Fish Tales: Record-Size Freshwater Catches in South Carolina

Fishing is a popular sport in South Carolina, with anglers coming from neighboring states to enjoy their favorite freshwater spots. The Palmetto State also has been the location of many impressive catches. Here are just a few that make these Southerners proud.

1. Largemouth bass

In 1948, P.H. Flanagan, a Manning resident, caught a 16.2-pound largemouth bass in Lake Marion, earning him the record for the state's biggest catch of the species. In 1992, Mason Cummings of Ridge Springs found an equally big largemouth bass at the end of his line at Aiken County Pond, tying Flanagan for the title, according to the state's Department of Natural Resources.

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2. Trout

South Carolina's title for largest brook trout goes to Wes Coker from Gray Court, who reeled in a 4-pound, 10-ounce fish on the Chattooga below Burrells Ford in 2010. Angler Larry Edwards caught a brown trout weighing in at 17 pounds, 9.5 ounces on Lake Jocassee in 1987, while the biggest rainbow trout, weight 11 pounds, 5 ounces, was caught on the same lake in 1993 to win the title in that category.

3. Blue catfish

In 1991, along the Tailrace Canal, angler George A. Lljewski from Summerville caught a blue catfish weighing an outstanding 109 pounds, 4 ounces. As recently as 2012, a 136-pound blue catfish was caught by commercial fisherman Leland Selph and Jimmy Dowling, according to South Carolina Sportsman, but it was not eligible for the record books as it was caught on a trotline, not hook and line.

4. Chain Pickerel

This species may generally be small but in 1981 Randall Spell of Colleton went on record as catching the largest chain pickerel to date on Chessey Creek. It weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces.

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5. Striped bass

South Carolina's state fish is the striped bass, and when angler Terry McConnell caught a 63 pounder on Lake Russell in 2009, it went down in state history as the largest catch of this species to date. McConnell had held the previous record for largest caught striped bass, one that weighed 59 pounds, in 2002, according to the DNR.

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