Wyboo Plantation’s connection to the water that surrounds it is what truly makes the community one of a kind. One can never stray too far from the water’s edge with 2 miles of waterfront property immediately on Lake Marion. At over 100,000 acres, Marion is the largest lake in South Carolina and one of the most accessible.

The bald cypress and loblolly pine, the osprey and the great blue heron, the largemouth and striped bass all contribute to the unique character of Lake Marion. Combined they make water access at Wyboo Plantation an extraordinary experience. Opportunities abound for boating, fishing, and water sports on one of the most diverse lake in the state.

One of the most unique features of Wyboo Plantation is how water access is brought into the community through our interior lakes and canals. At the center of the community sits Lake Arbu; a 40 acre man-made lake with scenic views and boat access to Lake Marion. North Lake and South Lake, two smaller man-made lakes, also provide residents who live along their shores with access to all that Lake Marion has to offer. Finally, Wyboo Plantation has over 150 deeded boat slips that give folks who live on our golf course or nature preserves a place to keep their boat ready for a cruise or fishing trip. With over 2.5 miles of shoreline on these waterways, water access is available under almost any budget.   

   

Fishing

Fishing is enjoyable year round, with different species of game fish for every season. Lake Marion’s most popular quarry is striped bass. Typically a salt-water fish, Marion’s striped bass population was landlocked in the lake system when the Santee River was dammed in the 1940’s. This gave the Santee-Cooper lake system the only native population of freshwater striped bass in the world.

Largemouth bass are also commonly sought-after on the lake system as well as on the interior lakes of Wyboo Plantation. Lake Marion hosts numerous fishing tournaments every year and has, at several times, held records for the largest catch in Bassmaster tournaments. Lake Arbu is very well stocked, with fish over 5 lbs caught regularly. The community’s catch and release policy on bass ensures that there is always a healthy population to enjoy.

Lake Marion is probably best known for its catfish. Although not considered a game fish, the catfish on Lake Marion grow to enormous sizes and put up the fight to match. The two primary species are Arkansas Blues and Flatheads with the “Blues” growing the biggest and being the most popular. These fish regularly grow to over 50 lbs and 3-4’ in length.  It is possible to catch them year round in the diverse habitats that Lake Marion offers. With a modest amount of knowledge and fairly inexpensive gear it is possible to find success on catfish

 

Natural Setting

Although Lake Marion has plenty of waterfront access most of the shoreline has been preserved in its natural state. Once out of the sloughs around the lake the first thing you notice is that almost all of the shoreline along “the big water” remains natural. Only about 1/3 of Lake Marion’s shoreline can ever be developed. Most is preserved as National Wildlife Refuge, Wildlife Management Areas, or State Parks. 

Much of the preserved shoreline of Lake Marion is open to the public at various times throughout the year. With hiking, bike, and driving trails, the Santee National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to observe wildlife in its natural habitat. The refuge’s 16,000 acres supports over 150 bird species 43 mammal species, and 88 amphibian and reptile species. The Christmas Bird Count and the annual Santee Birding and Nature Festival give nature lovers an excellent opportunity to explore some of the inner reaches of the refuge with experts to guide them. 

 

Nature in Wyboo Plantation

Wonderful old oak trees, spanish moss, and other mature natural habitat are an integral part of the Plantation. Houses playfully dot the landscape and offer spectacular views of the wetlands and old oaks. Live oak groves that once provided shade for farm houses now provide habitat for song birds and food for the numerous wild turkey and deer. 

Because the miles of water and protected shorelines in the Santee Cooper Lake System limit human encroachment in our area, sightings of wild turkeys, deer, herons and bald eagles are commonplace in Wyboo Plantation. Lake Arbu is a favored hunting ground of the osprey which can often be seen diving into the water from high above and coming up with a bream or bass for dinner.