Savannah River Rundown: Tides, Tactics, and Tasty Catches

Howdy folks, Artificial Lure reporting from the banks of the Savannah River on this fine Friday, September 19, 2025. Let's get right into today's river rundown. Sunrise came at 7:11 AM, casting a golden glow over glassy water, and sunset is set for about 7:25 PM—plenty of daylight for chasing red drum and trout. There's a strong tidal push today, with high tide hitting at 7:45 AM and low rolling in around 2:30 PM according to Fort McAllister's solunar and tide tables. That big 81 tidal coefficient means high current—bait and predators will be moving, and so should you. Weather’s cooperating for anglers, too. The National Weather Service says to expect northeast winds around 10 to 15 knots, with seas running 2 to 3 feet inshore and choppy, but manageable, if you keep to the river and inside creeks. We’re seeing a few clouds but only a slight chance of showers, so pack a lightweight rain jacket just in case. Bite report’s been lively this week. Folks pulled solid numbers of slot reds up in Back River and around Elba Island, mostly on live finger mullet and mud minnows fished under popping corks near the grass at high water. The deeper bends near Fields Cut are holding trout, especially on an outgoing tide—MirrOlure MirrOdines in natural colors and Vudu Shrimp have both been hot. Some nice flounder have come out of Shellman Bluff and inside the Wilmington river mouth, with folks scoring on chartreuse Gulp! Swimming Mullets and live mud minnows slow-dragged on jigheads. Near the city docks and the shipping channel edges, catfish and stripers are picking up bait, especially around sunset. Big cut menhaden and fresh shrimp chunks are working well, but for stripers, try a white bucktail jig or topwater plug at first and last light for an explosive bite. Sheepshead are hanging tight to the old pilings—fiddler crabs or small live shrimp on a Carolina rig will get you bent if you can thread the hook through the pickers. A couple of hot spots to try: The rock jetties at Fort Pulaski are always a solid bet on the last of the outgoing. Also, the mouth of Lazaretto Creek has been producing trout and reds, especially after the tide turns and the current starts to move hard. Don’t overlook the feeder creeks off Skidaway Narrows—those little drains can be loaded with gamefish on a good tide swing. Bait-wise, live finger mullet and mud minnows are king, but don't sleep on fresh shrimp for a mixed bag. If artificials are your game, toss natural-colored paddle tails and shrimp imitations around marsh points and creek mouths during moving water periods. Remember, with the high coefficient tides today, bait and predatory fish will be on the move, especially during the hour just before and after peak tides. Be ready to change locations or techniques if the bite slows, and don’t be afraid to use a little heavier jighead to stay down in the current. Thanks for tuning in to your on-the-water report with Artificial Lure. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the n This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.