As numbers of spotted bass have grown in South Carolina lakes, so has their popularity.
Dan Rankin, a fisheries biologist in the Clemson office of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, said spots are non-native fish that arrived in the late 1970s “by unauthorized introduction” — first in Lake Keowee, then Russell and finally in Hartwell.
Although SCDNR had nothing to do with spots showing up certain lakes, Rankin said the populations are well-established and will be managed by his agency. On Hartwell, he said the population density is fairly well-balanced between largemouth and spots.
“There are anglers who have adopted the spotted bass as a formidable gamefish,” Rankin said. “It’s a hardy fish, tough-fighting, and great table fare, so it’s hard to dismiss it as readily as some would like to.
Rankin said spotted bass are “a much-more pelagic fish preferring more open water (than) the largemouth.” According to Rankin, this cuts down on predation and contributes to the spots ability to survive.
“Most anglers are still stuck in the ‘beat-the-bank’ mentality” Rankin said.
SCDNR’s daily creel limit on Hartwell is an aggregate of 10 between largemouth, spots, redeye and smallmouth bass).
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