Across South Carolina, the end of the work week has its own ritual, and it usually involves a gravel parking lot, a long table, and a basket of hush puppies landing before anyone has even picked up a menu. Fish camps have been feeding families this way for generations, serving fried catfish, flounder, and shrimp in simple dining rooms near lakes, creeks, and country roads.
Some of these spots are only open a few nights a week, which makes Friday the big event that locals plan around. The seven places below each earn their spot in a different way, from farm animals to feed and stream views out back to shrimp boats docked beside the tables, so keep reading to find the one worth the drive this weekend.
1. Catawba Fish Camp, Fort Lawn, SC
All-you-can-eat is not a slogan here, it is a whole business plan. Catawba Fish Camp sits at 6131 Lancaster Hwy, Fort Lawn, SC 29714, in the rural stretch of Chester County near the Catawba River.
The menu leans on the classics that made South Carolina fish camps famous. Salt and pepper catfish is a signature, and perch, seafood platters, slaw, fries, and hush puppies fill out the table.
Big appetites get rewarded with all-you-can-eat packages. Smaller ones can grab a quick plate without feeling out of place.
The building has been fixed up in recent years, and longtime locals say the camp is back to its old form. The setting stays casual and unfussy, which is exactly the point.
Families are easy to accommodate, with high chairs, a kids’ menu, and a private dining room for larger gatherings. Takeout, delivery, and even a drive-through option cover the nights when the couch wins.
Hours run 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 brings the biggest crowd, so an early arrival helps.
Most meals land in the $10 to $20 range per person, and parking is free and plentiful. For a fish camp that treats Friday like a holiday, this is a fine place to start the tour.
2. Lake Bowen Fish Camp, Inman, SC
Some fish camps are near the water. Lake Bowen Fish Camp practically sits in it, with dining room windows that frame a clear view across Lake Bowen.
The address is 8580 SC-9, Inman, SC 29349, in the Upstate countryside north of Spartanburg. The atmosphere carries a casual, historic character that feels rooted in the area.
Calabash shrimp and fried catfish are the headliners. The Combination Seafood Platter lets indecisive diners have a bit of everything, and oysters, jumbo shrimp, and hushpuppies round things out.
Onion rings here have a devoted following of their own. Anyone steering clear of the fryer can order several favorites broiled instead.
Outdoor seating puts the lake even closer on nice evenings. Unlike many fish camps, this one accepts reservations, which is a handy advantage on a busy Friday.
Hours are Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 9 PM and Saturday from 3:30 to 9 PM. Sunday offers two windows, 11 AM to 2 PM and 4 to 9 PM, while Monday and Tuesday are closed.
Plates typically run $10 to $20 per person, and high chairs and a kids’ menu make it simple to bring the whole crew. Come for the shrimp, stay for the sunset over the water.
3. Boondocks Fish Camp & Smoke House, Gray Court, SC
The name is honest. Boondocks Fish Camp & Smoke House really is out in the country, tucked away at 1955 Trinity Church Rd, Gray Court, SC 29645.
Serving South Carolina since 1995, the restaurant calls itself a southern seafood and BBQ spot. That double identity is what sets it apart from every other camp on this list.
Fried catfish is the star, and it has fans from well beyond state lines. Hush puppies, fries, and fried green tomatoes keep it company on the plate.
Then the smokehouse side steps in. Ribs, pulled pork, and smoked Cornish hen mean the one person at the table who skips seafood still leaves happy.
A freshwater stream runs out back, and it is visible from most of the dining room. The space is clean, cozy, and quiet, a welcome change from louder Friday crowds elsewhere.
Doors open Thursday through Saturday from 4 to 8:30 PM, and the restaurant is closed the rest of the week. Reservations are not accepted, so showing up early on Friday is the smart move.
Prices stay in the $10 to $20 range per person. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, so even the four-legged family members get a taste of life in the boondocks.
4. Blackstock Fish Camp, Blackstock, SC
Flounder fans, pay attention. Blackstock Fish Camp has built its reputation on one fish done right, and the salt and pepper flounder fillet plate is the order to know.
