Savannah and coastal Georgia fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. Fall is the best time of year to fish the Georgia coast. The water is cooling, the shrimp are moving, and the inshore fish are feeding hard. From Tybee Island to the marshes south of Savannah, October is a month to get out.
What’s Hitting
This week, black drum are feeding around the docks, shell banks, and bridge pilings. Redfish are working the marsh edges and the oyster bars on the falling tide, and they are tailing on the high flood tides. Speckled trout are turning on in the creeks as the shrimp move out of the marsh. Bull reds are at the sounds and around Tybee. Sheepshead are on the structure.
Where to Find Them
For black drum, the docks in the Wilmington River and Skidaway River, along with the shell banks and the bridge pilings. For redfish, the marsh edges and oyster bars in the creeks off the Wilmington River and Bull River. For trout, the creek mouths and the drop-offs where the shrimp are moving. For bull reds, Wassaw Sound and the area around Tybee Island.
Tides & Conditions
Coastal Georgia has big tides, and they drive the fishing. The last quarter moon this weekend softens them, but the falling tide still pulls bait out of the marsh. The new moon around October 10 will bring bigger tides. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s and dropping. The water can be murky, so scent and noise help.
Tackle & Tactics
For black drum, a piece of blue crab or a shrimp on a Carolina rig, fished on the bottom near the structure. For redfish, a live mud minnow or shrimp on a jig head, or a gold spoon. For trout, a popping cork with a live shrimp. For bull reds, a fish-finder rig with a chunk of cut bait. For sheepshead, a fiddler crab tight to the pilings.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Lazaretto Creek boat ramp near Tybee Island, the Skidaway Narrows ramp, and the Thunderbolt public ramp. Shore anglers have good access at the Tybee Island Pier and the Lazaretto Creek fishing pier area. Fish are concentrated on the structure for drum and sheepshead and in the marsh for reds and trout. Check current Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
In coastal Georgia’s murky water, the fish rely more on smell and vibration than sight. Use live or fresh-cut bait when you can, and if you are using artificials, choose ones with rattles or strong vibration. A popping cork is effective because the noise attracts trout from a distance.
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