CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Summer will likely be in full swing when anglers arrive at Santee Cooper Lakes for the third stop of the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft season.

Tournament days are scheduled for May 30-31. Competitors will be able to launch from any approved public boat launch in this catch-weigh-release format event. The Top 5 anglers at the end of the tournament will punch their tickets to the 2026 National Championship, details of which will be announced later, and all anglers will earn points toward the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race.

Lakes Marion and Moultrie have undergone a transformation over the last several years. A variety of vegetation, including eelgrass and hydrilla, has taken hold, making the two lakes even better than they already were. For years, Lake Marion was viewed as the superior lake, but with the grass, Lake Moultrie has become the more consistent of the two fisheries.

The water is clearer than it’s been in years, and during the spring, stringers in the upper 30s and lower 40s were brought to multiple tournament scales. Along with the vegetation, thousands of cypress trees stand in the lake. Plus, offshore brushpiles start to play more in the summer months.

By the end of May, the largemouth bass in the system will be either late in their postspawn phase or already in summer patterns. Expect topwaters, frogs, ChatterBaits, soft-plastic stickbaits and Texas-rigged worms to be top-performing baits.

Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting this event.

 

2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Title Sponsor: Newport

2026 Bassmaster Kayak  Series Presenting Sponsor: Native Watercraft
2026 Bassmaster Kayak  Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Pro-Guide Batteries

 

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.