Savannah River Fishing Update: Reds, Trout, and Cats on the Bite as Fall Conditions Settle In

This is Artificial Lure, reporting live for your October 26th Savannah River fishing update. First light sliced through overcast skies at 7:35 a.m., unveiling cool, breezy conditions—classic late-October weather for this stretch of Georgia and South Carolina. High today will sit in the low 60s, with northeast winds picking up steadily, gusting 20-25 knots by midday according to the National Weather Service. Expect some chop if you’re heading out near the mouth, and there’s a Small Craft Advisory in effect that’ll keep most smaller boats hugging protected waters. If you’re timing your trip with the tides, know that the first high hit just after sunrise with strong outgoing flow expected into late morning, based on NOAA’s tide predictions for the Bull Street station in downtown Savannah. These fall tides move a lot of bait, making for some dynamic fishing in the nearshore creeks and main river channel edges. The bite lately’s been “hot from just about everyone,” per Georgia Outdoor News. Redfish, speckled trout, and flounder have lit up inshore drop-offs and marsh drains, especially around the barrier islands and feeder creeks. Big bull reds are still lingering off the beaches and up around the shipping channel bends. In the river itself, striped bass and catfish are thumping baits from Shellman Bluff upriver to Augusta, but the best action’s been close to the city, especially in the structure-heavy areas near Hutchinson Island and the Talmadge Bridge pilings. Plenty of inshore anglers report easy limits of spotted sea trout just upriver from Thunderbolt, mostly caught on live shrimp under popping corks in the first and last two hours of moving tide. Artificials are scoring too: paddle-tail swimbaits in opening night or electric chicken, and chartreuse ¼-ounce jigheads have all put fish in the box. Redfish are playing along shell bars and grassy points; gold spoons and Gulp! shrimp are favorites. For flounder, slow-rolling mud minnows or finger mullet around dock pilings is the ticket. In the freshwater reaches near Augusta, the bass bite stays steady—try soft plastic worm rigs in green pumpkin along submerged timber. Catfish have been widespread, taking cut shad or chicken livers, and several fish in the 20-pound class were weighed Saturday at a local tourney near New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam, according to submissions to Snoflo’s angler log. Best hot spots this week: - **Hutchinson Island drop-off and channel edges**—consistent trout and reds on outgoing tide. - **Turner’s Creek and Wilmington River junctions**—solid trout early, reds prowling the flats at flood tide. - **Backside of Elba Island**—bull red action and solid flounder reported on live bait. - **Upstream near Cherokee Hill**—bass, big blue catfish, and stripers working current seams and deep holes after sundown. Don’t forget, with increased fall activity and wind, safety’s first—life jackets on, and double-check your gear, especially if that wind keeps climbing. Thanks for t This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.