Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Savannah, GA (Full Guide)
The rich waters along Savannah offers some of the best fishing on the eastern coastline. Knowing the best seasons and times of day to fish near Savannah can make a huge difference for your fishing success.
The best times to fish in Savannah waterways are between April and November. With the summer being peak tourism season, late spring and early fall are your best bets to catch a lot of fish with reduced competition.
Oftentimes, anglers need help in making a decision as to what time of year to book a charter. This guide provides information on the targeted fish species and bite times in Savannah.
For a complete breakdown of the best times and seasons to fish in Georgia, check out this helpful guide. This is a very comprehensive breakdown for all species in the state.
Best Time to Fish in Savannah
Savannah is home to year-round and seasonal species of fish. There is always something to fish in the local waters. So, anglers can go fishing in the area at any time of the year.
A fishing season in Savannah starts in the early spring and ends in the late fall. Fishing in Savannah is best between May and August.
It’s the time of the year when the vast majority of fish species get active. Fishing during these months is successful and provides anglers with memorable experiences.
The best time of the year to fish Savannah depends on several factors such as the fish species that you are targeting, where you go fishing and fishing techniques that you use, and weather conditions.
It would be better for anglers to prepare for Savannah fishing adventures ahead of time. Fishermen need to study the bite times to find out when their favorite species are the most active in the local waters.
Savannah Species Breakdown: Best Time
A great number of fish species can be found in the waters near Savannah. Anglers need to know when their targeted species are the most active in the local waters. Below, the peak fishing times for major species in the region are provided.
Barracuda
Savannah’s great barracuda fishing is best between April and October. Great barracuda is active in Savannah in the early morning and late evening. Great barracuda can be found in the waters near Tybee Island.
Cobia
A cobia fishing season in Savannah starts in April and ends in October. The best time of the year to fish for cobia in the area is between May and July. Cobia bites well in the middle of the day. Cobia fishing can be very successful near Hilton Head Island.
Redfish
The best times of the year to target redfish in Savannah are between January and May and between September and December. Redfish feed actively in the morning. Green Island is one of the best places to target redfish in the region.
Flounder
Flounder fishing in Savannah is excellent between January and April and between September and December. It’s recommended to target flounder either in the early morning or in the late afternoon. Flounder can be caught in the waters near Wilmington Island.
Mahi-mahi
A mahi-mahi fishing season in Savannah starts in the early spring and ends in the late fall. Summer is a peak season to fish for mahi-mahi in the region.
It would be great to go fishing for mahi-mahi in the local waters either in the early morning or in the late evening. Waters around Tybee Island offer excellent mahi-mahi fishing.
Speckled trout
Speckled trout is active in Savannah throughout the year. The best times of the year to fish for speckled trout in the region are between January and April and between August and December.
Speckled trout bites well at night. Lower Ogeechee River attracts those anglers, who would like to target speckled trout in the region.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead fishing is productive in Savannah year-round. The best times of the year to enjoy sheepshead fishing in the region are between January and April and between October and December.
Fishing for sheepshead is successful in the middle of the day. Sheepshead is one of the top targeted fish species near Tybee Island.
Tarpon
The best time of the year to target tarpon in Savannah is between the early summer and the early fall. Tarpon bites well in the early morning. Jekyll Island is one of the best tarpon fishing spots in the region.
Black seabass
Black seabass fishing is good in Savannah year-round. However, the best times of the year to target black seabass in the region are: between January and April and between October and December.
Wahoo
A season to catch wahoo in Savannah starts in April and ends in November. The best time of the year to fish for wahoo is between July and October.
Fishermen should go fishing in the waters of the Gulf Stream to increase their chance of catching wahoo during their Savannah fishing trips. Wahoo often bites well at the first light.
