Lake Marion

Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg & Sumter Counties, South Carolina

Lake Marion is South Carolina's largest lake, in the coastal plain along I-95 between Columbia and Charleston. It is known for big blue catfish, a historic striped bass fishery, and stump-filled flats full of crappie and bass.

Air temp in Summerton, SC Loading current temperature…

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Lake Marion (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area110,600 acres

Max depth77 ft

Shoreline511 mi

Boat motorsCheck local rules

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Blue Catfish●●●●●

Drift cut bait like herring or shad across the open flats and old river channel.

Striped Bass●●●●○

Watch for surface feeding on shad in fall and winter on the lower lake.

Crappie●●●●○

Fish minnows around the many cypress trees and standing stumps.

Largemouth Bass●●●●○

Work the upper lake swamps and grass edges in spring.

Redear Sunfish●●●○○

Shellcrackers bed in shallow coves in April and May.

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

SlowFairGoodHot

Boat launches

6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Santee State Park rampsFee
SC State Parks, south shore above I-95 near Santee; two launch sitesDirections ↗
Rimini LandingPublic
Public landing on the north side near Pack's Landing Rd; four lanes, courtesy dock, fishing pierDirections ↗
Low Falls LandingPublic
Public landing on the south shore of the upper lake near Cameron; four ramps with docksDirections ↗
Sparkleberry LandingFree
Free two-lane public ramp on the north shore of the upper lakeDirections ↗
Spiers LandingPublic
Public two-lane ramp on the south side of the lower lake, courtesy docks and fishing pierDirections ↗
More public accessPublic
See SC DNR or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.

Species	Min size	Daily limit
Blue Catfish Max 2 over 32 in per day; eff. May 15, 2026 (Act 120). Other species (bass, striped bass) not confirmed for Marion	See note	25 / day

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

Blacks CampNearby
1370 Blacks Camp Rd, Cross, SC(843) 753-2231 Directions ↗
Belle'sNearby
721 Old River Rd, Elloree, SC(803) 826-6112 Directions ↗
Lil N8s Bait & TackleNearby
10513 Hwy 260, Manning, SC(803) 478-6880 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Lake Marion ↗

Local tips

Many stumps sit just under the surface, so run slowly outside marked channels.
The Diversion Canal to Lake Moultrie offers protected water on windy days.
Only one blue catfish over 36 inches may be kept per person per day.

Angler reports

Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Marion.

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View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.