Fisheries biologists with the DNR Freshwater Fisheries Section have been constructing structures in all the major reservoirs in South Carolina. These sites are clearly marked by buoys and are constructed of various materials. The following maps and GPS coordinates are being provided to assist fisherman in locating these sites:
A file listed above is in the Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open the files and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.
All Boats
In South Carolina, vessels may not be operated in excess of idle speed within 50 feet of an anchored vessel, wharf. pier, dock, or a person in the water. Vessels may not operate in excess of idle speed within 100 yards of the Atlantic coastline. 50-21-870
Equipment Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)- All boats must have a wearable type pfd for each person on board or being towed. Each available, and the proper size for the intended wearer. In addition, boats 16 feet in length or longer must carry a type IV throwable device. In South Carolina, any person under twelve years of age must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD when on board a class "A" (less than 16 ft. long) boat. The Coast Guard has approved inflatable PFDs. Inflatable PFDs must be worn at all time to count.
Fire Extinguisher- One Coast Guard approved hand portable fire extinguisher must be aboard each boat less than 26 ft. if the boat is carrying passengers for hire or if the construction of the boat permits the entrapment of flammable vapors or if it has a permanently installed gas tank. Regulations require additional extinguishers in boats larger than 26 ft. Contact SCDNR for complete regulations.
Navigation Lights must be on at official sunset to sunrise.
Bells, Whistle- All boats less than 39.4 feet must carry an efficient sound producing device. Every vessel form 39.4 to 65.6 feet must carry a whistle and a bell.
Personal Watercraft In South Carolina, each person on a person watercraft must wear a U.S. Coast Guard- approved Type I, II, III or v PFD.
A personal watercraft may not be operated between sunset and sunrise.
All personal watercraft must be equipped with a self-circling or lanyard-type engine cutoff switch.
When operating a personal watercraft, one may not operate in a manner so as to leave the water completely while crossing (jumping) the wake of another vessel within 200 feet of the vessel creating the wake. 50-21-870
Minimum Age of Operators
In South Carolina, boat operators under age 16 must complete a boating course approved by the SCDNR to operate a boat or personal watercraft with a 15 h.p. motor or greater, unless accompanied by an adult age eighteen years or older. 50-21-870
Marine Events A permit is required for any boat race or tournament. For permits or information on these and other marine events, contact: Boating Safety & Education, PO Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422, 803-762-5041.
Reporting Boating Accidents
The operator of every vessel involved in a boating accident shall file a report in writing whenever the accident results in loss of life, loss of consciousness, medical treatment or disability in excess of 24 hours, or property damage in excess of $500.
Restrictions
Airboats are prohibited on the public waters of this state from the freshwater-saltwater dividing line seaward and on that portion of Lake Marion and Santee Swamp west of the I-95 bridge upstream to the confluence of the Congaree and Wateree rivers during the season for hunting waterfowl.
Boating Information and Education
Boaters under age 16 are required by law to pass an approved boater education course before operating, without adult supervision, a personal watercraft (jet ski) or a boat powered by 15 h.p. motor or more.
All South Carolina boaters can now take a boating safety and education course three ways.
1. In a classroom- Share the learning experience with other boaters and a qualified instructor. Contact SCDNR to locate the next classroom course in your area.
2. Over the internet- The complete course including the test can be found at web site http://www.boat-ed.com or at http://www,dnr.state.sc.us
3. By video- You and your family can take a boater education course in the convenience of your home by purchasing a informative video and instruction manual. To order by phone call 1-800-460-9698.
For more information on all boating courses call SCDNR at 1-800-277-4301 or visit our web site: http://www.dnr.state.sc.us.
For boating class schedules or additional information contact: SCDNR, Boating Safety & Education, PO Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422, 803-762-5041, in Columbia call 803-734-4003 or 800-277-4301.
If you are less than age 21 and plan to go boating in another state, check that state’s operator requirements. The SC Basic Boating Course is approved and recognized by all states requiring courses
Titling and Registration Fees
New Registration and Title........$40
Watercraft Title.....................$10
New Motor Title.....................$10
Transfer SC Outboard Motor Title.................$10
Renew Expired Boat Registration...$30
Transfer of Registration and Title........$16
Duplicate Registration card........$1
Duplicate Boat or Motor Title (ea.)....$5
Duplicate Boat or Motor Decal (ea.)...$1
Title Search...........................$10
Late Fee (Thirty-first day and Thereafter).....$15
All watercraft and/or motors MUST be registered or titled within thirty days of purchase. For additional information or forms contact:
Boats Titling and Registration, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202, (803) 734-3857
Change of Address- SCDNR Boat Titling & Registration MUST be notified in writing within 15 days if owner’s address changes. Description of the boat or outboard must be included.
