Fishing in Orangeburg County, South Carolina
County seat: Orangeburg. Population 84,223 (2020). SCDNR Region 3.
- 1lake pages
- 13landings
- 2river pages
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Orangeburg County fishing on SCDNR records
A county of 84,223 people in 2020, Orangeburg County is governed from Orangeburg. 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 13 landings and paddle launches and 4 piers and bank sites across the county. Moving water with its own page includes North Fork Edisto River and South Fork Edisto 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 Orangeburg County on the map
SCDNR Public Water Access layer and lake points, checked November 9, 2026.
Lake water on record in Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg County, closest to Orangeburg first.
| Lake | From Orangeburg | Size | Landings | Kind | SCDNR species list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Edgar Brown | 33 miles southwest | 100 acres | 4 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Lake Moultrie | 48 miles east | 60,400 acres | 9 | major reservoir | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Lake George Warren | 49 miles south | 400 acres | 2 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Lake Murray | 52 miles northwest | 48,579 acres | 12 | major reservoir | Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish, Bluegill |
| Lake Ashwood | 53 miles northeast | 75 acres | 0 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
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.
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Each bar counts the lake pages within 100 miles of Orangeburg whose SCDNR access lists include the fish; Largemouth Bass shows up most.
SCDNR Public Water Access species lists, counted per lake page within 100 miles; an occurrence list, not a catch survey.
Streams SCDNR lists in Orangeburg County
- North Fork Edisto River9 SCDNR accesses, 2 USGS gauges
- South Fork Edisto River9 SCDNR accesses, 5 USGS gauges
Live stream readings across Orangeburg County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg, Sc | 296 cfs, 3.37 ft gage height | Nov 12 8:00 pm |
| North Fork Edisto River At Sc394, Above North, Sc | 230 cfs, 7.60 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:45 pm |
| Rocky Swamp Creek Near Norway, Sc | 23 cfs, 5.68 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:45 pm |
| Cow Castle Creek Near Bowman, Sc | 0 cfs, 0.70 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:45 pm |
| Sunnyside Canal At Orangeburg, Sc | 0.48 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 8:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
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 Orangeburg County from the SCDNR layer
- Baughmans Boat Ramp on North Fork Edisto RiverNorth Fork Edisto River, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved
- Cathead Boat Ramp on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 2 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock
- Eutaw Springs Boat Ramp on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved
- Hog Pen Boat Ramp on South Fork Edisto RiverSouth Fork Edisto River, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved
- Indian Bluff Park on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved, courtesy dock, fishing pier
- Kill Kare Boat Ramp on North Fork Edisto RiverNorth Fork Edisto River, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved
- Livingston Boat Ramp on North Fork Edisto RiverNorth Fork Edisto River, boat ramp, 1 lane, dirt
- Orangeburg City Boat Landing on North Fork Edisto RiverNorth Fork Edisto River, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved, courtesy dock
- Rowes Bridge Boat Ramp on North Fork Edisto RiverNorth Fork Edisto River, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved
- Santee State Park on Lake MarionLake Marion, boat ramp, 3 lanes, concrete or paved, fishing pier
- Slab Boat Ramp on North Fork Edisto RiverNorth Fork Edisto River, boat ramp, 1 lane, dirt
- Carson's Park on North Fork Edisto RiverNorth Fork Edisto River, paddle launch
- Poole's Mill Landing on North Fork Edisto RiverNorth Fork Edisto River, paddle launch
Orangeburg County bank sites on the SCDNR layer
- Carson Park Bank on North Fork Edisto RiverNorth Fork Edisto River, bank
- Santee State Park Bank on Lake MarionLake Marion, bank
- Indian Bluff Park Pier on Lake MarionLake Marion, pier, wood
- Santee State Park 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 Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg County creel may hold
Most Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg County
Trails list Orangeburg 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.
Orangeburg County Yellow Pages tackle and guide listings
Where to buy shrimp and minnows in Orangeburg County
- Bait Shackbait and tackle shop, Eutawville
- Springfield Feed and Gardenbait and tackle shop, Springfield
- Cypress Shores Marinamarina, Orangeburg
- Lakeside Marina & Resortmarina, Eutawville
- Marker 79 Marinamarina, Vance
Booking a guide in Orangeburg County
- Blount's Landingfishing guide, Eutawville, (803) 492-3210
- Catfishnfool Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Guide Servicefishing guide, Eutawville, (803) 238-0596
- Santee Cooper Catfishing Guidefishing guide, Eutawville, (843) 514-1117
Yellow Pages listings (city of business), read November 9, 2026.
Branching out from Orangeburg County
Where to base a trip in Orangeburg County
- Orangeburgpop. 13,240
- Brookdalepop. 3,845
- Holly Hillpop. 1,298
Counties a short hop from Orangeburg County
- Calhoun County17 miles north
- Bamberg County22 miles southwest
- Dorchester County34 miles southeast
- Clarendon County37 miles northeast
Piscifun reels and leaders boxed up for Orangeburg County
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Visual key to fish swimming at Orangeburg County
Photo: Under the same moon, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: (c) sudomir, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Fishing around Orangeburg County: the questions that come up
Where can a boat be launched in Orangeburg County?
There are 13 landings and launches on SCDNR maps of the county.
Which lake in Orangeburg County is biggest?
Lake Marion comes first with 90,000 acres.
What can be caught near Orangeburg County according to SCDNR lists?
SCDNR access lists name Largemouth Bass on the most lake pages within 100 miles, then Bluegill, Redear Sunfish and Black Crappie.
Does Orangeburg County have a bait and tackle listing?
5 listings, including Bait Shack.
Which SC town hosts the Orangeburg County seat?
Orangeburg.
What does a fishing license cost for Orangeburg County water?
Freshwater licenses run $10 for residents and $35 for visitors on the SCDNR fee page.
What counties lie beside Orangeburg County?
By distance: Calhoun County, Bamberg County and Dorchester County.
Is there a crappie size limit across Orangeburg County?
Statewide: Crappie: 20 daily, size 8 inches min. A guide row naming a lake can change it.
Which SCDNR region covers Orangeburg County?
SCDNR Region 3, going by the majority of its SCDNR access records.
Does the guide print rules for Orangeburg County waters?
1 water with a page here have a guide row of their own, beginning with Lake Marion.
Which tournaments come to Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg County?
Largemouth Bass, 16-2 as listed, from Lake Marion (1949).
Spend a Palmetto morning on Orangeburg County water
River pages list SCDNR accesses and USGS flow.