For a complete breakdown of the best seasons to fish on the coast of Georgia, check out this helpful guide.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Savannah
These Savannah-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Georgia Bight Charters | Savannah, GA |
| Flight Risk Charters | Savannah, GA |
| Tightlines Inshore Fishing Charters | Savannah, GA |
| Unforeseen Charters | Savannah, GA |
| Captain Andy’s Fishing Charters | Savannah, GA |
| Ebb N Flow Charters | Savannah, GA |
| Bad Intentions Fishing Charters | Thunderbolt, GA |
| Coastal Ga Fishing | Savannah, GA |
| Full Send Fishing | Whitemarsh Island, GA |
| Big Fish Charters | Tybee Island, GA |
| Sonrise Fishing Charters | Hilton Head Island, SC |
| Captain Buddy’s Fishing Charter | Hilton Head Island, SC |
| Fish Bluffton Dialed In | Bluffton, SC |
Best Seasons to Book a Savannah Charter
Savannah is home to many varieties of fish. Some fish species are active in the local waters year-round. There are also fish species that can be targeted in the region at certain times of the year.
There is no bad time to go fishing in the area. However, fishing can get better or slow down during different seasons of the year. A Savannah fishing trip requires meticulous planning. Anglers have to get ready for fishing adventures ahead of time.
When preparing for fishing trips in Savannah anglers need to know when and where to go fishing at different times of the year. Now, let’s try to figure out what anglers can catch in the region during the spring, summer, fall, and winter months.
Spring
The weather is getting warmer and water temperatures are increasing in spring. As a result, fish get active and the ideal conditions for fishing are created.
Spring is a great time of the year to target such species as cobia, Spanish mackerel, redfish, and sharks. Fish can be found in inshore waters during the spring months. In spring, many anglers prefer to fish in the waters near Wilmington Island.
Summer
The early summer is a great time of the year to go in offshore waters and enjoy deep-sea fishing in Savannah. It’s worth noting that the vast majority of fish species are active in the waters around the island in summer.
Tarpon and silver king are the main targets during the summer months. Such fishing techniques as fly fishing, trolling and bottom fishing are popular in summer.
Fall
Fishing in Savannah is excellent in the early fall. It’s getting colder and water temperatures drop down in fall. So, fishing begins to slow down in October.
The main targets in the local waters during fall months are flounder, redfish as well as spotted seatrout. Anglers prefer to fish bays, rivers as well as inlets in the fall. It’s also important to note that fall is a great time of the year to go fishing in the waters of the Gulf.
Winter
It’s possible to go fishing in Savannah during the winter months as well. Winter is the perfect time of the year to target black seabass, flounder, redfish as well as sheepshead.
Places like flats, deep holes, and wrecks attract plenty of fish in winter. That’s why winter fishing in these areas is often very productive.
Best Time of Day to Fish in Savannah
Anglers should go fishing in Savannah at the right time of day. The vast majority of targeted species in the region are active during the morning or evening hours.
There is a direct link between the time of year and the best time of day to fish in Savannah. In summer, anglers choose to go fishing either in the early morning or in the late summer.
On the other hand, it would be better to go fishing in the afternoon during the spring and fall months.
And of course, anglers should plan their Savannah fishing adventures with the weather conditions in mind. Study the weather forecast ahead of time. Don’t go fishing if bad weather is expected in the region.
Savannah Fishing & Tidal Impacts
The bite times depend a lot on the tides in Savannah. That’s why it’s so important to know when tides are high and low in the region. Anglers should study the tide times when planning their fishing trips.
A rising tide is one of the best fishing tide times in Savannah. There is water movement during incoming tides. The activity of fish increases and fishing is becoming more productive. On the other hand, it’s not recommended to go fishing during high and low tides.
Storms & Savannah Fishing
Storms affect fishing in Savannah. Fishing in Savannah can be excellent before and after storms. However, fish stay inactive and move to deep waters during storms.
It’s also important to note that fishing during storms can be dangerous. High winds as well as flooding pose risk to anglers and make fishing challenging. That’s the reason why the captains in Savannah choose to cancel fishing trips if they see signs of bad weather.
