Savannah River Winter Fishing Report: Tides, Lures, and Hot Spots for Reds, Trout, and Stripers

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Savannah River fishing report. We’ve got a big winter tide swing on the Savannah this morning. NOAA’s Bull Street station on the Savannah River shows a strong high around the middle of the day with a solid fall this evening, so expect **heavy current on the turns**. According to Tides4Fishing for Savannah, we’re working with over 8 feet of range today, which makes those two hours around each tide change prime time. FishingReminder’s Port Wentworth tables line up with that: an early morning low, a stout early‑afternoon high, then another drop after dark, with a high tidal coefficient pushing current hard through the bends and creek mouths. That kind of flow stacks fish on the **current breaks**, especially around pilings, rock, and the edges of the main channel. Weather‑wise, the National Weather Service marine forecast for the Savannah to Altamaha stretch is calling for **cool winter air, north to northwest breeze, and choppy conditions out in the sound**, better as you tuck back up the river. Air temps are sitting cool but not brutal; layer up, because that wind off the water will cut you. Skies are partly cloudy, and we’re sitting around a **waxing moon**, which FishingReminder tags with decent solunar activity through late afternoon. Sunrise in this stretch of the Georgia–South Carolina line is right around **7:30 in the morning**, with sunset close to **5:40 in the evening**, so the best bet is to work the **first light outgoing** and the **late‑day push into dusk**. Recent reports from local charter listings out of Savannah on Captain Experiences show anglers still finding **redfish, speckled trout, stripers, and some flounder** inshore, with river stripers getting more attention up toward the city and below the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. Winter schools of **slot reds** have been holding tight in deeper creek bends off the main river and around warm outflows when you can find ’em. For **lures**, go slow and subtle: - For **redfish and trout**: 1/4‑ounce jigheads with **3–4 inch paddle‑tail plastics** in new penny, opening night, or dark green. Add Pro‑Cure or similar scent; cold‑water fish want an easy meal. MirrOlure or Rapala **suspending twitch baits** in natural baitfish patterns along shell and rock edges on the last of the outgoing. - For **Savannah River stripers** around bridges and deep turns: Heavy **bucktail jigs** with a white trailer, or 1/2‑ to 3/4‑ounce soft swimbaits in silver/white. Let ’em sink, then slow‑roll just off bottom in that ripping current. - For **flounder** hanging on drops and pilings: Same jigheads, but tip with **mud minnows** or strips of fresh shrimp and crawl it along bottom. Best **bait** right now: - Live **shrimp** if you can get it; fish them on a Carolina rig or cork in the creeks. - **Mud minnows** and small **finger mullet** for reds and flounder. - **Cut mullet or menhaden** on the bottom by channel edges for big re This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.