Savannah River Fishing Report: Redfish, Trout, Bream, and More for May 18, 2025

Good morning, anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Sunday fishing report for the Savannah River on May 18, 2025. We’re greeting another fine spring day in the lowcountry, and if you’re heading out, you’ll get first light starting at 6:28 this morning, with sunset around 8:18 tonight. Daytime temps are climbing into the mid-80s with a gentle southeast breeze about 5 to 7 miles an hour, making for comfortable fishing conditions. The tide is running low mid-morning and pushing high by mid-afternoon. That means you’ve got solid opportunities both early and late in the day, and the water clarity is holding up well with just a light stain out in the main channel. Those moving tides are really getting the fish moving, so plan your trip around those changes for the best bite. Let’s talk fish. The redfish action is still hot, especially around grassy points and those winding creek mouths. Folks are hauling in nice slot reds this week, most catching them on mud minnows and cut mullet on bottom rigs. If, like me, you prefer artificials, you can’t beat a classic gold spoon or a scented soft plastic in new penny or root beer colors right now. Work ‘em slow along the edges at the turn of the tide and get ready for a serious bend in the rod. Speckled trout have been steady, especially where current runs over shell beds and grass lines. Live shrimp under a popping cork is pulling in fish up to 18 inches, but pearl white jerkbaits and paddletails are putting in work for the artificials crowd too. Meanwhile, up the freshwater side, the bream are setting up for their big spawn. Look for ‘em shallow in 2 to 4 feet of water along the backs of coves or points. Crickets and red wigglers are the go-to baits. Bass are cruising the shallows in creeks and hitting bright crankbaits like fire tiger Bombers, while river bass are more likely to be hanging on ledges and taking jerkbaits. Catfish action is strong all over—channel cats are biting cut herring and can be caught just about anywhere right now, whether on points, in coves, or pockets. Stripers are starting to move a bit deeper, so if you’re hunting them, try live herring or flukes off deeper points or around submerged timber in 40 to 50 feet as the day heats up. A couple of hotspots to try today: the creek mouths and grassy points near Houlihan Bridge for red and trout, and the deeper bends up near Clyo for catfish and the occasional striper. Don’t overlook the shell bars and current breaks around Elba Island, especially on an incoming tide—plenty of action there. That’s your Savannah River report. Tight lines and good luck out there! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.