The camp sits at 1944 Blackstock Rd, Blackstock, SC 29014, in a quiet corner of the Midlands. It is an informal seafood restaurant that sticks to the standards and does them well.
Catfish and other fried favorites share the menu with that famous flounder. The sides are more than an afterthought, with slaw and hushpuppies that locals rank among the best around.
Homemade tartar sauce comes with the plates. That small detail says a lot about how the kitchen approaches things.
Save room for dessert, since the menu offers sweet options to finish. The dining room stays clean and simple, and the staff keeps things running smoothly.
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, with no service Sunday through Wednesday.
Reservations are not taken, but takeout and delivery are available for anyone who wants flounder on the home table. Plates land in the $10 to $20 range, which keeps Friday night affordable and the flounder flowing.
5. The Flounder, Spartanburg, SC
A line out the door is usually a warning sign. At The Flounder, it is more like a welcome mat, because the wait moves quickly and nearly everyone in it is a regular.
Find it at 160 Barbado Ln, Spartanburg, SC 29303. This long-standing restaurant has the wooden booth seating and lively energy of a true old-school fish camp.
Fried flounder lives up to the name on the sign. Calabash shrimp, oysters, Alaskan white fish, and crab cakes all show up on generous fried seafood platters.
Hushpuppies and onion rings are the sides people talk about most. Chicken stew and oyster stew add a comforting option, and Calabash chicken covers anyone skipping the seafood.
Sweet tea is bottomless, which matters when the portions are this big. Service is fast, a real skill when the dining room fills up on a Friday.
Hours run Wednesday through Saturday from 3:20 to 8:30 PM, with Sunday through Tuesday closed. Friday evening and Saturday afternoon into evening are the busiest windows.
Reservations are not accepted, so patience is part of the ritual. With plates in the $10 to $20 range, it is easy to see why this spot has held on while so many other fish camps have faded away.
6. Old McDonald Fish Camp Inc, North Augusta, SC
Goats, peacocks, geese, and ducks are not on the menu. At Old McDonald Fish Camp, they are the entertainment while dinner gets ready.
The restaurant sits at 355 Currytown Rd, North Augusta, SC 29860, and the name is no accident. Farm animals roam the grounds, and families spend plenty of time feeding them, along with the fish, before and after the meal.
Inside, the space is homey and cozy, complete with a fireplace. Hush puppies and grits are set out so diners can help themselves while they wait for their orders.
The Fish Camp Special is the move for groups, easily feeding a family of four plus a guest or two. The Seafood Platter, crab legs, and catfish stew are other favorites.
Flounder, shrimp both boiled and fried, deviled crab, gator bites, and fried pickles also appear. All-you-can-eat options are available, and chicken tenders keep picky kids content.
Hours are Thursday and Friday from 5 to 9 PM and Saturday from 4 to 9 PM. There are no reservations and usually a wait, but the animal yard makes the time pass quickly.
Expect around $20 to $30 per person. For a Friday night that doubles as a family field trip, this farm-meets-fryer camp is hard to top.
7. Fishcamp on 11th Street, Port Royal, SC
Shrimp boats tie up just beyond the patio, and that is the whole story in one view. Fishcamp on 11th Street overlooks a working shrimp fishing port in the Lowcountry.
The address is 1699 11th St, Port Royal, SC 29935, near Beaufort on the coast. It is the only stop on this list where the catch comes in within sight of the tables.
The nautical design, patio, and swings set a relaxed tone. After the meal, diners can stroll out on the docks, and live music often adds to the evening.
The Camp Basket is the fried seafood order to beat, loaded with flounder, shrimp, and oysters. A shrimp burger, jalapeño hushpuppies, crab legs, and scallops also get plenty of attention.
For something beyond the fryer, the kitchen turns out seafood pasta, shrimp and polenta, Parmesan-crusted grouper, and lobster bisque. A full vegetarian menu is available too.
Unlike most camps here, this one is open every day. Hours run Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 10 PM.
Dinner reservations are recommended, especially on Friday evening when the crowd peaks. Dogs are welcome, kids have their own menu, and plates run about $20 to $30 per person.
It is a fitting final stop, where the fish camp tradition meets the boats that keep it going.
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