in the country's history. Over 177,000 acres of swamp and forest were cleared to create the lakes. Lake Marion covers 110,000 acres and has a shoreline of 315 miles, spanning over five counties. The surrounding area consists of a river valley landscape for breathtaking views during your fishing trip. Lake Moultrie is 60,000 acres with more than half of its shoreline in dams and dikes. There are boat ramps, marinas and campgrounds at the lakes as well.

Santee Cooper Lakes fishing can easily keep you busy catching largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white perch. A record 58-pound channel catfish and five-pound black crappie were caught at Lake Moultrie. Other types of fish you can target while Santee Cooper Lakes fishing are striped bass, bream and bluegill. Striped bass found their way into Lake Marion to spawn and ended up trapped there upon completion of the Santee River dam. They adapted to the freshwater and continue to thrive here. Summer is the best season for catfish fishing at Santee Cooper Lakes. You could catch a 20-pounder or aim to break one of the lake records. Bass and crappie are great to target any time of the year. For striped bass, spring and winter are the seasons you'll want to plan your Santee Cooper Lakes fishing trip.



Top Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Spots

  1. Thornley Forest II Ramp
    4/13/2017 2:24:07 PM - Thornley Forest II Ramp


  2. Fish Attractor
    1/31/2017 1:53:44 AM - Fish Attractor


  3. Fish Attractor
    1/31/2017 1:50:50 AM - Fish Attractor


  4. Fish Attractor
    1/31/2017 1:46:43 AM - Fish Attractor


  5. backgate
    7/15/2014 5:35:50 PM - 172 gate


  6. Road Bed Intersection
    3/14/2019 10:45:49 PM -


  7. Largemouth Bass988
    4/1/2021 5:26:49 PM -


  8. Fish Attractor
    1/31/2017 1:48:46 AM - Fish Attractor


  9. jacks creek
    5/26/2016 3:36:01 PM - creek


  10. Fish Attractor
    1/31/2017 1:52:47 AM - Fish Attractor



View more Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Spots



Let us custom design a SD Card of Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Spots for your GPS unit!

We will create a SD card of all fishing spots in the Santee Cooper Lakes, specifically for your GPS Unit, and to your specifications. Alternatively, you can create a custom GPS map yourself by using one of our methods.

Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Forecast

Target Species of Fish

Based on historical data for fishing Santee Cooper Lakes, you should target one of the following species for this time of year:
  1. Bluegill

  2. Bluegill

    There is a 26.61% catch rate for Bluegill, based on 62 Bluegill counted.

    Santee Cooper Lakes Bluegill Counts Chart
    Bluegill

    ENLARGE SANTEE COOPER LAKES BLUEGILL COUNTS CHART


  3. Bluespotted Sunfish

  4. Bluespotted Sunfish

    There is a 22.75% catch rate for Bluespotted Sunfish, based on 53 Bluespotted Sunfish counted.

    Santee Cooper Lakes Bluespotted Sunfish Counts Chart
    Bluespotted

    ENLARGE SANTEE COOPER LAKES BLUESPOTTED SUNFISH COUNTS CHART


  5. Redbreast Sunfish

  6. Redbreast Sunfish

    There is a 11.16% catch rate for Redbreast Sunfish, based on 26 Redbreast Sunfish counted.

    Santee Cooper Lakes Redbreast Sunfish Counts Chart
    Redbreast

    ENLARGE SANTEE COOPER LAKES REDBREAST SUNFISH COUNTS CHART


  7. Warmouth

  8. Warmouth

    There is a 8.58% catch rate for Warmouth, based on 20 Warmouth counted.

    Santee Cooper Lakes Warmouth Counts Chart
    Warmouth

    ENLARGE SANTEE COOPER LAKES WARMOUTH COUNTS CHART


  9. Spotted Sunfish

  10. Spotted Sunfish

    There is a 8.15% catch rate for Spotted Sunfish, based on 19 Spotted Sunfish counted.

    Santee Cooper Lakes Spotted Sunfish Counts Chart
    Spotted

    ENLARGE SANTEE COOPER LAKES SPOTTED SUNFISH COUNTS CHART


  11. Dollar Sunfish

  12. Dollar Sunfish

    There is a 6.87% catch rate for Dollar Sunfish, based on 16 Dollar Sunfish counted.

