Waccamaw River Fishing Guides
A dark cypress blackwater river running from Lake Waccamaw through Horry County toward Winyah Bay, with heavy wood cover and a strong largemouth and panfish fishery.
Guides on the Waccamaw River
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About the Waccamaw River
The Waccamaw begins at Lake Waccamaw in North Carolina and runs south through Horry County to join the Pee Dee system above Winyah Bay. It is blackwater in the full sense: tea-coloured from tannin, slow-moving, lined with bald cypress and tupelo, and bordered for much of its length by swamp rather than bank. The Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge protects a long stretch of the lower river, which keeps the corridor wild even as Myrtle Beach development presses in from the east. The result is a river that feels remote within a short drive of one of the busiest stretches of coast in the Southeast.
Largemouth bass are the main draw, and the cypress knees, laydowns and cuts hold them well. Redbreast sunfish, bluegill, warmouth and black crappie make up a strong panfish fishery that carries the summer, and chain pickerel, bowfin and longnose gar are common enough to expect. Catfishing is good in the deeper main-channel holes, with channel and flathead catfish both present. The lower river is tidal, and that reach adds striped bass, white perch and a spring American shad run, so the species list shifts noticeably as you move downstream toward the bay.
Boat choice depends on where you fish. The upper river suits a kayak or canoe, with tight cover and plenty of deadfall, while the lower tidal reach is open enough for a bass boat or bay boat. Levels rise fast after heavy rain on the coastal plain and the river spreads into the surrounding swamp, which scatters fish badly, so the gauge near Longs is worth checking before a trip. Guided work here ranges from paddle trips for panfish to light-tackle runs for bass and stripers.
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Access
Longs - the gauge location on the upper river, with a road crossing and nearby landing.
Conway - the main river town, with a public landing, a riverwalk and full services.
Pitch Landing - a county landing on the middle river with a ramp and parking.
Bucksport - a marina and landing on the lower river near the Pee Dee junction.
Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge - protected river corridor with paddle access and primitive landings.
Hagley Landing - a lower tidal-reach landing near Pawleys Island.
Socastee - a landing on the Intracoastal Waterway reach below Conway.
Seasons
Spring: the strongest season, with bass shallow, panfish on the beds and shad and stripers in the lower river.
Summer: hot and low, with the panfish fishing steady in the shade and bass holding to the deeper wood.
Fall: cooling water brings bass back onto the feed and the swamp corridor is at its best.
Winter: slow and often high, with crappie and catfish in the deeper holes the realistic targets.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Waccamaw River?
As of Nov 2, 7:00 am, the USGS gauge WACCAMAW RIVER NEAR LONGS, SC reads 14 cfs, with water temperature 63.1 F. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Waccamaw River?
Anglers target American Shad, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Gar, Redbreast Sunfish, Striped Bass, Warmouth, White Perch on the Waccamaw River in South Carolina.
Where can you access the Waccamaw River?
Longs - the gauge location on the upper river, with a road crossing and nearby landing. Conway - the main river town, with a public landing, a riverwalk and full services. Pitch Landing - a county landing on the middle river with a ramp and parking. Bucksport - a marina and landing on the lower river near the Pee Dee junction. Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge - protected river corridor with paddle access and primitive landings. Hagley Landing - a lower tidal-reach landing near Pawleys Island. Socastee - a landing on the Intracoastal Waterway reach below Conway.
When is the best time to fish the Waccamaw River?
Spring: the strongest season, with bass shallow, panfish on the beds and shad and stripers in the lower river. Summer: hot and low, with the panfish fishing steady in the shade and bass holding to the deeper wood. Fall: cooling water brings bass back onto the feed and the swamp corridor is at its best. Winter: slow and often high, with crappie and catfish in the deeper holes the realistic targets.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Waccamaw River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the South Carolina agency site: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html