It’s a fishing day

Santee Cooper (Lake Marion) fishing conditions · South Carolina

Now until 5 pmBlue catfish

The bite peaks at 78.

Log a trip here
Right now: 78 for blue catfish, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Blue catfish, 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.

  1. 784 pm
  2. 70
  3. 68
  4. 687 pm
  5. 58
  6. 58
  7. 5810 pm
  8. 58
  9. 58Sun
  10. 581 am
  11. 58
  12. 58
  13. 584 am
  14. 58
  15. 58
  16. 587 am
  17. 58
  18. 58
  19. 5810 am
  20. 58
  21. 58
  22. 581 pm
  23. 58
  24. 58
  25. 584 pm
  26. 58
  27. 58
  28. 587 pm
  29. 58
  30. 58
  31. 5810 pm
  32. 58
  33. 58Mon
  34. 581 am
  35. 58
  36. 58
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Blue catfish range 55–85°

Wind
5 mph

From the north

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:23 pm

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
70°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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.

Blue Catfish

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, from a water-temperature gauge nearby, 2023–2025. More on blue catfish

Channel Catfish

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, from a water-temperature gauge nearby, 2023–2025. More on channel catfish

Largemouth Bass

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, from a water-temperature gauge nearby, 2023–2025. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

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–May, from a water-temperature gauge nearby, 2023–2025. More on crappie

Striped Bass

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: Mar–May, Oct–Dec, from a water-temperature gauge nearby, 2023–2025. More on striped bass

Common Carp

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, from a water-temperature gauge nearby, 2023–2025. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.95 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:23 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:45 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 vast Santee Cooper lakes (Marion and Moultrie) of central South Carolina — the birthplace of landlocked striped-bass fishing and a trophy blue catfish destination, with largemouth bass and crappie in the cypress flats. Public ramps ring both lakes.

SC Santee Cooper: striped bass 3/day, 23–25" only (one may be over 26"), Oct 1–Jun 15, closed Jun 16–Sep 30; blue catfish 25/day (no more than 2 over 32"); largemouth 14" minimum.

Nearby

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

Lake Moultrie9 mi · South CarolinaBest now until 5 pm
78Worth the trip
Lake Marion12 mi · South CarolinaBest now until 8 pm
88Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Santee Cooper (Lake Marion)?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Santee Cooper (Lake Marion)?

Santee Cooper (Lake Marion) is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, 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 Santee Cooper (Lake Marion)?

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 Santee Cooper (Lake Marion) 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 Santee Cooper (Lake Marion) have?

Santee Cooper (Lake Marion) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. SC Santee Cooper: striped bass 3/day, 23–25" only (one may be over 26"), Oct 1–Jun 15, closed Jun 16–Sep 30; blue catfish 25/day (no more than 2 over 32"); largemouth 14" minimum.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Santee Cooper (Lake Marion)?

state agency regulations apply at Santee Cooper (Lake Marion). 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 Santee Cooper (Lake Marion) tidal water?

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