CAROLINA FEATURE

Fishing Around in the
Santee-Cooper Region

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

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SANTEE, SC (Feb. 6, 2002) - For those that think that the Santee-Cooper region is all golf, local tourism experts submit these two words: striped bass.

Nearby Lake Marion is home to some of the largest striped bass and channel catfish in the world, and fishermen come from all around to test their stamina and skills against these worthy adversaries.

Legend has it that the striped bass swam up the Cooper River to spawn, and were trapped when the Cooper and Santee Rivers were dammed back in 1939 to create hydroelectric power for Depression damaged rural South Carolina.

The project was the largest earth-moving endeavor in U.S. history, and the result was the creation of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie - 194,000 acres of watersports paradise.

"I think this is the best lake environment in the Carolinas, and you won't find half the crowd here you would near more populated areas," says Santee Cooper Country Executive Director Mary Shriner.

Lake Marion and Moultrie currently hold the world record Channel Catfish (58 Ibs) and a Warmouth weighing 2.2 Ibs was caught in a creek a few miles from Lake Marion. They also held the record for striped bass until 1977, at 55 Ibs. State records held are: Largemouth Bass (16.2 Ibs), Black Crappie (5 Ibs), Chain (Jack) (6.4 Ibs), Channel Catfish (58 Ib.), Arkansas Blue (109.4 Ibs).

The Santee Cooper Lakes vary from shallow swamps and blackwater ponds to vast open water with a multitude of underwater structures. Lake Marion was not completely cleared, as a result, fishermen will find there are thousands upon thousands of stumps, standing dead tree trunks and live cypress trees. Lake Moultrie is more open than its sibling, and is 14 miles across at its widest point.

The lakes are also home to plenty of bream, large mouth bass, and crappie. A number of local fishing guides have popped up to serve the area's demand for day trips on the lake, and a list of phone numbers is available at http://www.santeecoopercountry.org/fish-guides2.html.

Where to Eat

If you venture off the strip mall dominated SC 6, you'll find a good assortment of local eateries. Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile (803.854.2000) features an all you can eat BBQ buffet Thursday through Saturday, fish fries and family buffets on Sundays from 11 to 3 p.m.

Clarks, just a chip shot from the Santee Cooper Resort and Santee National Golf Club, is one of the town's oldest eateries, and is home to an all you can eat lunch buffet with some of the best fried chicken around. For steaks and seafood, try Chef's Choice Steakhouse (803.492.3410) just off Old Number 6 Highway.

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Cooper River Underwater Heritage Trail -- The underwater history trail includes: the Strawberry Revolutionary War shipwreck, dating to 1781; the Strawberry Ferry landing, established in 1705; the Pimlico sailing vessel, a large ship that was apparently intended for offshore operation rather than on inland waterways; the Pimlico barge, from the 19th century; the Mepkin Plantation boat; and the Mepkin dock structure, a former plantation wharf.

Cypress Gardens -- Cypress Gardens is a 170 plus acre swamp-garden rich in natural beauty and fascinating history. Originally it was part of a prosperous rice plantation. Guest can wander garden paths, that are actually dikes from the rice growing era when these waters were impounded to flood the rice fields.

Bayless Fish Hatchery and St. Stephen Fish Lift --In the spring, adult striped bass are captured in the canal just below the St. Stephen Dam using electrofishing devices that momentarily stun the fish, but do not kill them. Crews quickly move the fish to the hatchery for spawning. Over 25 million viable eggs are produced each year. Visitors can watch the capture of adult fish and view this spawning process, which generally take place from the middle of March to the middle of May.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.