The hurricane season in Savannah is between June and November. That means that storms can be expected in the region during these months.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Savannah?
It’s getting colder and water temperatures drop in the region in winter. However, winter fishing can be very productive in Savannah due to the cold weather.
The river mouths attract anglers in Savannah in winter. Also, many anglers prefer to fish the Ogeechee River during the winter months. A lot of trout can be found in the river.
Winter is the perfect time to target such fish species as flounder, redfish, black seabass, sheepshead, speckled trout, and triggerfish in the waters near Savannah.
Night Fishing in Savannah
Savannah is the perfect place for anglers, who prefer to fish at night. Night fishing is a great way to fish in Savannah during the hot summer months. It’s not hot during night hours. So, anglers find it comfortable to fish during night hours. Shallow bars and flats attract fish at night.
Water cools down and some fish species begin to search for food in the area. Some anglers prefer to enjoy night shark fishing in the area. Summer is the best time of the year to target sharks at night.
The Savannah River offers great night fishing opportunities. Anglers prefer to fish from piers at night. The piers have lights that attract fish and make fishing at night easy. It’s important to know that night fishing increases an angler’s chance to land a trophy.
When fishing from piers at night, anglers often catch a monster bull redfish. The night also gives anglers a chance to catch catfish and trout.
Top 5-10 Fishing Spots in Savannah
1. The Ogeechee River
The Ogeechee River is one of the best fishing spots in Savannah. Fishing in the river is best during the fall and winter months. Trout is the main target in the river. It’s possible to catch redfish as well as sharks in the river.
2. Wilmington Island
Wilmington Island is a fishing destination that gained popularity among surf anglers. There are reefs and areas with floating debris in the waters near the island. Such places attract plenty of fish. It’s possible to book a charter on the island.
The captains can take you to the offshore waters of the Gulf Stream. Fishing near Wilmington Island is best during the spring and summer months.
Wilmington Island is the place where fishermen can catch amberjack, barracuda, flounder, grouper, trout, redfish, and snapper.
3. Green Island
Green Island is another good fishing spot in Savannah. There are reefs and grassy flats near the island. It’s possible to fish around the island throughout the year.
However, the best time of the year to fish Green Island is between the late fall and the early winter. The key targeted fish species in this place include redfish, snapper, trout, and others.
4. Tybee Island
Tybee Island provides anglers with easy access to many great fishing spots on the East Coast. There are many places to explore near the island.
It’s possible to experience inshore and offshore fishing in the waters around Tybee Island. Here, anglers can fish on the reefs. The island is a good place to experience fly fishing as well. Fishing on the island is best from April – October.
The waters near Tybee Island are home to such fish species as black drum, black seabass, cobia, grouper, mahi-mahi, king mackerel, redfish, red snapper, tarpon, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, sharks, tuna, and wahoo.
5. R7 and R8 Navy Towers
R7 and R8 Navy Towers are good places for anglers, who give a preference to fly fishing. The towers are close to productive fishing grounds.
Here, the fishing season starts in the early spring and ends in the late fall. Such species as amberjack, barracuda, and cobia are the main targets in Savannah and its surrounding areas.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
Savannah has a lot to offer to anglers interested in shore and surf fishing. Many surf anglers prefer to fish on Wilmington Island. Frank W. Spencer Park and W.E. Honey Park are two other popular fishing spots among shore anglers in Savannah.
And of course, anglers can experience shore/surf fishing from piers. The most popular fishing piers in the area include Frank O. Downing Fishing Pier, Tybee Beach Pier, Pavilion, Fort Mcallister Fishing Pier as well as Lazaretto Creek Fishing Pier.
Shore fishing is very productive in Savannah. Oftentimes, surf anglers catch flounder, trout, redfish, and other species during their fishing adventures in the region. Actually, this list of fish species could go on and on.
