Book Your Fishing Charter in Chester, SC

Bask in the small city charms and scenic Piedmont region views when you visit Chester, right at the heart of Chester County in South Carolina. The tiny rural spot in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia NC-SC Metropolitan Area has managed to maintain its quaintness while enjoying modern conveniences and easy access to the bigger cities in the region. It’s a perfectly relaxing destination for travelers seeking seemingly off-grid. And with many waterbodies dotting and surrounding the city and its county, Chester is a secret angler’s hotspot worthy of being included in your South Carolina fishing tours.

Chester Fishing: Quintessential South Carolina Freshwater Fishing 

Fair freshwater fishing experiences await anglers in Chester and Chester County. The area offers a range of access to different waterbodies, home to South Carolina freshwater favorites like bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish.

If you’re in for relaxing lake fishing, visit the Mountain Lakes and Lake Oliphant. The lakes are a few miles apart but have the same species: largemouth bass, bluegill, shellcracker or redear sunfish, and channel catfish. Mountain Lake 1 is bigger and has a boat ramp and a fishing pier. Mountain Lake 2 is tinier and has a fishing pier. Only boats propelled by paddle or electric trolling motors are allowed for use on either waterbody to maintain their quaint atmosphere. The 40-acre Lake Oliphant should be on your itinerary if you specifically target bluegill. All three lakes have handicap-accessible amenities.

While not as adrenaline-pumping as tuna fishing in South Carolina, fishing in Chester State Park is still exciting in its own right. The state park is built around a lake, which you can fish in various ways: from a boathouse, a fishing pier, or from the shoreline on a hike through the 1.3-mile Caney Fork Creek Nature Trail. It’s the perfect place to include on your South Carolina crappie fishing trips. Other fish species in this park include largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish.

The Catawba River, flowing on the county’s east, is a largemouth bass hotspot. You can also find common carp, crappie, and gar in the river. Downstream from Lake Wylie Dam and the muddy water near Rock Hill are the best places to go for the angler keen to land some largemouth. The artificial lake Fishing Creek Reservoir is situated on the Catawba’s river banks, known for its white perch, bluegill, and crappie.

Looking for smallmouth bass? The Broad River has plenty of them in the one- to two-pound range. It is also the river to visit on your striped bass charters. One of the county’s best places to access the river is the lush Woods Ferry Recreation Area.

If Chester has inspired you to expand your South Carolina fishing itinerary, book your fishing trip with a charter boat in other parts of the state to show you how amazing the local waters can be. Hop aboard Eye Deal Fishing Charters or Saltbreak Charters to go inshore and offshore fishing in the Atlantic Ocean via Charleston's coastal waters. If you’re down for striper hunting, a striped bass fishing charter like Catch 22 Striper Guide Service or Captain Leroy's Striper Charters will take you where plenty of these fighters hide. With a local master guide by your side, you can safely explore the state's water bodies, brush up on your fishing techniques, and enjoy a great deal of adventure on your own or with your family. Just don't forget to check your charter's availability for the season and bring your fishing license!

Discover Heart-Pumping Thrills in Chester

Want to add more excitement to your fishing trip? Say no more. Chester has high-octane activities you would not expect from a small rural city.

1. Go Skydiving

Self-proclaimed as the number one skydiving center in the Carolinas, Skydive Carolina offers a full-service dropzone for beginners and seasoned skydivers alike. 

2. Zipline Across the River

In nearby Rock Hill, thrill-seekers will love the Canaan Zipline Canopy Tour, right at the heart of the Catawba River’s wooded island. It offers various zipline courses, all with excellent views.