Change in ownership- SCDNR Boat Titling & Registration MUST be notified in writing within 15 days of the date of sale of boat or outboard motor. Seller must provided a description of the boat or motor sold, name and address of buyer and date of sale.
Titling- All watercrafts are required to be titled except documented vessels, windsurfers and those propelled by human power with oars, paddles or similar devices. All sailboats MUST be titled. All outboard motors 5 horsepower and greater must be titled. A title is valid until the watercraft or outboard motor is sold, traded, or exchanged. If a used watercraft or outboard motor in South Carolina is purchased, the seller must produce title in his/her name at the time of sale.
Abandoned or Destroyed Vessels- SCDNR Boat Titling & Registration MUST be notified in writing within 10 days from date of abandonment or destruction. Owner must provide a description of boat or motor and return title(s) or written explanation.
Registration- All watercraft propelled by any mechanized power must be registered in the owner’s name. Watercraft registration is valid for 3 years after date of issue. Registration card must be on board while boat is in operation
Reporting Stolen Watercraft and Outboard Motors- The owner of a watercraft or outboard motor which has been stolen should contact Boat Titling and Registration at 734-3858 immediately. Upon contact, OB Motor/Vessel Theft Report will be mailed to the owner. Upon receipt of the completed report the boat/ motor will be put on record as stolen. If the watercraft or outboard motor is recovered at a later date, please notify the Department in writing.
Largemouth Bass: Fair, slow retrieves with plastic worms, casting Carolina-rigged worms, topwater lures, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Good catches in the early morning and at night.
Trout: Fair, trolling with Apex lures, Sutton spoons and Yozuri baits from 50 to 80 feet deep.
Smallmouth Bass: Good, drifting large minnows and brown hair jigs around rocky points and rocky banks.
Crappie: Slow, Try small minnows and jigs around brush piles.
Catfish: Good, using nightcrawlers or cut bait on bottom at night.
Bream: Excellent, using popping bugs and crickets around banks and brush.
Lake Keowee:
Largemouth Bass: Good, using topwater lures like the Sammy 100’s, Zara Spooks, buzzbaits and floating worms early in the morning. Carolina-rigged worms in green or red colors in 20 to 40 feet of water in the mouths of creeks and off rocky points after the mid-morning.
Crappie: Fair, using small minnows and jigs in 10 to 20 feet of water around brush piles and bridge pilings. Also night fishing around bridge pilings using lanterns.
Catfish: Good, using jumbo minnows, nightcrawlers and cut bait on the bottom.
Bream: Good, using redworms and crickets around brush piles, stumps and bridge pilings
Lake Hartwell:
Largemouth Bass: Good, using 5 to 6-inch lizards, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater lures, and Trick worms fishing off points.
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good, try live herring with down-rods in deep water around the dam in 24 to 60 feet deep. Also try night fishing for stripers.
Crappie: Fair, using small minnows, grubs and small jigs. Fish are moving into deeper water around brush piles.
Catfish: Excellent, using cut herring, nightcrawlers and chicken livers on the bottom.
Bream: Good, using redworms and crickets around brush piles.
Piedmont Area
Lake Russell:
Largemouth Bass: Good, casting plastic worms and lizards along rocky points and deep humps Night fishing most productive.
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Fair, night fishing and early morning with bucktails, cut and live herring and jigs especially when water is running below dam.
White Bass: Fair, using bucktails, spinners and live bait below dam.
Crappie: Good, using minnows and jigs around brush piles and bridges. Also try fishing jigs along banks with cover.
Catfish: Good, using cut bait and nightcrawlers on the bottom.
Bream: Good, using red wigglers, pinks, crickets and nightcrawlers.
Lake Thurmond:
Largemouth Bass: Good, casting plastic worms, Little Cleos and spinnerbaits.
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good, using Cleos, Berry Spoons and KastMasters. Also try live and cut herring.
Crappie: Good, using small minnows and chartreuse jigs around rip-rap and brush tops.
Catfish: Good, using cut bait and nightcrawlers around bridges and rocky points.
Shellcracker: Good, try jumbo redworms fished on the bottom.
Bream: Good, using Louisiana pink worms, crickets and jumbo redworms around the banks.
Lake Wylie:
Largemouth Bass: Good, casting plastic lizards, floating worms and topwater lures in the back of creeks.
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good, using Spoons and Bucktails.
White Bass: Good, with Roostertails and Little Cleos cast to fish schooling in afternoon.
Crappie: Fair, using small minnows and chartreuse jigs around rip-rap and brush tops. Crappie are moving into deeper water. Night fishing for crappie has been productive in the last week.
Catfish: Good, using nightcrawlers on the bottom.
Shellcracker: Good, using redworms and crickets on the bottom.
Bream: Good, using earthworms, redworms and crickets around the banks.
Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood:
Largemouth Bass: Good, casting floating worms, topwater plugs and plastic worms in shallow water around docks and structure early in the morning. Fish being caught around docks and bridge pilings using dark colored plastic worms in 12 to 15 feet of water.
Stripers: Good, behind the dam using Bombers, Charlie plugs and bucktails. Schooling activity reported around Goat Island and in the dam area as well as upper part of the lake.
White Bass and White Perch: Good, fish are schooling around Goat Island and around the dam area. The most productive way to catch these fish is casting a popping cork, trailing it with 18 inches of leader with a medium popping bug tied to the leader or a spinnerbait.
Crappie: Fair, using small to medium minnows and mini jigs over brush in 12 to 15 feet of water. Night fishing is the most productive time to catch crappie.
Catfish: Good, using cut bait and nightcrawlers on the bottom.
Bream: Fair, using redworms and crickets along shore and docks.
Lake Wateree:
Largemouth Bass: Good, using buzzbaits, crankbaits, Carolina-rigged worms and spinnerbaits. Fish have moved into deep water along drops around brush.
Striped Bass: Good, using live shad with down-rods in 15 to 25 feet of water. Good catches reported with topwater plugs. Stripers also suspended in 15 to 22 feet of water all over the lake.
White Bass: Fair, using shad-like baits on points. School activity has been reported on the lake in the state park area along points.
Crappie: Good, using Wow grubs and Slider worms with 1/8 ounce heads in neutral colors, casting and jigging along old river beds in 12 to 15 feet of water.
Catfish: Good, using live shad and cut bait close to bottom in 10 to 20 feet of water and deeper down the lake. Also try Cedar Creek dam area. Night fishing has been productive along underwater bars off points.
Bream: Excellent, using crickets and redworms. Fish during the early morning and late evening for bream during mayfly hatches near deep water. Also try river drops around brush.
Lake Murray:
Largemouth Bass: Good, using topwater lures early in the morning. Also try floating worms, jerkbaits and buzzbaits along the banks. Try fishing Texas-rigged and Carolina-rigged worms midday around stumps and rocky points. Also try pig and jig lures in 8 to 20 feet of water in grass.
Striped Bass: Good, using live herring on the bottom and down-rods in 30 to 60 feet of water.
Crappie: Fair, using jigs and small tuffies trolling in creek runs and fishing brush piles in 10 to 20 feet of water.
White Perch: Good, jigging Flex-it spoons and redworms in 15 to 20 feet of water.
Catfish: Good, using cut herring and nightcrawlers on the bottom.
Bream: Good, casting beetle spins in white with red dot colors and yellow with black stripes. Also try fishing redworms and crickets in 8 to 12 feet of water on grass wall.
Shellcrackers: Fair, using redworms and baby nightcrawlers in 4 to 15 feet of water.
Santee Cooper System
Lake Marion:
Largemouth Bass: Good, using artificial worms, topwater lures, crankbaits and spinnerbaits fishing along the banks and point.
Striped Bass: Fair, using shad and live or cut herring with down rod in about 20 feet of water. Free-lining live shiners has also been productive. Trolling has produced some stripers also.
White Perch: Slow, Try jigging off the bottom with Hopkins spoons.
Crappie: Good, Crappie are starting to bite, using small and medium minnows around deep brush piles, bridge pilings and piers. Also, try fishing at night.
Catfish: Excellent, fishing with live herring and cut shad off the bottom in deep water.
Bream and Shellcrackers: Good, using crickets, redworms, wigglers and nightcrawlers in 1 to 10 feet of water.
Lake Moultrie:
Largemouth Bass: Fair, casting, spinnerbaits, plastic worms and lizards along docks and structure.
Striped Bass: Good, fishing live herring 30 to 40 feet deep with down-rods. Some schooling activity all over the lake has been reported. Night fishing has been the most productive.
Crappie: Fair. Try small to medium sized minnows around fish attraction areas and brush piles.
Catfish: Good, using cut shad, herring, menhaden, live large shiners and nightcrawlers 40 to 50 feet deep. Night fishing the most productive.
Bream: Excellent, using crickets, green worm and redworms around public fish attractors. Fish are in 8 to 25 feet of water on beds.
Shellcrackers: Fair, try redworms and green worms along the banks along river runs and points.
REPORTERS: The S.C. Department of Natural Resources appreciates the cooperation of fishing trend reporters for South Carolina's major lakes: Jocassee - Jocassee Outdoor Center; Keowee - Fishing Hole; Hartwell - Lake Hartwell Fishing and Marine; Russell - Tony's Bait and Tackle; Thurmond - Bladon's; Wylie - Catawba Tackle; Greenwood - Sportsman's Friend; Wateree - Wateree Marina; Murray - Dooley's Sport Shop, Lake World; Marion - Randolph's Landing; and Moultrie - Atkins Boat Landing.
