Fishing for striped bass in South Carolina means you're also angling for the official state fish.
The striped bass was declared South Carolina's official state fish in 1972, largely because they are considered the state's most popular game fish.
Here are seven facts you might not know about South Carolina's striped bass:
1. Striped bass have four nostrils. There is a pair on either side of their nose, with the two openings separated by a thin membrane.
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2. The largest recorded striped bass in the world, which was reeled in near Atlantic City, New Jersey, weighed 78 pounds, 8 ounces. In South Carolina, the record goes to Terry McConnell who caught a 63 pounder in Lake Russell back in 2009.
3. The average length of a striped bass is between 20 and 36 inches while the standard weight can be between 30 and 40 pounds. This fish species tends to live for approximately 30 years.
4. South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources says that all of the state's coastal rivers provide a healthy environment for striped bass. You'll find the most in Savannah, Cooper, and Santee rivers.
5. All About Fishing suggests the following South Carolina waters as tops for catching a striped bass: Hartwell Lake, Lake Greenwood, Strom Thurmond Lake, Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Lake Murray, Lake Wylie, and Wateree Lake.
7. Striped bass are actually native to saltwater, but usually migrat to freshwater bodies in order to produce because their eggs have to stay constantly in motion to hatch. For this reason, rivers and streams end up providing the ideal environment for hatching.
8. Each year, Clarendon County hosts a Striped Bass Festival, celebrating both spring and, of course, the fish of the hour.
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