PENDLETON, S.C. (AP) —The Natural Resources Department has released more about 280,000 striped bass into Lake Hartwell and officials say they should be worth catching in a couple of years.

The Greenville News reported the agency dumped the 1.5-inch fish in the water Friday afternoon. More fish had been dumped in the water Thursday.

The nearly 500,000 fish came from the Dennis Wildlife Center Fish Hatcher in Bonneau.

Fisheries biologist Dan Rankin said the fish grow quickly. Rankin says the heavy rains this year should have boosted nutrients in the lake.

Pickens Rep. Davey Hiott says the fish will be a boost for fishing on the 56,000-acrea lake.

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Information from: The Greenville News, www.greenvillenews.com