    Santee Cooper Lakes Dollar Sunfish Counts Chart
    Dollar

    ENLARGE SANTEE COOPER LAKES DOLLAR SUNFISH COUNTS CHART


  13. Chain Pickerel

  14. Chain Pickerel

    There is a 4.29% catch rate for Chain Pickerel, based on 10 Chain Pickerel counted.

    Santee Cooper Lakes Chain Pickerel Counts Chart
    Chain

    ENLARGE SANTEE COOPER LAKES CHAIN PICKEREL COUNTS CHART


  15. Largemouth Bass

  16. Largemouth Bass

    There is a 3.43% catch rate for Largemouth Bass, based on 8 Largemouth Bass counted.

    Santee Cooper Lakes Largemouth Bass Counts Chart
    Largemouth

    ENLARGE SANTEE COOPER LAKES LARGEMOUTH BASS COUNTS CHART


  17. Gizzard Shad

  18. Gizzard Shad

    There is a 1.29% catch rate for Gizzard Shad, based on 3 Gizzard Shad counted.

    Santee Cooper Lakes Gizzard Shad Counts Chart
    Gizzard

    ENLARGE SANTEE COOPER LAKES GIZZARD SHAD COUNTS CHART


  19. Yellow Perch

  20. Yellow Perch

    There is a 1.29% catch rate for Yellow Perch, based on 3 Yellow Perch counted.

    Santee Cooper Lakes Yellow Perch Counts Chart
    Yellow

    ENLARGE SANTEE COOPER LAKES YELLOW PERCH COUNTS CHART


Recommendations above based on 18 species of fish and 233 fish counted for March around Santee Cooper Lakes.

To date, there are 33 species of fish and a total of 2112 fish counted for Santee Cooper Lakes and within a 30 mile (48 km) radius since 9/29/1927 (96 years).

Last Update: 3/29/2023 1:15:38 AM

*** PLEASE NOTE ***
Please check local, state/province, and federal laws before fishing for any species found on this site. All data is based on historical data found for this area, and in some cases as far back as the year 1600.

View full Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Forecast to see all species and best lures and colors to use.

Latest Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Reports

  • November Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing
    11/1/2021 1:54:39 PM - There should be better bass fishing this month in some of the deeper pockets on the lake. Crappie should be bting in the those mid-depth brush piles as well as bream. Cut sh


View Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Reports

Top Santee Cooper Lakes Bait & Tackle Stores

  1. Carolina King Retreat & Marina
    Carolina King Retreat and Marina, LLC offers cabin rentals, boat rentals, fishing, hunting and hiking opportunities for your next weekend getaway or vacation. Located on the beautiful shores of Lake Marion in Summerton, SC, we have everything that yo

  2. Lakeside Marina & Resort


  3. Canal Lakes Fish Camp


View more Santee Cooper Lakes Bait & Tackle Stores

Top Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Charters & Guides

  1. Jackson's Catfish Guide Service
    Catfish Charters on the Santee Cooper Lakes in SC. No fish! No Pay! Guaranteed!

  2. Catfishnfool
    Santee Cooper Lakes Catfishnfool Fishing Guide Service, Captain Wayne Vining 803-238-0596 is offering guided fishing trips specializing in Catfish, Crappie, and Bream. My trips are fun and affordable fishing adventures, family vacations, or group out

View more Santee Cooper Lakes Charters & Guides

Top Santee Cooper Lakes Marinas

  1. Carolina King Retreat & Marina
    Carolina King Retreat and Marina, LLC offers cabin rentals, boat rentals, fishing, hunting and hiking opportunities for your next weekend getaway or vacation. Located on the beautiful shores of Lake Marion in Summerton, SC, we have everything that yo

  2. Lakeside Marina & Resort


  3. Rocks Pond Campground and Marina
    Open Year Round. Store is closed from November 1st until March 1st but the campground is still open for camping. During this time reservations can be made on our Reservations Line, (803) 492-7711. During the winter months, reservations must be paid i

View more Santee Cooper Lakes Marinas

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