Went large mouth fishing at Santee yesterday, ended up with 4 largemouth and over 25 stripers! All caught on swimbaits and bucktails all fish maless around 24". Should be a good year in the congeree!
Caught in the lake or river?
I am assuming you where in the river if so what would be a good area for me to try or boat landing to launch from. I have never fished the Santee waterways besides Lake Marion and I have been thinking of trying the river.
I was fishing out of Blacks close to the upper lake!
quote:
Originally posted by 40inchredsI am assuming you where in the river if so what would be a good area for me to try or boat landing to launch from. I have never fished the Santee waterways besides Lake Marion and I have been thinking of trying the river.
Those fish going to spawn in the rivers will funnel through the Diversion Canal.
Put in at Blacks, start at either side of the mouth of the Canal where it enters Moultrie if you just want a short boat idle. Or run up to where Marion funnels into the Canal, drift with the current either side, and hit the cut openings in that end of the Canal.
The striper fishery is finally making a comeback, if you get into them please consider keeping one or two and releasing the rest. Some people insist on keeping a limit if anything just because it’s legal to do so, but you’ll ensure better fishing down the road by showing restraint.
I don’t keep fish most of the time but I will keep one to try it. I have never caught or eaten striper and heard they are fun to catch and good to eat. The only freshwater fish I have ever eaten was a channel cat that was 5lbs and from bushy park, I don’t do a lot of fresh water fishing because it is a long ride from James island to anything other than bushy park. I have been wanting to try the diversion canal but this makes me have to go. Thanks for the tip.
40" the 1’5 hr drive from Ctown to Blacks will be worth the time! The strips should be on this pattern till the end of May, Most fish have been just under the legal size of 26" but sure is fun. Bring plenty of bucktails , you will loose 30 a day or more if you are fishing in the right places. A 24 V t motor or a good anchor is a must Try all the places pitcher mentioned
cannot stress enough to release fish under 26" on the santee-cooper system. I personally release all stripers and bass then catch crappie or a catfish if the wife wants fish for dinner. Had a guy staying at Harrys this weekend carrying around a striper he caught from the dock for everyone to see. It was maybe 22" long. I nicely told him since the fish was dead he should clean it and eat it but told him the size rule and (stretch the truth) told him he could end up in jail if caught with one undersized
quote:Striper is "officially" a saltwater species that got landlocked in freshwater.
Originally posted by 40inchredsI don’t keep fish most of the time but I will keep one to try it. I have never caught or eaten striper and heard they are fun to catch and good to eat. The only freshwater fish I have ever eaten was a channel cat that was 5lbs and from bushy park, I don’t do a lot of fresh water fishing because it is a long ride from James island to anything other than bushy park. I have been wanting to try the diversion canal but this makes me have to go. Thanks for the tip.
Key West 1720 115 HP Johnson Saltwater.