Lake Marion is perfect shellcracker habitat

Lake Marion anglers are fascinated by shellcrackers, aka redear sunfish, for a variety of reasons, size being one. For a species lumped in with a variety of sunfish collectively called “bream”, the shellcracker is a giant.

The state record — once the world-record specimen — weighed 5 pounds, 7.5 pounces, and was caught in the Diversion Canal between Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie.

Scott Lamprecht, a fisheries biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources said shellcrackers are aptly named because they have teeth in the throat that crush their favorite foods.

“Shellcrackers are very popular with fishermen, in part because they get so large,” said Lamprecht, explaining that it’s a combination of age and ideal habitat in Lake Marion.

“They actually live longer than most panfish, like bluegill,” he said. “Shellcrackers can live over 10 years based on our studies here, and a 5-year-old bluegill is an old guy. Also, the habitat and food supply in the Santee Cooper system is ideal for shellcrackers.

“Food sources include mussels, clams and snails, as well as insect larva and other benthic invertebrates found in great supply,” he said. “They do best in shallow water, food-rich environments with moving water that continually transports food items — exactly what occurs in upper Lake Marion.

“Every spring, we’ll see a number of 3-pound shellcrackers and usually some 4-pound fish. Another big-fish situation for huge shellcrackers exists in the Diversion Canal area, again because of moving water with renewed food sources.”

Lamprecht said shellcrackers generally bed once a year, but some spawn a bit early and some later. Typically, a full moon in late April or early May will be the peak, but some bedding usually occurs a month prior and even a month after the peak.

“The red ear on the fish will vary in color due to genetics, water color and the stage of breeding,” Lamprecht said. “Breeding shellcrackers will have vivid and bright coloration, and the males will sometimes really get a dramatic blackish color, almost overpowering the green and yellows during peak spawning.”

Lamprecht said a lot of shellcrackers are caught every year, and the population is strong.

“There does not seem to be a need to manage them differently,” he said. “A lot of fish are caught during the spawn, but the population is staying very strong and the size is outstanding.”