LAKE HARTWELL

Lake Hartwell Fishing Guide

Lake Hartwell is a Georgia-South Carolina border lake. A valid Georgia or South Carolina freshwater sportfishing license is recognized on waters covered by the reciprocal agreement, but tributary streams are excluded and state-specific rules can still matter. Check the current official rules before fishing.

FISH OF LAKE HARTWELL

Fish of Lake Hartwell

Tap a fish to open its Lake Hartwell guide and learn more about the species found here.

Largemouth Bass

GA state record22 lb 4 ozMontgomery Lake · 1932

SC state record16 lb 2 ozLake Marion · 1949+1 tied record catch — open fish for details

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Striped Bass

GA state record63 lbOconee River · 1967+1 tied record catch — open fish for details

SC state record63 lbLake Russell · 2009

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Hybrid Striped Bass

GA state record25 lb 8 ozLake Chatuge · 1995

SC state record20 lb 6 ozSavannah River · 1978

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Spotted Bass

GA state record8 lb 2 ozLake Burton · 2005

SC state record8 lb 5 ozLake Jocassee · 2001

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Channel Catfish

GA state record44 lb 12 ozAltamaha River · 1972

SC state record58 lb 0 ozLake Moultrie · 1964

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Blue Catfish

GA state record110 lb 6 ozChattahoochee River · 2020

SC state record113.8 lbLake Moultrie · 2017

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Flathead Catfish

GA state record83 lbAltamaha River · 2006+1 tied record catch — open fish for details

SC state record113 lb 7 ozGreat Pee Dee River · 2026

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Black Crappie

GA state record4 lb 4 ozAcree's Lake · 1971+1 tied record catch — open fish for details

SC state record5 lb 0 ozLake Moultrie · 1957

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Redear Sunfish / Shellcracker

GA state record4 lb 2 ozRichmond County pond · 1995

SC state record5 lb 7.5 ozDiversion Canal · 1998

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Bluegill

GA state record3 lb 5 ozShamrock Lake · 1977

SC state record3 lb 4 ozLancaster County · 1973

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Walleye

GA state record14 lb 2 ozLake Rabun · 2016

SC state record10 lb 0 ozLake Russell · 1994+1 tied record catch — open fish for details

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Yellow Perch

GA state record2 lb 9 ozSavannah River · 2013+1 tied record catch — open fish for details

SC state record3 lb 4 ozLake Keowee · 1979

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Pumpkinseed

SC state record2 lb 4 ozNorth Saluda River · 1997

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Longnose Gar

GA state record31 lb 14 ozLake Blackshear · 2026

SC bowfishing record28 lb 8 ozLake Moultrie · 2015

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Blueback Herring

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Freshwater state records sourced from Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Records can change; check the official lists for the latest information.

BASS FISHING READS

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EXPLORE LAKE HARTWELL

Plan your fishing day

Lake Hartwell maps & depthOpen the lake map, depth information and official mapping resources.Lake Hartwell boat rampsFind launch sites, public access and practical ramp information.Lake Hartwell Lake HubFind guides, food, services and useful trip-planning information.Lake Hartwell events & tournamentsSee upcoming fishing tournaments and other worthwhile lake-area events.

FISH ATTRACTOR LOCATIONS

Fish Attractor Locations

23 ATTRACTORS

Browse all 23 fish attractor locations

USACE F/A #1 — Powderbag CreekFish attractor

34.361944, -82.874722Open point ↗

USACE F/A #2 — Cranes CreekFish attractor

34.456944, -82.900556Open point ↗

USACE F/A #3 — Lightwood Log CreekFish attractor

34.398333, -82.916389Open point ↗

USACE F/A #4 — Little Beaverdam CreekFish attractor

34.505556, -82.850556Open point ↗

USACE F/A #5 — Near Portman MarinaFish attractor

34.519444, -82.803056Open point ↗

USACE F/A #6 — Near Friendship Boat RampFish attractor

34.601111, -82.910833Open point ↗

USACE F/A #7 — Rock Springs AccessFish attractor

34.469722, -83.010000Open point ↗

USACE F/A #8 — Near Mary Ann Branch RampFish attractor

34.485833, -82.895556Open point ↗

USACE F/A #9 — Bruce CreekFish attractor

34.558611, -83.138611Open point ↗

USACE F/A #10 — Near Buoy T60Fish attractor

34.498056, -83.067222Open point ↗

USACE F/A #11 — Tugaloo State ParkFish attractor

34.496111, -83.060556Open point ↗

USACE F/A #12 — Tugaloo State ParkFish attractor

34.491667, -83.060556Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #1 — Little RiverFish attractor

34.700478, -82.852381Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #2 — Twin LakesFish attractor

34.637492, -82.835900Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #3 — Camp CreekFish attractor

34.584439, -82.856042Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #4 — Choestoea CreekFish attractor

34.540517, -83.100919Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #5 — Glenn FerryFish attractor

34.491117, -82.945767Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #6 — Weldon IslandFish attractor

34.472322, -82.866328Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #7 — Darwin Wright Park Fish PierFish attractor

34.570528, -82.686250Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #8 — Green PondFish attractor

34.516803, -82.803331Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #9 — Sadlers CreekFish attractor

34.443631, -82.825375Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #10 — Big Water MarinaFish attractor

34.405239, -82.826469Open point ↗

SCDNR F/A #11 — Coneross CreekFish attractor

34.616994, -82.947386Open point ↗

Coordinates from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District / South Carolina DNR. Source ↗

CURRENT FISHING REPORT

Official fishing report

SCDNR Freshwater Fishing Trends ↗

START HERE

Fishing license

Buy / manage a South Carolina license Buy / manage a Georgia license

South Carolina and Georgia have a reciprocal freshwater-license agreement covering Lake Hartwell and other specified Savannah-system border waters.
The reciprocal agreement does not extend into tributary streams to the covered impoundments and rivers.
Georgia licenses are sold through the authorized Go Outdoors Georgia system; South Carolina licenses are sold through Go Outdoors SC.
Because Hartwell is a border lake, verify the current rules for the water and method you plan to fish rather than assuming one state's general rule applies everywhere.

South Carolina license information ↗Georgia licenses & permits ↗

Official regulations

2026-2027 South Carolina regulationsCurrent South Carolina hunting and fishing guide and online regulation links.SCDNR Lake Hartwell regulationsLake-specific South Carolina Hartwell rules and nongame-device limits.Georgia freshwater regulationsCurrent Georgia fishing rules and border-water agreement information.

KEEP YOUR CATCH

Fish consumption information

Lake Hartwell has a current PCB fish-consumption advisory with different guidance by lake arm and species. The Twelve Mile Creek and Seneca River arms carry a do-not-eat-any-fish advisory, and other Hartwell waters have species-specific limits. Read the current SCDES advisory before keeping fish to eat.

Open the current Lake Hartwell advisory ↗

Regulations, license systems and advisories can change. Lake Monkey links to the controlling agencies; recheck official sources before fishing or consuming your catch.