Lake Moultrie
The lower of the two Santee Cooper lakes, a wide, shallow lake near Moncks Corner joined to Lake Marion by a 6.5-mile diversion canal. It is famous for big blue catfish, with good crappie, striped bass and largemouth fishing too.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Blue Catfish
Drift or anchor cut herring, shad or mullet along deep holes and drop-offs. Best April through October.
Striped Bass
Schools chase shad to the surface in fall. Hold deep in winter. Season closed June 16 to Sept 30.
Crappie
Spawn shallow March to May, then hold on brush piles 20 to 40 ft deep in summer.
Largemouth Bass
Cypress, gum and tupelo cover in spring and fall, deeper ledges in summer.
Bluegill
Bed on full moons from spring into fall. Crickets and worms, and mayfly hatches in April and May.
White Bass
School over bare sandy points in 8 to 12 ft, mainly April to May and August to September.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Catfish | ||||||||||||
| Striped Bass | ||||||||||||
| Crappie | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass |
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Hatchery Boat LandingPublicSantee Cooper landing at Pinopolis with fishing platforms and restroomsDirections ↗
- West Dike Boat LandingPublicSantee Cooper landing at Pinopolis with fishing platformsDirections ↗
- General Moultrie LandingPublicSantee Cooper landing at BonneauDirections ↗
- Richardsons Boat LandingPublicSantee Cooper landing at Bonneau with long pierDirections ↗
- Amos Lee Gourdine Boat LandingPublicSantee Cooper landing at Russellville, two-lane rampDirections ↗
- Hidden Cove MarinaMarinaPrivate marina in Moncks Corner. Ramp access, fuel, bait and tackleDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass Santee system incl. Lakes Marion and Moultrie. Closed June 16 to Sept 30 | 23 to 25 in (one may exceed 26 in) | 3 / day |
| Largemouth Bass 14-inch minimum on Lakes Marion and Moultrie | 14 in | Statewide limit |
| Blue Catfish Only 2 over 32 in per day | See South Carolina rules book ↗ | 25 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Hidden Cove MarinaNearby547 Reid Hill Rd, Moncks Corner(843) 899-3909Directions ↗
Local tips
- Moultrie is wide open and shallow in places, so wind kicks up rough water fast. Watch for stumps outside marked channels.
- Striped bass are closed to harvest from June 16 through September 30 on the Santee system.
- SCDNR lists the Hatchery WMA as closed to fishing on Saturdays until noon, and all day on the last Saturday of waterfowl season. Check before you go.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Moultrie.