Fishing in Clarendon County, South Carolina
County seat: Manning. Population 31,144 (2020). SCDNR Region 3.
- 1lake pages
- 10landings
- 1river pages
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Clarendon County fishing on SCDNR records
A county of 31,144 people in 2020, Clarendon County is governed from Manning. The county's SCDNR landings are mostly tagged SCDNR Region 3. The county holds 1 lake with pages; Lake Marion is the biggest.
SCDNR lists 10 landings and paddle launches and 6 piers and bank sites across the county. Moving water with its own page includes Pocotaligo River.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 9, 2026. SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026.
Landings, piers and lakes of Clarendon County on the map
SCDNR Public Water Access layer and lake points, checked November 9, 2026.
Lake water on record in Clarendon County
| Lake | Size | Landings | Kind | SCDNR species list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Marion | 90,000 acres | 17 | major reservoir | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
Paged still water outside Clarendon County, closest to Manning first.
| Lake | From Manning | Size | Landings | Kind | SCDNR species list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Moultrie | 27 miles south | 60,400 acres | 9 | major reservoir | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Lake Ashwood | 29 miles north | 75 acres | 0 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Wee Tee Lake | 33 miles southeast | not printed | 1 | named at an SCDNR access | Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Redear Sunfish |
| Bonneau Ferry WMA Lake | 46 miles southeast | 100 acres | 0 | mapped lake | none on SCDNR lists |
| Dargan's Pond | 50 miles northeast | 50 acres | 0 | SCDNR state lake | none on SCDNR lists |
Surface acres and depth as SCDNR prints them on its page for this lake, read November 9, 2026. Sizes SCDNR does not print show as mapped outline area. Species as SCDNR lists them at its access points.
For the bluegill herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Which fish crowd the lists near Clarendon County
Each bar counts the lake pages within 50 miles of Manning whose SCDNR access lists include the fish; Black Crappie shows up most.
SCDNR Public Water Access species lists, counted per lake page within 50 miles; an occurrence list, not a catch survey.
Streams SCDNR lists in Clarendon County
- Pocotaligo River1 SCDNR access, 1 USGS gauge
SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026. USGS Water Data for the Nation, live through the site, retrieved on page view.
Ramp list for Clarendon County from the SCDNR layer
- Borrow Pit Boat Ramp on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 2 lanes, concrete or paved
- C Alex Harvin III Boat Ramp on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 3 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock, fishing pier
- Hickory Top Boat Landing on Lake MarionLake Marion, paddle launch, dirt
- John C Land III Boat Ramp on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 6 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock
- Rowland Subdivision Boat Ramp on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 2 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock
- Taw Caw Creek Boat Ramp on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 2 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock
- Taw Caw Park on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 2 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock, fishing pier
- White Oak III Boat Ramp on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved
- Wyboo Boat Ramp and Fishing Pier on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved, fishing pier
- Pocotaligo Swamp Park AccessPocotaligo River, paddle launch
Clarendon County bank sites on the SCDNR layer
- C. Alex Harvin Landing Pier on Lake MarionLake Marion, pier, wood
- Santee National Wildlife Refuge Bank on Lake MarionLake Marion, bank
- Taw Caw Creek Park Bank on Lake MarionLake Marion, bank
- Taw Caw Creek Park Pier on Lake MarionLake Marion, pier, wood
- Rimini Landing Pier on Lake MarionLake Marion, pier, wood
- Wyboo Boat Ramp and Fishing Pier on Lake MarionLake Marion, pier, wood
SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026. The SCDNR layer carries no fee or hours field.
Dated reservoir readings across Clarendon County
Lake Marion
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Marion Near Elloree, Sc | 74.23 ft lake elevation | Nov 12 7:15 pm |
| Lake Marion Near Pineville, Sc | 74.36 ft lake elevation | Nov 12 7:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 8:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
What a Clarendon County creel may hold
Most Clarendon County fresh water follows the statewide limits below. A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day (freshwater), not exceeding the species limits (guide p. 28). Freshwater licenses run $10 for residents and $35 for visitors on the SCDNR fee page.
| Species | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| American Eel | 9 inches min | 25 |
| Blue Catfish | See limits in Freshwater Nongame Fishing Regulations section. | See limits in Freshwater Nongame Fishing Regulations section. |
| Bream | Any length | 30 |
| Redbreast Sunfish | Any length | 15 |
| Crappie | 8 inches min | 20 |
| Walleye & Sauger | Any length | No more than 8 combined total of walleye or sauger |
| Chain Pickerel | Any length | 30 |
| Redfin Pickerel | Any length | 30 |
| Yellow Perch | Any length | 30 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 12 inches min | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids |
| Redeye (Bartrams) Bass | Any length | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids |
| Largemouth Bass | Any length | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids |
| Spotted Bass | Any length | 15 |
| White Bass | Any length | 10 |
| Striped or Hybrid Bass or a combination | Any length | 10 |
Special-limit lakes and rivers of Clarendon County
- Lake MarionLargemouth Bass: 14 inches min, No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids
2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide, valid August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027 (online guide), read November 9, 2026. License prices as printed on the SCDNR license pricing pages (dnr.sc.gov), read November 9, 2026.
