Barnwell, SC Fishing: A Homey and Inviting Experience

Located along US Route 278 is Barnwell, the county seat of Barnwell County, South Carolina. This South Carolina city is heavily dominated by wetlands and pine woods and is best known for the sundial monument, which can be found in front of the Barnwell County courthouse. The said sundial was thought to be the only free-standing, vertical sundial in the whole country, and is considered as one of the iconic historic places in the United States.

The county derives its name from the Revolutionary War leader John Barnwell who led the militia in South Carolina. Before that, however, it used to be called Winton County. In 1800,  the county adopted the name it carries to this day.

The small town of Barnwell itself used to be known as “Red Hill” or the “Village” during its earlier days, and it was incorporated as a town only in 1829. Eventually, the construction of South Carolina railroads led this city to flourish and provided economic opportunities for people who settled therein during the 1800s.

Today, Barnwell prides itself on being a community filled with people who come together to enjoy what nature has to offer. From skiing in its lakes, playing softball in its parks, and fishing in its rivers, Barnwell is home away from home.

Barnwell Fishing

South Carolina is home to a great number of amazing fishing spots and one of its cities, Barnwell, is best known for its fishing spots that are sure to give anglers a good time.

One of the city’s favorites is the Barnwell State Park due to the various activities that its amenities afford to residents and tourists alike. It is the perfect place for anglers who wish to take their families with them. It has a campground which is a sure delight to those seeking to stay here overnight. This state park has three small lakes, and all of them host large numbers of crappie, bream, smallmouth bass, and catfish.

The best time to catch crappie are from March to April. Common techniques employed to catch them are fishing a minnow beneath a bobber and casting a small jig tipped with soft plastic lures. Meanwhile, the months of May through the end of June see bream fishing at its peak. They are best caught using a lightly weighted jig head in shallow areas and with a heavier jig if they are in deeper waters. As for smallmouth bass, the early season fishing starts from February through April. On the other hand, catfish are usually caught by using a float above the weight on a slip sinker rig. The best months to catch them are from May through late September.

Located at Bryan and Gillmore streets and across the highway from Fuller park is Lake Edgar Brown. It spans 100 acres, so it is no wonder that it has been a top favorite among locals in this area. It offers guests two fishing piers and a boat ramp, giving them plenty of water-related activities such as water skiing, boating, paddling, and fishing. Common fish species caught in Lake Edgar Brown include largemouth bass, bluegill, carp, redbreast sunfish, blue catfish, smallmouth bass, and bream.

The best time of day to catch largemouth bass is at night, especially from the months of late February through March. Around shallow waters, largemouth bass are caught by throwing a lure or live bait near or into their cover. They prefer baits that look injured, so professional anglers tend to use either a beat-up worm or a red plastic bait. If you want to catch bluegill, the best time is from late May through June. The most common way to catch them is using live bait, including worms, crickets, and grasshoppers.

Meanwhile, carp are usually caught from March through June using baits such as boilies or sweet corn, depending on the area. While they typically prefer boilies, carp in some locations associate it with a threat, making sweet corn the better alternative. As for redbreast sunfish are at their peak numbers from late May through the end of July. This is when water temperatures tend to range from 65 to 75 Fahrenheit. They are caught through drifting and usually bite on flies, worms, and small spinners. The months of June through September, on the other hand, are the best time to catch blue catfish. They bite on live or artificial baits, and most anglers find that the most effective way to catch them is through a heavy tackle with cut bait.

Another highly recommended fishing spot is Craig’s Pond which is approximately 8 miles away from Barnwell. It houses pickerel, bullhead, pumpkinseed, bass, bluegill, crappie, and sunfish. March and April are the peak months for those who want to catch pickerel, as the waters are around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. There are multiple ways to catch this well-loved fish species: live baits, artificial lures, and fly fishing. Since they can often be found in shallower parts of water bodies, usually next to weeds or floating timber, anglers tend to employ fly fishing. It gives them plenty of safe distance and the perfect opportunity to present their chosen lures properly and cast them out into the water.

Bullheads are best caught from January through February when the water's temperature ranges from 40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Lakes are stocked with this fish species during these months, so it is a pretty good time for bullhead enthusiasts. They bite on the most common baits that they can swallow, but angle worms and nightcrawlers have deemed the standard. However, those who would love to catch pumpkinseed should visit Barnwell from May until July. Like pickerel, they are also commonly caught by fly fishing with rubber spiders and nymph flies of black or brown colors.

Top 10 Fish Species in Barnwell, SC

The top ten fish species caught in Barnwell, SC, are perch, pumpkinseed sunfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, crappie, blue catfish, pickerel, and brook trout.

Seasonal Fishing

While anglers can visit Barnwell to fish year-round, the best months for those who prefer or would love to experience offshore fishing are from late April through December. Meanwhile, the best months are May through September for anglers looking for some adrenaline-filled adventure or enthusiasts who want some exhilarating blue water action. The most pleasant months in Barnwell are October, May, and April. Meanwhile, the least pleasant ones are July and August, owing to the extreme summer heat.

If you are a bass lover, you are in luck because the waters of Barnwell are known for them, particularly from late February to March. One can even easily spot them on the ledges of creek channels.

Take That Well-deserved Break in Barnwell

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Trips to the great outdoors are best enjoyed when you have nothing else to worry about. When you avail yourself of a licensed fishing charter, you can rest assured that everything you need fishing-wise is taken care of. From the exact fishing spots brimming with your target fish to the boat, equipment, and even casting itself, your guide would be more than happy to help you out and make sure you will have a great time.

2. Visit the Church of the Holy Apostles

Located along Hagood Avenue is a church built during the 1850s and remains active today. This church has seen so much history in the last century, and guests will be treated to a number of legends surrounding this historic building.

3. Visit Barnwell County Museum

History-lovers should visit this museum which proudly exhibits and tells the story of Barnwell and the role it played in the development of South Carolina during the pre-colonial days up until the present time.