Inshore Fishing Charter Savannah GA Black Drum Shark
Looking for a top-rated inshore fishing adventure in Savannah? Captain Dave's six-hour private charter puts you right in the heart of Georgia's best fishing waters. You'll cruise through winding rivers, expansive salt marshes, and productive coastal flats targeting everything from hefty black drum to hard-fighting sharks. This isn't your typical cookie-cutter trip—every outing gets customized based on what's biting, weather conditions, and what you're hoping to pull up. Whether you've been fishing these waters for years or you're just getting started, Captain Dave's local knowledge and hands-on instruction will put you on fish. All gear comes included, so you can focus on what matters most: getting your line wet and making memories.
What to Expect on the Water
Your day starts early when you meet Captain Dave at the dock, ready to explore Savannah's world-class inshore fishery. The 22-foot center console boat gives you plenty of room to move around and fight fish without feeling cramped—perfect for up to four anglers who want space to work. You'll spend the morning hitting productive spots along the Savannah River system, then move into the marshes where redfish and black drum love to feed. The afternoon might find you drifting over oyster bars for sheepshead or setting up shark baits near structure. Captain Dave reads the water like a book, adjusting tactics throughout the day to keep rods bent. Expect to learn new techniques, discover productive spots you never knew existed, and gain confidence handling different species. The relaxed atmosphere means plenty of time for questions, stories, and soaking up that coastal Georgia scenery between bites.
Techniques and Tackle
This charter runs the full spectrum of inshore techniques to match what the fish are doing. You'll work everything from live shrimp under popping corks in shallow grass flats to cut bait on the bottom for drum and sharks. Captain Dave keeps the boat stocked with spinning reels spooled with 20-30 pound braid—perfect for the structure-heavy environment where fish love to wrap you up in oyster shells and dock pilings. Depending on conditions, you might find yourself sight-casting to tailing redfish in skinny water, bouncing jigs along channel edges for sheepshead, or setting up a proper shark spread with circle hooks and steel leaders. The beauty of this fishery is the variety—one minute you're finesse fishing with light tackle, the next you're battling a blacktip that's jumping all over the place. All baits come fresh, from live shrimp and mud minnows to cut mullet and blue crab. Captain Dave handles the technical stuff like reading tides and finding structure, while you focus on perfecting your hooksets and enjoying the action.
Customer Stories
"We had an awesome time celebrating two buddies' birthdays out on the water! Our goal was to catch a shark—and we did—along with a mix of other fish. The scenery was beautiful, the fishing was a blast, and Captain Mike made it a trip to remember. Thanks for a great day!" - Randy
Top Catches This Season
Black drum are the heavyweight champions of Savannah's inshore scene, and for good reason. These bruisers average 15-40 pounds but can push well over 50, making them a customer favorite for anglers who want to test their drag systems. They love hanging around oyster bars, bridge pilings, and creek mouths where they vacuum up crabs and shrimp with those powerful crushing jaws. Spring and fall offer the best action when schools move through the area, but you can find them year-round if you know where to look. What makes black drum so special is the fight—they're bulldogs that use their bulk and the current to their advantage, making long, powerful runs that'll have your arms burning. Plus, they're excellent table fare when you keep the smaller ones.
Sheepshead might be the trickiest fish in these waters, but that's exactly why experienced anglers love targeting them. These black-and-white striped beauties have human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and fiddler crabs around structure. They're notorious bait stealers, requiring perfect timing and sensitive tackle to detect those subtle taps before setting the hook. Most sheepshead run 2-8 pounds, but the big ones can hit double digits and provide surprisingly strong fights for their size. Winter months from December through March are prime time when they school up around docks and jetties. The reward for mastering sheepshead technique is some of the finest eating fish in the ocean—firm, white meat that's hard to beat on the dinner table.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Savannah inshore fishing, offering consistent action and explosive fights in shallow water. These copper-colored beauties range from schoolie-sized 18-inchers up to bull reds pushing 40+ pounds. What sets redfish apart is their willingness to eat almost anything—live shrimp, cut bait, artificial lures, you name it. They frequent grass flats, oyster bars, and marsh creek mouths where they hunt for crabs and baitfish. Fall brings the best numbers when schools of slot-sized fish stack up in predictable areas, but spring and summer offer exciting sight-fishing opportunities when they tail in super shallow water. The fight is pure power and determination, with bulldogging runs and head shakes that'll test your tackle and your technique.
Bonnethead sharks bring a fun twist to your inshore adventure, combining the excitement of shark fishing with light tackle action. These smaller members of the hammerhead family typically run 2-4 feet long and are incredibly active fighters, often jumping and spinning when hooked. They're common in Savannah's shallow waters from spring through fall, cruising grass flats and sandy areas hunting for crabs and shrimp. What makes bonnetheads special is their unique shovel-shaped head and their tendency to travel in small groups, meaning where