As of December 1, 2024, if you're planning to hit the waters of the Savannah River, here's what you need to know:
### Weather and Tides
Today, you can expect a chilly but clear day with temperatures ranging from the mid-40s to the mid-50s. Sunrise was at around 7:00 AM, and sunset will be at about 5:15 PM. Tides are crucial; the high tide is expected around 10:30 AM, and the low tide will be at 4:30 PM. Check the latest marine forecast on weather.gov/jax/ for any updates.
### Fish Activity
With the water temperatures having dropped significantly, fish patterns have changed. Redfish are active, especially in shallow waters on warm, sunny days and deeper waters (around 5 feet plus) on cold, cloudy days. Striped bass, or rockfish, have been biting well in the lower parts of the river, particularly around docks with lights. The colder weather has made their bite even better, especially just before daylight.
### Catch Reports
Yesterday saw some good catches. Several trips in the Ogeechee River, which is part of the Savannah River system, yielded 15 stripers ranging from 3 to 25 pounds. Redfish and trout were also caught in good numbers. For redfish, live shrimp and artificial lures like a white Gulp Swimming Mullet on a 1/4-oz. jig worked well. For trout, jigs and light tackle were effective, with screwtails and paddletails in green, pink, and clear with glitter being top choices.
### Best Lures and Bait
For redfish, use live shrimp or artificial lures like the white Gulp Swimming Mullet on a 1/4-oz. jig. For trout, jigs with small pieces of cut fish, squid, or cigar minnows are recommended. For stripers, live shrimp, DOA Shrimp, Rapalas, and silver Rat-L-Traps have been productive.
### Hot Spots
- **Docks with Lights**: These areas are attracting stripers, especially in the lower parts of the river.
- **Artificial Reefs**: These are holding sheepshead, black drum, trophy redfish, flounder, and cold-water sharks. Use purple-back fiddler, juvenile rock crabs, and green mussels for sheepshead and black drum.
- **Channel Edges**: Stripers are utilizing the channels quite a bit in pursuit of bait, making these areas good for catching them.
Bundle up, wear a flotation device, and enjoy your fishing trip on the Savannah River.