Olive-green with dark blotches, underside whitish.
WHERE TO SEE
Freshwater ponds, particularly in center of island (River Course, Tennis Club Villas).
NOTES
Up to 20 pounds, typically 1-5 pounds. Highly sought after freshwater fish. Voracious predator. Eats minnows, small fish, worms, frogs, and salamanders.
Flat body, round shape, olive-colored with dark blue/purple around gills and mouth.
WHERE TO SEE
Freshwater ponds (River Course, Tennis Club Villas).
NOTES
Up to 5 pounds but typically less than a pound. This colorful freshwater fish is a popular game fish. Eats small insects and minnows. Often caught using crickets or worms for bait.
Silvery-green sides, red around mouth and gills, and bright orange borders on dorsal and tail fins.
WHERE TO SEE
Freshwater and brackish ponds.
NOTES
Up to 14 inches and 1-5 pounds. Native to Africa. Stocked for aquatic plant control. Often seen tending circular nests in shallow water near pond edges.
Dark green to brown upperparts, lighter colored underside. Large scales and tail.
WHERE TO SEE
Freshwater and brackish ponds.
NOTES
Up to 4 feet long and 70 pounds. These large plant eaters are stocked for aquatic plant control and eat a variety of submerged and floating vegetation. Not typically caught by fisherman since they are herbivorous.
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Silver to reddish-brown with black spot near tail.
WHERE TO SEE
Brackish and saltwater ponds (Canvasback, Egret, Pintail, and Beachwalker), rivers, creeks, ocean.
NOTES
Up to 60 inches and 80 pounds. 20-30 pound fish routinely caught in island ponds. Eats a variety of prey, including shrimp, blue crabs, fiddler crabs, and fish.
Silver fading to white on belly. Black spots on sides.
WHERE TO SEE
Brackish and saltwater ponds (Canvasback, Egret), rivers, creeks, ocean.
NOTES
Up to 12 pounds. 1-5 pound fish routinely caught in island ponds. One of the top species of inshore game fish in South Carolina. Young trout primarily eat shrimp, while adults mostly eat fish.
Dark brown with light spots. Underside is solid white. Both eyes on top side of body.
WHERE TO SEE
Brackish and saltwater ponds (Canvasback, Egret, Bass, and Beachwalker), rivers, creeks, ocean.
NOTES
Up to 10 pounds, typically 1-3. Lays on bottom and ambushes small fish and shrimp as they pass by.
Vertical black and silver stripes. Barbels (whiskers)under chin.
WHERE TO SEE
Brackish and saltwater ponds, rivers, creeks, ocean.
NOTES
Up to 50 pounds, typically 2-5 pounds. Good eating fish. Black stripes fade away as fish get larger. Bottom feeder. Most commonly caught on shrimp or squid.
“Shiny” silver with darker back and black spot behind head.
WHERE TO SEE
Brackish and saltwater ponds, river, ocean.
NOTES
Up to 18 inches long. Also called "porgy" or "bunker". Very oily flesh. Fished commercially for oil and as fertilizer. Often caught in cast nets and used as bait for larger gamefish.
Silver-gray with darker upperparts, horizontal stripes on body and small mouth.
WHERE TO SEE
Brackish and saltwater ponds, rivers, creeks, ocean.
NOTES
Up to 25 inches and 10 pounds. Eats algae. Commonly seen leaping out of the water. Small mullet are often caught in cast nets and used as bait for larger gamefish.
Small, silvery, oval-shaped panfish. Spot are more rounded in shape with a dark spot behind gill plate. Croakers “croak” when handled.
WHERE TO SEE
Brackish and saltwater ponds, rivers, creeks, ocean.
NOTES
4 to 10-inches. Commonly caught. Good to eat. Typically caught fishing on the bottom with shrimp or squid.
A variety of sharks inhabit the waters surrounding Kiawah. Most are less than 5 feet long.
WHERE TO SEE
Saltwater rivers, creeks, ocean.
NOTES
The 3 most common sharks are the Bonnethead, Atlantic sharpnose and Black-tipped. They feed primarily on shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Small sharks are routinely caught by surf fisherman.
Silver with greenish hue, yellow horizontal stripes and dark spot behind gills, sharp dorsal spines.
WHERE TO SEE
Brackish and saltwater ponds, rivers, creeks, ocean.
NOTES
Up to 10 inches. Commonly caught by anglers. Eats small fish and invertebrates. Not a highly sought after fish due to the bony nature of its flesh.
Vertical black and silver stripes. Teeth distinctive, look similar to human teeth.
WHERE TO SEE
Brackish and saltwater ponds, rivers, creeks and ocean.
NOTES
Up to 20 pounds. Typically found around docks and pilings. Eats barnacles, crabs, and mollusks. Typically caught using live fiddler crabs as bait.
Gray-brown, often with black bars. Long body, single barbell (whisker) under mouth.
WHERE TO SEE
Saltwater rivers, creeks, ocean.
NOTES
1-3 pounds. Bottom dwellers that eat worms, crabs, and shrimp. Commonly caught by surf fisherman using cut shrimp or squid. Very good to eat.
