HERESavannah
Savannah
Fishing
Report
Live conditions, species status, solunar ratings, water body profiles, GA DNR (WRD) regulations, and community fishing coverage for Chatham lakes and rivers.
Bass: Active Crappie: Active Catfish: Hot 5 Waters Profiled
First Look • Fishing Conditions
🌘
Waning Crescent
Illumination: 48%
77°F
85°F
0 mph
1019
as of 12:25 PM ET
Very Good — decreasing moon builds toward new moon peak. Dawn and dusk feeding surges expected.
Chatham • Coastal Georgia / Lowcountry GA
Your Local Fishing Resource
HERESavannah is your local source for fishing reports, conditions, and GA DNR (WRD) regulations across Chatham. Use the waters list to find lakes, rivers, and reservoirs near you, the regulations section for current limits, and the guides directory to book a trip.
Current Conditions • Savannah Waters
Species Status
Largemouth Bass
ACTIVE
Summer pattern — fish deep structure early and late. Frog fishing on lily pads productive at dawn.
Top BaitFinesse Jig, Drop Shot
Depth15-25 ft midday
Smallmouth Bass
ACTIVE
Smallmouth active on shoals. Work crawfish patterns on rocky bottom.
Top BaitTube Jig, Crawfish Pattern, Ned Rig
DepthShoal tail-outs, 3-12 ft
Crappie
FAIR
Summer or late fall. Fish are deeper — target 12-20 ft brush piles with tube jigs.
Top BaitSmall Tube Jig, Live Minnow, Slip Float
Depth12-20 ft brush
Catfish
HOT
Catfish are highly active in warm water. Night fishing from bank is excellent — cut shad and chicken liver.
Top BaitCut Shad, Chicken Liver, Prepared Stink Bait
DepthChannel edges, 10-30 ft
Bluegill / Bream
ACTIVE
Bream feeding actively. Work dock edges and shallow vegetation with small jigs or live bait.
Top BaitCricket, Worm, Small Jig (1/32 oz)
DepthSpawning: 1-4 ft. Non-spawn: dock edges 4-10 ft
Trout
SLOW
No summer trout stocking. Trout season paused — check <?php echo here_dnr(); ?> for next stocking dates.
Top BaitPowerBait, Night Crawler, Inline Spinner
DepthStocked areas — designated lakes and streams
Species status is based on seasonal patterns and current conditions for Chatham waters. Always verify GA DNR (WRD) regulations for creel limits, size minimums, and any current advisories before heading out.
Report a Bite Update
First Look
Weather & Fishing Conditions
77F
Mostly Clear
Feels like 79°F
as of 12:25 PM ET
Wind
0 mph N
Humidity
94%
Pressure
1019 hPa
Est. Water Temp
85°F
Moon
Waning Crescent
Sunrise / Sunset
10:43 am / 12:15 am
Location
Savannah, GA
On-the-Water Tips
- Calm winds make for ideal casting conditions. Fish will be spooky in clear water — use light line and natural presentations.
Solunar Index
Fishing Conditions Dashboard
Air Temperature
77°F
Optimal Bite
Wind Speed
0 mph
Calm — Ideal
Barometric Pressure
1019 hPa
Stable — Active
Moon Phase
🌘
Good
Extended Outlook
5-Day Fishing Forecast
TODAY
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
90° / 77°
4 mph wind • 0% humidity
SLOW
MON
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
94° / 78°
6 mph wind • 0% humidity
SLOW
TUE
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
95° / 78°
7 mph wind • 0% humidity
SLOW
WED
Sunny
96° / 79°
9 mph wind • 0% humidity
FAIR
THU
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
97° / 79°
9 mph wind • 0% humidity
SLOW
Lakes & Rivers
Water Body Profiles
5 fishing waters within Chatham — with species, access, tips, and restrictions.
Savannah River
Striped Bass
Catfish
Red Drum
Flounder
Angler Tip
Wilmington River / Back River (Tybee system)
Red Drum
Spotted Seatrout
Flounder
Sheepshead
Angler Tip
Skidaway River
Red Drum
Spotted Seatrout
Flounder
Black Drum
Angler Tip
Ogeechee River tidal system (Coffee Bluff area)
Red Drum
Spotted Seatrout
Flounder
Sheepshead
Angler Tip
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Largemouth Bass
Catfish
Crappie
Bream
Angler Tip
Did We Miss a Spot?
Know a Savannah-area fishing lake, pond, or river stretch that should be on this list? Let us know.
Report a Fishing SpotLocal Experts
Field Guides
Hire a local fishing guide and put your line on the right water in Savannah. Expert captains who know Chatham waters.
TS
Tightlines Saltwater Fishing Charters
SS
Southern Saltwater Charters (Capt. Josiah Riffle)
Guide Service or Charter Captain?
