Bear Island WMA is pond paradise

While saltwater ponds are located up and down South Carolina’s coast, one place has a number of highly managed ones that anglers should not overlook.

Bear Island WMA in Green Pond has more than a dozen ponds that are managed by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. These ponds are served by the Ashepoo and South Edisto rivers, and anglers can expect to catch everything from small spots and pinfish all the way up to bull redfish and trophy flounder.

Fishing is closed at Bear Island WMA from October through March, so April is a prime time to fish there. Fish are feeling less pressure than at any other time of the year, and the weather is usually ideal for fish, because the warming trend that typically occurs this month puts them in a feeding mood.

Normal baits and lures will be productive in the Bear Island WMA ponds: small crabs, mud minnows, shrimp and artificials lures like Trout Tricks, MirrOlures, Vudu Shrimp, and Gulp baits.

Some of these ponds are considered brackish, a mixture of saltwater and freshwater, so anglers can hook a largemouth bass on one cast and a redfish or flounder on the next. This is a unique situation for pond fishing, and anglers are required to have both a freshwater and saltwater fishing license when fishing there.

About Brian Cope 3029 Articles
Brian Cope is the editor of Carolina Sportsman. He has won numerous awards for his writing, photography, and videography. He is a retired Air Force combat communications technician, and has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of South Carolina. You can reach him at brianc@carolinasportsman.com.

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