Lake Moultrie fishing conditions · South Carolina

Now until 5 pmLargemouth bass

The bite peaks at 78.

Right now: 78 for largemouth bass, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Largemouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

784 pm
70
70
707 pm
60
68
6810 pm
68
68Sun
681 am
68
68
684 am
68
68
687 am
68
60
5810 am
58
58
581 pm
58
58
584 pm
58
58
587 pm
58
58
5810 pm
58
58Mon
581 am
58
60

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 5 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Mostly Sunny
Air: 71°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are South Carolina regulations for these waters.

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

78Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No largemouth under 14"; 5 black bass a day combined.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Lakes Marion, Moultrie, Murray and Wylie

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Blue catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

78Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Blue catfish bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–60 ft down.

Keep

25 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 25 blue catfish a day, no more than 2 of them over 32".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Lakes Marion and Moultrie

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on blue catfish

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

78Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Striped bass bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

23" minimum · 25" maximum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Oct 1–Jun 15: 3 striped or hybrid bass a day, only fish from 23 to 25" may be kept, except one may be over 26". Jun 16–Sep 30: closed.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Santee River system (Lakes Marion and Moultrie)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Feb–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on striped bass

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

78Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Carolina sets no daily or length limit for channel catfish; the state nongame limits cover only blue catfish and American eel.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Feb–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

78Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

8" minimum · 20 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Carolina statewide: 8" minimum, 20 crappie a day, within the 40-fish daily game fish total.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

78Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Carolina's nongame size and possession table does not include common carp, so no limit applies. Grass carp are protected; SCDNR: "It is unlawful to take, harm or kill grass carp in public waters."

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer29.95 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today5:23 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:44 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:50 pm–4:50 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

South Carolina DNR report, undated

Names blue catfish, crappie, striped bass, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at South Carolina DNR

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The lower Santee Cooper lake near Charleston — giant blue catfish, striped bass, largemouth, and crappie across open water and the diversion canal.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesSouth Carolina
WhereBerkeley County · 33.3500, -80.0500

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Santee Cooper (Lake Marion)9 mi · South CarolinaBest now until 5 pm

78Worth the trip

Lake Marion20 mi · South CarolinaBest now until 8 pm

88Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Moultrie?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake Moultrie you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Moultrie?

Lake Moultrie is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Striped Bass, Channel Catfish, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Lake Moultrie?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake Moultrie against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Lake Moultrie have?

Lake Moultrie has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Moultrie?

state agency regulations apply at Lake Moultrie. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Lake Moultrie tidal water?

No. Lake Moultrie is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.