Blenheim, SC Fishing: Amazing Adjacent Small Town Fishing in South Carolina

Blenheim can be found in Marlboro County, located in northeast South Carolina. The county is located on the state's northern border in the Pee Dee Region. According to the 2010 census, the quaint little town has just over a hundred people. Mineral Springs or Spring Hill were the first names given to the area. When the community gained its first post office in 1878, it was called Three Creeks, a nearby stream name. When it was incorporated as a town in 1883, it was renamed Blenheim by Donald Matheson, who developed and laid out home sites in the area. It was named after the residence of the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England.

Blenheim is a healthy locality due to its proximity to a potent spring with mineral contents. Because of this, many wealthy planters built summer homes there during the antebellum period. The mineral spring, still drinkable today, was discovered by a Whig named James Spears. The area is also known for producing and bottling Blenheim Ginger Ale which was first made in the late 1800s. Dr. C.R. May mixed the spring water with Jamaican ginger and sugar to make the water more palatable. Blenheim also bottles its mineral water along with the ale. As a fishing destination, Blenheim boasts an advantageous location for several nearby notable waterways, including the Great Pee Dee River. Though the community doesn’t possess its fishing areas, anglers can still benefit from staying in Blenheim, surrounded by many of the county’s excellent fishing spots.

Blenheim Fishing

Anglers coming to Blenheim have the great opportunity to stay in an area situated near several of Marlboro County’s top fishing spots. With its reputation as a healthy locality, the community’s adjacent waters provide excellent conditions for plenty of fish to thrive.

To the west of Blenheim, one will find the Great Pee Dee River, designated as a State Scenic River. Because of its natural conditions, the 232-mile-long coastal plain river provides excellent recreational fishing and boating. Because of the shad run, some commercial fishing is done during the winter. The free-flowing, unaltered river system offers critical habitat for resident and migratory fish species. Species such as blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, black bullhead, bowfin, common carp, and longnose gar can be found in the freshwater portions of the river. Saltwater species include red drum, black drum, sea trout, mullet, southern flounder, southern stingray, yellowtail amberjack, striped bass, and white bass. The river has multiple public access, and boat ramp sites, with the nearest to Blenheim found on Tom Blue Landing Road in Argyle. The entire 70 miles of scenic river segment can be navigable even by small vessels. Large powerboats mainly use the river’s lower sections. Anglers who want to try fishing in the river’s narrow abandoned channels and oxbow lakes can do bank fishing or use small powerboats and canoes. Because catfish is the primary species targeted by anglers, the Great Pee Dee River is South Carolina's catfish fishing paradise. Most of the catfish in the river came from North Carolina impoundments upstream. Catfish anglers can search for plenty of these fish, mostly in the river’s marshy areas. Other common places to target catfish are rocky areas, drop-offs, and steep banks where one can find many flatheads and even monster blues. Baitcasting using eel, bream, gizzard shad, and mullet is a popular way to catch fish there. For those targeting flatheads, night fishing is the way to go. On the other hand, large blues are best caught during the daytime.

For a more toned-down fishing experience, Blenheim is near two freshwater bays to its east and Mossy Bay is home to freshwater species such as catfish, bass, bream, and more. Further east, anglers may come across the larger Pine Bay and Indigo Bay which also house similar species. 

Up north in Bennettsville, the county seat of Marlboro County is Lake (Paul) Wallace. The 300-acre fertilized lake is a perfect place to fish for catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish, pumpkinseed, white crappie, black crappie, and yellow perch. Though largemouth bass can also be found in its waters, they are not permitted for harvesting. Bullhead, chain pickerel, cutthroat trout, warmouth, green sunfish, and bowfin can also be found. The fishing side of the lake is open to motorized boats with only ten horsepower or less. Boat anglers should be aware that boat traffic must travel counter-clockwise. Anglers can also use the available fishing pier to cast their lines. Lake Wallace is open for fishing seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Further up the lake is Burnt Factory Pond; both linked through a creek. The pond is a great spot for largemouth bass, usually caught through baitcasting and spinning.

Top 10 Fish Species in Blenheim, SC

The top 10 fish species found in Blenheim, South Carolina, are blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, shad, bowfin, redear sunfish, pumpkinseed, and black crappie.

Seasonal Fishing

Flathead and channel catfish are easily found during their spawning season between mid-May to mid-July. Blue catfish are also abundant in late spring and early summer, but sizable fish can still be found during the winter. Plenty of largemouth bass can be targeted around April to June when they spawn. Spring and early summer is also the best time to hunt for bluegill as they spawn and become aggressive feeders. Local rivers see an annual shad run in the cooler months for those who want to go winter fishing. Chain pickerel is also a popular fish to catch when it’s cold. Some fish species that anglers can target all year include red drum, black drum, and sea trout. Southern flounder is best found in the spring, summer, and fall. March to early June is the perfect time to search for bowfin. Bream species such as redear sunfish, green sunfish, and pumpkinseed are excellent summer targets. May is the prime month for bream fishing in South Carolina. March and April are the peak months for crappie fishing.

Explore the Surroundings of Blenheim

Blenheim is surrounded by numerous places that showcase the beauty of nature found in South Carolina. It also has an interesting history embodied in a particular site that uses its clean, mineral spring water creek.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

The Great Pee Dee River being situated near Blenheim gives anglers a wonderful chance to explore its great length, expanse, and diverse ecosystem. Those who want to fish, explore, and navigate the river will be more efficient if they book a fishing charter. Blenheim’s nearby fishing spots may also have boat rentals and bait and tackle shops. 

2. Immerse in History and Nature

Blenheim is located near the Great Pee Dee Heritage Preserve, which showcases almost 3000 acres of greenscapes and seven miles of river frontage. The nature preserve is a habitat for four of South Carolina’s threatened plant species. Johannes Kolb Archaeological Site, where early 18th century artifacts from local settlements were discovered. Admission is free and open during daylight hours. 

3. Visit Nearby State Parks

Blenheim is the perfect place that acts as a midpoint between several state parks. Cheraw State Park is located east of Blenheim and is an excellent recreational destination. It offers fishing, camping, boating (kayak or canoe), swimming, bird watching, biking, and hiking. Woods Bay State Park in Olanta, where visitors can also go fishing, boating, hiking, and nature walking.