LivewellSouth Carolina · Lake
Lake Hartwell-Seneca River Arm (34.63, -82.86)
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Lake Hartwell-Seneca River Arm, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
1 species with advisories · contaminants: PCBs
What's safe to eat from Lake Hartwell-Seneca River Arm
All Other Species
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
How to prepare fish from Lake Hartwell-Seneca River Arm
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.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep 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
- Boat ramp boat ramp 0.5 mi Directions
- Martins Creek Boat Ramp boat ramp 1.0 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.2 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.8 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 3.0 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 3.3 mi Directions
Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.