Savannah River Dawn Bite: Blues, Reds, and Trout on the Falling Tide

This is Artificial Lure with your Savannah River fishing report. We’ve got a muggy, fishy morning on the Savannah. Around Savannah and Port Wentworth, dawn came in right about 6:20 a.m., with sunset around 8:20 p.m. Air temps are running upper 60s at first light, climbing into the low-to-mid 80s this afternoon. Light southwest breeze early, picking up sea-breeze style south-southeast 10–15 mph later. Cloud cover is mixed, with a decent chance of a pop‑up shower after lunch, which can actually fire up the bite ahead of the rain. According to the NOAA tide tables for Savannah River Entrance, we’re looking at mid‑morning high water and an afternoon falling tide. That means the first strong outgoing push late morning through mid‑afternoon is your magic window in the main river and creek mouths. Water’s stained to muddy upriver with all the recent runoff, but down toward Elba Island and Fields Cut you’ll find a better green‑brown edge and a touch of salinity. Water temps are hovering around the low 70s, which has the river pretty lively. Recent chatter from local marinas up and down River Street and over by Hogan’s Marina and Bull River Marina says the inshore mix has been solid: slot redfish, a few speckled trout hanging near cleaner water, plenty of croaker and whiting, plus some blue cats upriver. In the brackish stretches around Houlihan Bridge and up toward Clyo, anglers have been putting good numbers of blue catfish in the boat—10–20 fish in a half‑day isn’t unusual, with the occasional 20‑ to 30‑pounder. Best bets there are cut shad, cut mullet, or chicken breast soaked in garlic, fished on a Carolina rig right on the bottom along channel edges, especially on that outgoing tide. Closer to the salt—around Elba Island, the spoil areas, and down toward the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge cuts—redfish have been nosing around shell points and grass edges. Gulp! shrimp in new penny or natural, on a 1/8‑oz jighead, has been consistent. Gold Colorado‑blade spinnerbaits and small weedless spoons are also drawing strikes when there’s a little chop and stain. Live shrimp under a popping cork is still king when you can get it, with mud minnows a close second. Trout have been a little finicky with the off‑color water, but where you find clearer pockets—especially in side creeks feeding the river—soft plastics on a light jighead, in natural or opening‑night colors, are picking up keepers. Work the edges of current seams and points as the tide dumps bait. If you’re hunting panfish and smaller cats, the backwaters off Augusta Road and the oxbows upriver from Port Wentworth are giving up bream and smaller channel cats on worms, crickets, and small pieces of shrimp. Use a small float just off the bank around laydowns and grass. Two hotspots to circle today: 1) The bends around Houlihan Bridge: Work those ledges in 20–30 feet for blue cats on cut bait during the falling tide. 2) The mouths of Refuge creeks across from Elba Island: Target reds and mixed bag on live shrimp under corks and Gulp! around the last of the incoming and first of the outgoing. Overall activity is fair to good, and that mid‑day outgoing tide should be your best shot at a heavier chew. Keep an eye on storms, watch the ship traffic, and give the big boys plenty of room in the channel. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn