Not native to South Carolina, the white bass was introduced in 1954 when stocks of adult fish were moved from Tennessee to Lake Wylie by South Carolina Game and Fish Commission personnel. From these early stocks, introductions were made into other rivers and impoundments of the state. Schools of the species may be seen at the surface of large reservoirs as they pursue threadfin and gizzard shad. Sport fishing for white bass is most productive during these schooling periods and during their spawning migration.
Range: Scattered throughout South Carolina in the Piedmont and in the Coastal Plain in the Pee Dee, Santee and Savannah river drainages.
Commonly Mistaken Species: Some species of fish which are commonly mistaken for this species:
Striped bass Hybrid bass White perch
Identifying The Temperate Bass of South Carolina
Habitat & Range
White bass prefer the deeper pools of large reservoirs and rivers.
Life History
Spawning: - White bass migrate upstream from reservoirs to shoals upriver or to the heads of reservoirs and into smaller streams during March and April as water temperatures reach 55°F.
- Spawning occurs at the surface where several males congregate around one female in shallow areas of the stream where up to one million eggs can be released by the large female and fertilized.
- These sticky eggs adhere to submerged trees and other substrates where they hatch unattended after approximately 45 days.
Diet: - Aquatic insects and fish, primarily threadfin shad, young gizzard shad and blueback herring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Size
10 inches 1 pound
Lifespan
: Approximately 6 years
State Record
: 5 pound 4.8 ounces (2006)
