The Lake is well known for bass fishing and is stocked annually with a variety of fish. It is an excellent fishing lake with largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, hybrid striped bass (wiper), walleye, black crappie, blue gill, catfish and others. The USA Bassin' Division 47 Lake Santee hold team bass tournaments from April through September of each year.
Fishing Tournament Schedule 2025
Sunday April 13, 2025 8:00AM
Sunday May 18, 2025 6:30AM
Sunday June 15, 2025 6:00AM
Sunday July 20, 2025 6:00AM
Sunday August 17, 2025 6:30AM
Sunday September 7, 2025 7:00AM *End of Summer Open*
FISHING RULES AND REGULATIONS
7.1 Only members of the Association in good standing and their invited guests will be permitted to fish in Lake Santee. Guests must be in the company of a member.
7.2 Largemouth Bass: no fish less than 21 inches shall be removed from the lake. Daily bag limit is set at 1 fish per day.
7.3 Hybrid Striped Bass: no fish less than 21 inches shall be removed from the lake. Daily bag limit is set at 1 fish per day.
7.4 Bluegill: no restrictions.
7.5 Crappie: daily bag limit is set at 25 fish per day.
7.6 Redear Sunfish: daily bag limit is set at 15 fish per day.
7.7 Catfish: no restrictions.
7.9 Trot lines and jug fishing are prohibited.
7.10 No fishing tournaments or contests will be permitted without prior approval of the Board of Directors.
7.11 An individual must not bring to Lake Santee to be used as bait any of the following species: carp, gizzard shad, bull head catfish (all three species), green sunfish, goldfish, suckers, and any other invasive or exotic species. The above mentioned species of fish may be collected by cast net from Lake Santee and used as bait. All unused bait must be killed and properly disposed of, and not returned to the lake alive when finished. Acceptable live bait (minnows) to be brought to the lake are store bought or wild shiners, fathead minnows and creek chubs. However, all live bait used at the lake must not be turned loose alive into the lake when finished.
7.12 The use of minnow seines are prohibited on Lake Santee.
2018 Fish Survey Report (Standard)