Fishing
State parks provide access to some of the best fishing lakes in South Carolina. 
From fishing piers and jetties to lakeshores and riverbanks, state parks have settings for memorable fishing trips.
Need to know more about fishing at state parks? Check in with Ranger Richburg below.
Fishing with Ranger Richburg
August and September Report
Although we are now in the hottest time of year, great fishing can still be found across the state.
If you happen to be heading to the coast, great catches can be found off of the piers at Hunting Island State Park and Myrtle Beach State Park. During July –September, numerous catches of flounder, red fish, black drum, whiting, spots, and shark can be caught from the fishing piers. Actually, the first of July turned out to be on of the best for Spanish and king mackerel at Myrtle Beach State Park in 3 years.
For freshwater fishing, the hotter the weather, the better the catfish seem to bite. Fishing on submerged ridges or along the drop-offs of islands seems to be producing catfish of all sizes on a consistent basis.
During the full moons of July and August, bream and shell cracker can still be caught off the beds using crickets and worms. I took my son Marshall fishing during the full moon in June with one cup of red worms. I told him that when we ran out of worms, we would go home. He caught 10 bream with his first worm. That was when I knew that I’d better call home and report that we would be late.
Good luck and keep on reelin',
Ranger Richburg
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Here are some questions our readers have asked Ranger Richburg:
Ranger Richburg,
If I bring my jon boat does it have to be registered?
As long as your jon boat is propelled only by human power, it does not have to be registered. If it propelled by any device such as a motor or sails, it must be registered.
For any other questions regarding registration, check out SCDNR's specific regulations regarding boats.
Ranger Richburg,
Do you have to have a fishing license if fishing on the Myrtle Beach pier?
Thanks for choosing to visit a South Carolina State Park.
You will not need a fishing license to fish from the pier at Myrtle Beach State Park. The fee to fish from the pier is nominal $4.50 per person, age 11 and over. You can bring your own fishing equipment or use theirs. They do sell bait at the pier along with snacks, drinks, and other items. According to Cheryl, fishermen have been catching whiting, mackerel, pompano, and snapper from the pier, so it sounds like you stand a good chance of catching supper!
Good luck and let me know how you do!
Dear Ranger Richburg,
A friend of mine told me that a fishing license is not needed in SC State Parks. Is this true? Are there places in SC that you can fish without a license?
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resource regulations state that if you are fishing in a private pond you do not have to have a license, unless it is a commercial pay pond that is not permitted by DNR.
Although many of our parks have ponds or lakes that lie totally within the boundaries of the park, they are still considered public fishing lakes and do require a license. You can find license at many retail outlets or you can go to SCDNR's website and purchase a license online.
Dear Ranger Richburg,
We're new to the state and my husband's a flyfisherman. Where are the best state parks to pursue that hobby?
Welcome to the best state in the U.S. (although I may be a little partial!).
Fly fishing can be enjoyed in any of our parks containing creeks, rivers, ponds, or lakes. With the variety of fish species that we have throughout South Carolina, he should be able to catch fish about anywhere. A few examples are Caesars Head or Devils Fork for trout, Dreher Island or Santee for stripers when they are chasing shad in the spring and fall, and Lake Warren or N.R. Goodale for bluegill bream.
Another fun thing he may want to try is flyfishing on the larger lakes day or night when the mayflies are hatching. I've caught them around the old 301 bridge on Santee (Lake Marion) during the mayfly hatch until I was tired of catching them. I've also caught catfish on topwater around the rocks under the bridge. Also try around lighted piers. The bream are feeding all night on the hatchlings. Try not only floating flies but sinking as well. White flies or black flies will work.
Let me know how he does and good luck!!
What is the peak time for bream and bass at Santee Cooper?
Thanks for sending in a great question.
My favorite time to fish Santee for bream is during May and June while the bream and shell cracker are bedding. Late June and July (once they come off the bed) can also be great for shell cracker in the diversion canal fishing on the bottom. Bass can also be good during these same times. Once they come off the bed, they are aggresively looking for food. One of my favorite spots is in the upper lake in the flats across from Stump Hole and Low Falls Landings.
If you should have any other questions, please feel free to let me know.
Good luck!