Livewell

South Carolina · Lake

Cedar Creek Reservoir

Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Cedar Creek Reservoir, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.

5 species with advisories · contaminants: PCBs

What's safe to eat from Cedar Creek Reservoir

Black Crappie

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Blue Catfish

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Channel Catfish

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Largemouth Bass

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

White Bass

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

How to prepare fish from Cedar Creek Reservoir

Some contaminants build up in fat and skin, so cleaning and cooking can lower your exposure. Others — mercury and PFAS — are in the muscle itself and trimming does nothing.

PCBs

  • Skin the fish — most of the contaminant sits in the fat just under the skin.
  • Trim the fatty areas away: the belly flap, the top of the back, and the dark lateral line down each side.
  • Cook on a rack — grill, broil, or bake — so the fat drips off the fillet.
  • Throw the drippings out; don't use them for soup, sauce, or chowder.
  • Choose smaller, younger fish — they've had less time to build it up.

Is it legal to keep?

These are South Carolina's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.

SpeciesSizeDaily limitOpen seasonKeep season
Largemouth Bass 5 Year-round Same as open
Smallmouth Bass 12" min 5 Year-round Same as open
Striped Bass 10 Year-round Same as open
Hybrid Striped Bass 10 Year-round Same as open
Blue Catfish 25 Year-round Same as open
Channel Catfish Year-round Same as open
Flathead Catfish Year-round Same as open
Black Crappie 8" min 20 Year-round Same as open
White Crappie 8" min 20 Year-round Same as open
Bluegill 30 Year-round Same as open
Redbreast Sunfish 15 Year-round Same as open
Chain Pickerel 30 Year-round Same as open
White Bass 10 Year-round Same as open
Walleye 8 Year-round Same as open

Official rules: South Carolina — South Carolina DNR

Getting on the water

Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.

About this water

State
South Carolina
Type
Lake
Location
34.5670, -80.8860
Advisory source
South Carolina Dept. of Environmental Services — Fish Consumption Advisories