Heavyweights on the books around Clarendon County
| Species | Weight as listed | List | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 16-2 | freshwater | Lake Marion | 1949 |
South Carolina state record fish as listed by SCDNR (record list), read November 9, 2026.
The weigh-in calendar of Clarendon County
Trails list Clarendon County water in 26 entries, 13 of them upcoming.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 14, 2026 | CATT Santee Cooper Fall Qualifier 5 | Santee Cooper Lakes | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Dec. 12, 2026 | CATT Santee Cooper Fall Final | Santee Cooper Lakes | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Feb. 6, 2027 | CATT Santee Cooper Spring Qualifier #1 (no forward-facing sonar) | Santee Cooper Lakes | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Feb. 13, 2027 | CATT Santee Cooper Spring Qualifier #2 (GOLD) | Santee Cooper Lakes | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Feb. 20, 2027 | Fishers of Men SC Low Country Classic, Santee Cooper Lakes | Santee Cooper Lakes | Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail |
| Feb. 27, 2027 | CATT Santee Cooper Spring Qualifier #3 (GOLD, no forward-facing sonar) | Santee Cooper Lakes | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| March 14, 2027 | CATT Santee Cooper Spring Qualifier #4 (Sunday) | Santee Cooper Lakes | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| March 20, 2027 | Fishers of Men SC Low Country Classic, Santee Cooper Lakes | Santee Cooper Lakes | Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail |
| Oct. 31, 2026 | Glynn Weber & Woody Floyd Win Santee Cooper, SC Oct 31, 2026 20.29 lbs! | Santee Cooper Lakes | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Oct. 17, 2026 | James Gibbons & Jonathan Sutton Win Santee Cooper, SC Oct 17, 2026 27.36 lbs! | Santee Cooper Lakes | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Oct. 3, 2026 | Bennett Lawshe Wins Santee Cooper, SC Oct 3, 2026 With 5 bass weighing 28.98 lbs! | Santee Cooper Lakes | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Sept. 19, 2026 | Jenna Johnson & Bennett Lawshe Win Santee Cooper, SC With 30.71 lbs! BF 8.03 lbs! Sept 19, 2026 | Santee Cooper Lakes | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
Organizer schedule and results pages, checked November 2026.
Clarendon County Yellow Pages tackle and guide listings
Where to buy shrimp and minnows in Clarendon County
- Lil N8s Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Manning
- Arbuckle's Landingmarina, Summerton
- Carolina King Retreat & Marinamarina, Summerton
- Moorer Dorothymarina, Manning
- Moorer Mary Cartermarina, Manning
- Pack's Landingmarina, Pinewood
- Randolph's Landingmarina, Manning
Booking a guide in Clarendon County
- Fish'n 'n Fever Guide Servicefishing guide, Summerton, (803) 478-4699
Yellow Pages listings (city of business), read November 9, 2026.
Branching out from Clarendon County
Where to base a trip in Clarendon County
- Manningpop. 3,878
- Wyboopop. 3,661
Counties a short hop from Clarendon County
- Sumter County20 miles northwest
- Williamsburg County29 miles east
- Calhoun County32 miles west
- Lee County34 miles north
Piscifun reels and leaders boxed up for Clarendon County
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Lowcountry and Upstate water near Clarendon County, on camera
Photo: Andrew Parlette, CC BY 2.0
Photo: mogollon_1, CC BY 2.0
Photo: VashiDonsk, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Yellowcard, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fishing around Clarendon County: the questions that come up
Where can a boat be launched in Clarendon County?
There are 10 landings and launches on SCDNR maps of the county.
Which lake in Clarendon County is biggest?
Lake Marion comes first with 90,000 acres.
What can be caught near Clarendon County according to SCDNR lists?
SCDNR access lists name Black Crappie on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish and Bluegill.
Does Clarendon County have a bait and tackle listing?
7 listings, including Lil N8s Bait & Tackle.
Which SC town hosts the Clarendon County seat?
Manning.
What does a fishing license cost for Clarendon County water?
Freshwater licenses run $10 for residents and $35 for visitors on the SCDNR fee page.
What counties lie beside Clarendon County?
By distance: Sumter County, Williamsburg County and Calhoun County.
Is there a crappie size limit across Clarendon County?
Statewide: Crappie: 20 daily, size 8 inches min. A guide row naming a lake can change it.
Which SCDNR region covers Clarendon County?
SCDNR Region 3, going by the majority of its SCDNR access records.
Does the guide print rules for Clarendon County waters?
1 water with a page here have a guide row of their own, beginning with Lake Marion.
Which tournaments come to Clarendon County lakes?
26 organizer entries on file; next is CATT Santee Cooper Fall Qualifier 5 on Santee Cooper Lakes, Nov. 14, 2026.
Which SCDNR records came from Clarendon County?
Largemouth Bass, 16-2 as listed, from Lake Marion (1949).
Spend a Palmetto morning on Clarendon County water
River pages list SCDNR accesses and USGS flow.