By VICKI BROWN
vbrown@lowcountry.com
Living in the Lowcountry provides many idyllic spots for anglers to try their prowess, no matter if they have freshwater or saltwater fish in mind. Colleton County sits in an area that is a paradise for fishermen.
To fish the waters around here or throughout the state, a valid South Carolina fishing license is required.
Here is a list of the best freshwater and saltwater “fishin’ holes” in the state.
Colleton State Park
Located at 147 Wayside Lane in Walterboro, this official state park is near I-95 and connects to Givhans Ferry State Park. It has 21 miles of blackwater river.
Colleton State Park provides easy access to the Edisto River, one of the longest free flowing, blackwater rivers in the country.
The park is the headquarters for the Edisto River canoe and kayak trail. According to S.C. DNR, people who fish int his park can enjoy fishing in the Edisto River for bream, redbreast and catfish.
Colleton State Park Boating and Boat Access:
Access on the Edisto River is available at a drop off area. A boat ramp is 1/4 mile from park. A canoe trail between Colleton and Givhans Ferry is 21 miles by river and 15 miles by highway. Seven to nine hours paddling time is required for the full distance depending on current.
Givhans Ferry State Park
Located at 746 Givhans Ferry Road in Ridgeville, Givhans Ferry State Park sits at the end of the 21-mile long stretch of the Edisto River kayak and canoe trail that begins at Colleton State Park. Here, you can fish for flathead, catfish, red breast, channel catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, shellcrackers, blue catfish and eels.
Givhans Ferry State Park Boating and Boat Access:
Access on the Edisto River is available at a drop off area. A boat ramp is located three miles from the park. A canoe trail between Colleton and Givhans Ferry is 21 miles by river and 15 miles by highway. Seven to nine hours paddling time is required for the full distance depending on current.
Lake Warren State Park
This park is located at 1079 Lake Warren Road in Hampton. The park has freshwater fishing and boating on its 200-acre lake, Lake Warren. It also has a two-acre fishing pond. In this park, you can find large-mouth bass, brim, redbreast, crappie and catfish.
Boating and Boat Access at Lake Warren State Park.
Two boat ramps provide private boats access to Lake George Warren. Boats are limited to ten horse power motors. A floating dock provides boaters access to the park. The best part is the fishing boat rentals. Jon boats are available for rent year-round. Rentals include trolling motor, life jackets and paddles. Rentals are $25.00/day. Contact the park for more information.
Edisto Beach State Park
Edisto Beach State Park is located at 8377 State Cabin Road on Edisto Island.
Edisto Beach State Park features salt water surf fishing or fishing in the salt marsh for flounder, whiting, spot tail and other species.
Boating and Boat Access at Edisto Beach State Park. A boat ramp and courtesy dock is located on the western boundary of the park which offers guest access to Big Bay Creek.
Hunting Island State Park.
Hunting Island State Park is located at 2555 Sea Island Parkway in Hunting Island, SC.
This park has five miles of beaches, Johnson Creek, a saltwater lagoon and ocean inlet. Anglers enjoy fishing for trout, redfish and flounder inshore to marlin, dolphin, king mackerel, snapper, and grouper off the fishing pier, located at the southern tip of the park, which extends 1,120 feet into Fripp Inlet.
Boating and Boat Access in Hunting Island State Park: Public boat access is available at the south end of the park where a boat ramp provides access to Harbor River and Fripp Inlet.
The Old Pitt Street Bridge in Mt. Pleasant
This is located at 100 Ann Edwards Lane in Mount Pleasant. Nearby is the Intracoastal Waterway and Charleston Harbor, an excellent shallow-water spot for flounder, whiting, bluefish, redfish, sea trout-and crabs and shrimp. The best time to fish is at high tide. If you go at low tide, try the creek on the left side of the road adjacent to the kayak launch.
Beaufort Marshes.
The entry point for the marshes is most notably located at 713 Craven St. in Beaufort, according to S.C. DNR. In these marshes, you can fish for sheephead, drum, snapper, flounder and porgy, shrimp, mullet, squid, and spot tail bass. The best time to fish is with an incoming or outgoing tide.
Santee State Park
The park is located at 251 State Park Road in Santee.
Santee State Park sits along Lake Marion, and this spot is known for its largemouth bass, striped bass, bream, crappie and catfish. There is a fishing pier that is handicap accessible.
Boating and Boat Access in Santee State Park:
Two boat ramps provide private boat access to Lake Marion.
Barnwell State Park
Located at 223 State Park Rd. in Blackville, Barnwell State Park has three small lakes that host a large population of crappie, bream, largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish.
A small fishing pier is located out from Shelter 1 at the park. This park participates in the Tackle Loaner Program, sponsored by the SC Dept. of Natural Resources.
Rods and reels are available for loan at the park office.
Boating and Boat Access in Barnwell State Park: Private boats without gas-powered engines are allowed in the park lakes. There is no boat ramp at the park, and private boats must be small enough to carry from the parking area.
Rental fishing boats are also available at the park.
Poinsett State Park
This park is located at 6660 Poinsett Park Road in Wedgefield.
In this hilly region of the Palmetto State, you can have fun fishing in the park’s 10-acre lake for bass, bream and catfish.
Boating and Boat Access in Poinsett State Park: Private boats are allowed on the park lake and rental fishing boats are available. Private boats must be under 14 feet, and the boat must be carried from the parking lot to gain access to the lake. Gas motors are not allowed in the park lake.
Lake Greenwood
Situated in the town of Ninety Six, S.C., this lake is a fishing spot on the Saluda and Reedy Rivers, creating an 11,400-acre reservoir. These waters have excellent bass, crappie and striped bass.
Boating and Boat Access in Lake Greenwood: Boat ramps are located on both sides of the river. There is also a pier at Lake Greenwood State Park.
Lake Wateree
This is located off of U.S. Highway 1 in Lugoff, S.C.
It is a 13,025-acre reservoir that boasts two-pound crappie.
The Pee Dee River
Most fishermen say that this waterway is the best anywhere for catfish. It also has bream and mullet.
Lake Jocasee
Located in Salem, S.C., this is an Upstate reservoir offers trophy trout and smallmouth bass. You can also catch brown trout, rainbow trout, white bass and bluegill. Late winter and spring are good times of year to fish here.
Freelance writer and angler Marie McAden has personally fished most of these spots and highly recommends them as places to catch the best fish in S.C. Instead of going fishing and coming back with a “fish story” of how you caught the big one that got away, try fishing in one of these S.C. spots. Maybe this time you can actually come home with the real thing.
