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57 km of the Wright River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 58 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
On the chart, Wright River draws 23,248 acres inside 78.3 miles of shoreline. An index of 3.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 58% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 12.4 mi, about 7.6 mi across. For a second option, Calibogue Sound lies 5 mi east.
In spring, flathead catfish run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 20 to 45 ft for winter. Summer flathead catfish concentrate at Main-channel hole (mile 0.6), a prime-rated creek channel around 24 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6), a creek channel in the 6 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 3.1) (6 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6) (6 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: crappie in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 25 ft before dropping to 15 to 35 ft for winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 9.3), a creek channel in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6) (6 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 9.3) (14 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-channel hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in the 24 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) |
In spring, longnose gar run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 1 to 12 ft before dropping to 10 to 25 ft for winter. Fall longnose gar concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6), a prime-rated creek channel around 6 ft. Fish it in midday and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a rope lure or a small white spinner most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | open water | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6) (6 ft) | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) |
In spring, common carp run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 30 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for fall common carp. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6) (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 30 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (24 ft) |
The chart marks 9 structure features on Wright River; the deepest is Channel bar / point (mile 17.4) at about 40 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for South Carolina waters are set by the South Carolina DNR — and special regulations can apply to Wright River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official South Carolina fishing regulations →
Wright River is about 58 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target flathead catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, longnose gar, common carp on Wright River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Outside-bend hole (mile 9.3) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For flathead catfish, the summer bite is best in after dark and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Wright River is regulated by the South Carolina DNR. Check the official South Carolina regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Calibogue Sound 5 mi, SC · Sapelo Sound 42 mi, GA · Doboy Sound 53 mi, GA · Saint Simons Sound 73 mi, GA · Brunswick River 73 mi, GA · Altamaha River 75 mi, GA · Saint Andrew Sound 82 mi, GA · Cooper River 83 mi, SC · Lake Moultrie 99 mi, SC · Amelia River 102 mi, GA/FL · Lake Marion 106 mi, SC · Congaree River 124 mi, SC
See how Wright River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in South Carolina · best crappie lakes in South Carolina · best channel catfish lakes in South Carolina · best flathead catfish lakes in South Carolina
Browse all South Carolina fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.