Late Fall Savannah River Fishing Report: Stripers, Catfish, and More

Artificial Lure here with your Savannah River fishing report for Friday, November 21, 2025, circling the Georgia–South Carolina border. We’ve got classic late November conditions—cool mornings with a crisp breeze. At sunrise, which came at 6:58 AM, the sky was mostly clear. Look for sunset tonight at 5:21 PM, so plan evening bites accordingly. Tides are prime for anglers: low tide hit at 8:22 AM, with high tide rolling in at 3:07 PM. Tides4Fishing shows ample tidal movement with solid solunar activity, so expect the bite to pick up an hour or so before the afternoon high. Wind’s out of the west this morning, running around 10 knots and steady. Marine forecasts from NOAA and the National Weather Service call for seas inshore to be 1 to 2 feet, so it’s suitable for wading, bank fishing, or taking a skiff upriver. Water temperature’s dipping toward winter, hovering in the low 60s. Fish will shift to deeper holes and structure. Don’t expect a blazing surface bite, but do target drop-offs and ledges. Recent catches have been rewarding for patient anglers. You can count on good numbers of **striped bass** migrating up from the brackish zones, chasing shad and mullet. Use crankbaits and topwater lures—A-Z Animals reports local stripers feeding heavily on crawfish, small fish, and crustaceans, making paddletail swimbaits, chartreuse crankbaits, and popping plugs prime choices. Live bait—big shiners or cut bait—has outfished artificials for bigger specimens this week. **Catfish** are a staple. Folks using rod-and-reel rigs baited with cut herring, chicken livers, or stinkbait are reporting steady action near the deeper bends, especially below the I-95 bridge and at the Mulberry Grove ramp. Twisted Cat Outdoors reminds us any legal bait works, but cut bait excels for blue, channel, and flathead cats. **Red drum** and a few lingering **speckled trout** have shown up in the tidal creeks, especially on the outgoing tide where saltwater blends with river flows. Try live shrimp near marsh points or toss soft plastics in natural hues on outgoing water. Recent local tournament talk, courtesy of Major League Fishing, confirms largemouth and spotted bass are active around the upper reaches of Back River and Abercorn Creek, especially with slow-rolled spinnerbaits and finesse worms. Pressure’s light now, so fish are ready to bite if you move slow and target structure. Hot spots for today: - **Hutchinson Island creek mouths**: best before and after the afternoon high tide for mixed bass and stripers. - **Abercorn Creek and backwater sloughs**: productive for catfish and bass, especially in deeper pockets near submerged timber. Best lures and baits: - Striper: paddletail swimbaits, chartreuse crankbaits, live shiners. - Catfish: cut herring, chicken livers, stinkbait. - Bass: spinnerbaits, finesse worms, slow-jigged creature baits. - Trout/Red Drum: live shrimp, soft plastics in new penny or chartreuse. Remember, late fall means the bite slows midday, so foc This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.