South Carolina has a supper tradition that never needed a fancy sign or a long menu. For generations, families have driven back roads on Friday nights to sit at wooden tables and order a plate of fried flounder with hush puppies on the side.
These fish camps are simple places, but they hold a big piece of the state’s food history, from the Upstate lakes to the Lowcountry shrimp docks. Here are seven that still keep the fryers busy for locals who know exactly where to go.
1. The Flounder, Spartanburg, SC
Some restaurants name themselves after a mood or a family. This one simply named itself after the fish it wants you to order.
The Flounder sits at 160 Barbado Ln, Spartanburg, SC 29303, and it has been a long-standing stop for Upstate seafood lovers. Wooden booths and wooden tables set the tone, and the food arrives on aluminum trays in true fish camp fashion.
Fried flounder leads the lineup, joined by Calabash shrimp, oysters, and crispy hush puppies. Grilled flounder fillets are an option too, along with platters featuring Alaskan white fish and crab cakes.
Bottomless sweet tea comes with the meal, which suits the casual, lively crowd just fine. Plates generally land in the $10 to $20 range per person.
Timing matters here. The doors open Wednesday through Saturday from 3:20 to 8:30 PM, and the place does not take reservations, so a line is common on Friday evenings and Saturdays.
Wednesday and Thursday afternoons tend to be calmer for anyone who would rather not wait. Kids are welcome, with high chairs and a kids’ menu ready, and the parking situation is usually easy.
A restaurant named after one fish had better deliver on it, and this one has been doing exactly that for a long time.
2. Lake Bowen Fish Camp, Inman, SC
Water views and fried fish make a fine pair, and few places in the Upstate combine them quite like this lakeside spot on Highway 9.
Lake Bowen Fish Camp, at 8580 SC-9 in Inman, overlooks Lake Bowen and carries a historic, family-style atmosphere. It is often counted among the last remaining traditional fish camps in the region, still serving fish and shrimp as fresh as can be found.
The flounder filet is a house favorite, fried and served with hush puppies, baked potatoes, pickled onions, and sweet tea. Jumbo shrimp and fried shrimp round out the menu highlights.
Plenty of regulars grab orders to go, but dining in delivers the full classic fish camp experience. Outdoor seating is available for anyone who wants to stay close to the lake.
Hours run Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 9 PM and Saturday from 3:30 to 9 PM. Sunday brings two windows, 11 AM to 2 PM and 4 to 9 PM.
Reservations are accepted, a welcome bonus on busy Friday and Saturday nights. For a quieter visit, Wednesday and Thursday are the safer bets.
Generations of Upstate diners have found their way to this shoreline, and the lake has never seemed to mind the company.
3. Catawba Fish Camp, Fort Lawn, SC
Ask around Lancaster County, and plenty of grown adults will admit they have been eating here since they were small.
Catawba Fish Camp, at 6131 Lancaster Hwy in Fort Lawn, is a traditional seafood restaurant built on fried fish, Calabash shrimp, and signature hush puppies. The setting is plain and old-school, the kind that might surprise first-timers before the food wins them over.
The salt and pepper style is a local calling card. Diners order salt and peppered flounder and catfish combo plates, seafood platters with baked potatoes, and fan tail shrimp for the kids.
All you can eat options appear on the menu, and a private dining room helps with larger gatherings. Takeout, delivery, and even a drive-through make it easy to carry dinner home.
Hours are Thursday from 4 to 9:30 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM. Friday evening is the busiest stretch.
Longtime fans say the camp is right back to being as good as the old days, maybe better. That is high praise in a county with long memories.
4. Old McDonald Fish Camp Inc, North Augusta, SC
Yes, the name is a nod to the farm song, and yes, there really are animals. Goats, peacocks, geese, and ducks greet families who come for supper.
Old McDonald Fish Camp sits at 355 Currytown Rd in North Augusta, and it pairs a rustic, historic fish camp with a small petting zoo. The wait for a table becomes part of the fun, since kids can feed the animals while grown-ups watch the line move.
Inside, the homey space features a fireplace and a cozy, mom and pop feel. Hush puppies and grits are set out to help yourself while dinner cooks.
The menu sticks to a classic fish camp format. Catfish, flounder, shrimp, scallops, and oysters all come fried, and catfish stew and the Fish Camp Special are well-known picks, with gator also making an appearance.
All you can eat options are part of the deal, with plates generally running $20 to $30 per person. Chicken tenders keep picky eaters happy.
Hours are Thursday and Friday from 5 to 9 PM and Saturday from 4 to 9 PM. There are no reservations, so arrive early and say hello to the goats.
5. Blackstock Fish Camp, Blackstock, SC
Out in rural Chester County, a short menu does the heavy lifting: fried fish, hush puppies, and slaw.
Blackstock Fish Camp, at 1944 Blackstock Rd in Blackstock, keeps things simple and does them well. The salt and peppered fillet of flounder plate is a standout, fried and served fresh and hot.
The slaw earns its own fan club, and the homemade tartar sauce gets plenty of attention too. Hush puppies finish the plate in proper fish camp style.
The dining room is clean and casual, and the staff keeps things running smoothly. Prices sit comfortably in the $10 to $20 range.
Hours are short, so plan ahead. The camp opens Thursday from 5 to 8:30 PM and Friday and Saturday from 2 to 8:30 PM.
Reservations are not taken, but parking is rarely a problem. Takeout and delivery are available for anyone eating at home.
Small towns know how to keep a good thing going, and this camp is proof.
6. Fishcamp on 11th Street, Port Royal, SC
Down in the Lowcountry, the shrimp boats tie up close enough to see from the table.
Fishcamp on 11th Street, at 1699 11th St in Port Royal, overlooks a working shrimp fishing port. The nautical design, patio, and swings give it a laid-back coastal personality that feels very Beaufort area.
Fried fish, shrimp, and oysters come in a camp basket with hush puppies, and fried flounder shares the spotlight with the catch of the day. Lobster bisque and bread pudding are menu highlights too.
After the meal, guests can walk out on the docks. Live music adds to the evening, and dogs are welcome outside.
This is the most flexible stop on the list for timing. It opens Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 10 PM.
Reservations are accepted and recommended for brunch and dinner, especially on weekend evenings. Expect plates around $20 to $30 per person.
Simple, fresh, and rooted in Lowcountry tradition, it is a camp that keeps its promise right at the water’s edge.
7. ACE Basin Fish Camp, Jacksonboro, SC
Along the quiet ACE Basin corridor, a typical fish camp keeps the porch light on for neighbors and road trippers alike.
ACE Basin Fish Camp, at 16503 Ace Basin Pkwy in Jacksonboro, is a casual seafood and steak eatery with a homey, quiet dining room. Smiling faces and welcoming staff are part of the package.
Flounder appears on the fried lineup next to seasonal red fish, crab stuffed shrimp, fried shrimp, oysters, and catfish. Gator tail and catfish stew add Lowcountry flavor, and the homemade tartar sauce and fish puppies are local favorites.
Breading stays light and portions run generous, with most plates priced from $10 to $20. Service moves quickly.
Hours are Wednesday from 9 AM to 9 PM, Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM. Curbside pickup and a drive-through help travelers on the go.
It makes a fitting final stop, a reminder that the old fish camp spirit is alive from the mountains to the marsh.
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