Discover 10 Creatures Living in Lake Jocassee… Are Any Dangerous?

South Carolina is an angler’s paradise. With numerous lakes, rivers, and access to the ocean, people can catch all sorts of fish in this state. One popular fishing destination for people in South Carolina is Lake Jocassee. Today, we’re going to examine creatures living in Lake Jocassee and whether any of them pose a threat to people in the waters.

1. Cottonmouth Snake

Lake Jocassee is considered one of the most snake-infested lakes in South Carolina. Although most of the snakes in this lake are no threat to people, the cottonmouth snake is dangerous. This venomous snake species spends much of its time in and near water where it hunts for aquatic creatures.

While snakes prefer to flee from humans, they may bite if someone tries to handle them, accidentally steps on them, or otherwise antagonizes the reptile. A bite from a cottonmouth snake, also called a water moccasin, is a medical emergency that requires a person to seek immediate help at a medical facility.

2. Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout are beautiful sport fish known for their unique coloration. These fish pose no danger to people fishing at this lake. The state’s record rainbow trout was captured at Lake Jocassee. Scott Coggins caught the 11-pound 5-ounce fish in 1993. The largest member of this species can reach between 20 and 30 inches long, and they can weigh over 50 pounds!

3. Spotted Bass

Spotted bass are a type of fish that truly lives up to their name. The species is pale green or a light brownish color. Their sides and bellies are mottled, and they have black spots on their sides with dark, reddish-brown eyes. These fish certainly live in this lake, but they are nothing to worry about in terms of danger. The largest spotted bass caught in South Carolina came from Lake Jocassee, and it weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces.

4. Bluegill

Bluegill are a species of fish that live in a wide assortment of waterways throughout South Carolina, including Lake Jocassee. As a very small fish, they’re not very dangerous to people. If you grab them wrong, the spines on their dorsal fin can puncture your skin. In short, there is basically nothing to worry about from a bluegill.  

5. Brown Trout

Brown trout are another one of the creatures living in Lake Jocassee. Like almost all the other animals on this list, brown trout are not capable of inflicting much harm on a person. These fish often measure between 1 and 2 feet long, and they usually weigh somewhere between 1 and 5 pounds when they are mature. The largest brown trout ever caught in South Carolina lived in Lake Jocassee. The fish weighed 17 pounds 9.5 ounces at the time of its capture.

6. Rock Bass

Rock bass are a type of sunfish. They are small fish that can only cause harm to people that grab them by their dorsal fins. Even then, the damage would not be severe. Rock bass usually weigh between 1 and 2 pounds, and they are about 6 to 10 inches in length. Younger anglers do well when catching these fish because they’re small and can not put up a big fight on the line.

7. Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass are some of the most popular sport fish in Lake Jocassee. As their name suggests, largemouth bass have very large mouths which they use to eat a wide variety of foods. These fish most often weigh between 1 and 5 pounds and grow between 11 and 20 inches in length. However, much larger members of the species exist. For example, the largest one ever caught in South Carolina weighed 16 pounds 2 ounces!

8. Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass are another popular species of sport fish in South Carolina. These fish usually measure somewhere between 18 and 20 inches long, and they weigh between three and 6 pounds. Once again, the record-setting smallmouth bass in South Carolina came from Lake Jocassee. In this case, the fish weighed 9 pounds 7 ounces. Terry Dodson caught this monster specimen in 2001.  

9. Channel Catfish

Channel catfish are a large species of fish. Mature channel catfish weigh between 1 and 5 pounds on average, but they can weigh much more. They also measure between 12 and 24 inches in length. Like most other creatures in Lake Jocassee, this fish is not capable of causing serious harm to human beings outside of extraordinary cases. The biggest channel catfish caught in the state came from Lake Moultrie. That monster weighed 58 pounds, and it is one of the largest ever caught in the world.  

10. Redeye Bass

Lastly, redeye bass are another kind of fish living in Lake Jocassee. The largest redeye bass ever caught in Lake Jocassee weighed 5 pounds 2.5 ounces, and that is the state record. Randy Dickson caught this fish in 2001. This is not a dangerous animal, either.

All in all, there are many creatures living in Lake Jocassee. However, the only one that you must worry about in the water is the cottonmouth snake. Watch your step, and back away if you encounter one. Other venomous snakes live on the land around the lake. Moreover, animals like black bears, feral hogs, and coyotes live in the surrounding region. So, practice good outdoor safety while fishing, swimming, and hiking in this region.

Summary of the Creatures Living in Lake Jocassee

The photo featured at the top of this post is © digidreamgrafix/Shutterstock.com