Savannah Georgia Redfishing
Fish Savannah, Tybee Island, Blufton, Richmond Hill, and Pooler, GA Lowcountry for redfish year-round. Anglers of all abilities welcome.
Savannah Redfishing
Redfish, also known as red drum, are the cornerstone of inshore fishing along the Georgia coast. Recognizable by their copper coloration and signature black tail spots, redfish are built for shallow water. They’re aggressive feeders, powerful fighters, and a favorite for both fly and light tackle anglers. Redfish thrive in the salt marshes, tidal creeks, oyster beds, and flats that define the Georgia Lowcountry, making them a year-round target in the waters around Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, and Bluffton.
These fish are well-adapted to the big tidal swings that the Georgia Marsh experiences. They can tolerate a range of salinities and regularly push into just inches of water to feed. Their body language often gives them away; tailing on flood tide grass flats, waking across a mud bank, or cruising shorelines with their backs out of the water. When feeding, redfish use their downturned mouths to root out shrimp, crabs, and baitfish, leaving distinctive “muds” and pushing wakes in their path.
Conventional Fishing for Redfish
Redfish are one of the most versatile gamefish to target on conventional tackle, and we use a variety of techniques depending on the time of year, water clarity, and tide stage. In the spring and fall, sightfishing opportunities are common, and we’ll often pole or troll quietly through likely areas looking for fish to cast to. Redfish in skinny water are often fooled with soft plastic paddle tails, jerkbaits, or gold spoons. Topwater lures also draw explosive strikes when conditions allow.
During lower visibility or colder months, we may blind cast to oyster edges, creek mouths, or structure. Even when we can’t see fish, we know where they live based on tide, temperature, and experience.
A typical day targeting redfish with conventional gear around Savannah might involve working the morning low tide to find fish in skinny water or deeper holes near structure, then shifting to sightcasting on the flood tide to tailers in the grass as he sun comes up. We keep gear light and responsive, usually spinning setups with 10–20 lb braid and fluorocarbon leaders to keep presentations stealthy and accurate.
Fly Fishing for Redfish
Fly fishing for redfish in the Georgia Lowcountry is as visual and technical as it gets. These fish thrive in the shallow habitats that make fly fishing so exciting. Most redfish encounters on fly involve spotting the fish first, ailing, pushing wakes, or cruising along a bank, then presenting a fly with precision and stealth.
We typically fish 8- to 9-weight rods with floating lines and 9’ tapered leaders. Crab and shrimp patterns are standard, but baitfish flies can work when fish are chasing mullet. In deeper water or winter mud flats, we’ll use heavier flies to get the fly down where it needs to be.
A day fly fishing for redfish in the Georgia Lowcountry usually starts just after sunrise and is dictated by the tide. When the sunlight is low and visibility is little to none, fish are usually spotted by identifying disturbances on the surface of the water; pushes, wakes, tails, and active feeding. As the day proceeds, and fish become easier to see, options increase and redfish can be targeted in a multitude of different scenarios.
Fly fishing for redfish is an art that demands patience, sharp eyes, accuracy, control, and the ability to deliver under pressure and is why it is one of the most rewarding ways to experience saltwater fishing in the Georgia Lowcountry.
Savannah Redfishing Seasons
Redfish are available to target year-round in Savannah, but the experience changes with each season.
Winter (December–February): Cold, clear water pushes redfish into tight schools on the flats and mud banks. These fish can be spooky, but they’re visible and predictable. Great time for sight fishing with long shots and subtle presentations.
Spring (March–May): Warming water brings bait back into the creeks. Reds start to spread out, becoming more aggressive and willing to chase moving baits and flies. Sightfishing improves with better light and longer days.
Summer (June–August): Redfish feed actively early and late in the day. Flood tide tailing opportunities are at their peak. Grass flats come alive, and fish push deep into the spartina looking for crabs and shrimp.
Fall (September–November): Peak redfish season. Fish are aggressive and feeding hard before winter. Schooling behavior increases, and some of the biggest redfish of the year are caught inshore. Great conditions for both fly and light tackle.