Get listed in the Field Guides section and reach active anglers across Chatham and the HERE City Network.
List Your Guide ServiceCommunity Reviews
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Community
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Big catches, personal bests, and tournament fish from Savannah anglers.
Cast Them Cold...
Your favorite post-fishing spots. Where do you go when the rods are stowed?
Coverage
Fishing News HERE
Local — Savannah and Coastal Georgia / Lowcountry
Coming Soon
Local
Savannah Fishing Coverage Coming Soon
Local lake reports, stocking news, tournament results, and Coastal Georgia / Lowcountry fishing coverage from the HERESavannah newsroom.
National — Bass, Fishing Regulations, and Conservation
Coming Soon
National
National Fishing Coverage Coming Soon
Bass fishing news, conservation legislation, national tournament results, gear reviews, and fishing stories with a Savannah perspective.
More at Outdoor Sports
Hunting, camping, hiking, and all outdoor sports coverage for Savannah and Coastal Georgia / Lowcountry GA
Tackle, Rods and Reels
Essential Gear HERE
Gear reviews and picks for the Savannah angler — rods, reels, tackle, and kayaks tested for Coastal Georgia / Lowcountry GA waters.
Gear Reviews — Tested for Coastal Georgia / Lowcountry GA Waters
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Learn About Gear AdvertisingGeorgia DNR
GA DNR (WRD) Regulations
License requirements, bag limits, and size limits for Chatham waters. Always verify current regulations at georgiawildlife.com.
SC Fishing Licenses
Bag & Size Limits — Savannah Waters
Special Rules & Alerts for Savannah Waters
- Municipal Lakes: Boating permits may be required from Savannah Water. Gas motor HP restrictions may apply — check current municipal-water rules before launching.
- Select-Lake Rules: Some lakes enforce larger minimum sizes for black bass or combined daily limits. Verify closures with GA DNR (WRD) before fishing.
- Electric-Only Lakes: Some state-park and municipal lakes prohibit gasoline engines and enforce reduced creel limits. Verify with GA DNR (WRD).
- Free Fishing Days 2026: May 25 (Memorial Day weekend) and July 4 — no fishing license required on these two days.
- Rivers: Statewide creel limits typically apply. Boating permits generally not required. GA DNR (WRD) fishing license required for anglers 16+.
Regulations shown are for general reference. Always verify current rules with Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division at georgiawildlife.com or by calling the GA DNR (WRD) Wildlife Helpline. Regulations may change each season. Municipal reservoir rules (Savannah Water) may be set separately from GA DNR (WRD).
Spawn Timing & Key Dates
Season Calendar
SC DNR stocks May-June annually
SC DNR stocks November-January
Bottom fishing with cut bait
Spawn timing is approximate and based on typical Chatham water temperature patterns. Actual timing varies by year and water body. GA DNR (WRD) trout stocking schedules are published annually — visit georgiawildlife.com for exact dates and stocking locations.
Questions and Answers
Fishing FAQ
Common questions about fishing in the Savannah area, answered.
-
Yes. All anglers age 16 and older need a GA fishing license to fish public waters in Chatham. GA residents get a resident license; non-residents pay a higher fee. Licenses are available at georgiawildlife.com or at local sporting goods and tackle shops. Two Free Fishing Days — May 25 (Memorial weekend) and July 4 — require no license.
-
Chatham has multiple public fishing lakes. Consult GA DNR (WRD) for a full lake-by-lake breakdown covering largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, and bream. Municipal lakes may require a boating permit from Savannah Water — check locally before launching.
-
The best crappie fishing in Chatham is during the spring spawn, which typically runs from late March through April when water temperatures reach 55-65 degrees F. Fish move into shallower water (2-6 feet) around structure, brush piles, and bridge pilings. A second run occurs in fall (October-November) when fish stage deeper at 12-18 feet as water cools.
-
Yes — kayak fishing is well-suited for Savannah lakes, especially smaller electric-only water bodies. State-park lakes often offer kayak and canoe rentals and allow human-powered craft without a boating permit. Local rivers frequently offer scenic float trips combining paddling and bass fishing. Consult GA DNR (WRD) for blueway maps and put-in/take-out points.
-
Rivers near Savannah typically hold a diverse bass fishery — largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, and rock bass in rocky shoals. Catfish (channel, blue, flathead) are common. Consult GA DNR (WRD) for stocking history and fly-fishing recommendations. Wade fishing at road crossings and kayak floats are the most productive approaches.
-
GA DNR (WRD) stocks select Chatham waters with trout, typically in spring and fall when water temperatures are suitable. Stocking locations and schedules are posted annually on the GA DNR (WRD) website at https://georgiawildlife.com — search for the freshwater trout stocking report. The standard trout bag limit is 5 per day during stocking season. Check the current GA DNR (WRD) schedule for specific lakes and streams stocked near Savannah.
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