Savannah Inshore Fishing: Half-Day Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
34 hour inshore charter targeting redfish, trout, and flounderExpert guide provides live shrimp and mullet baitSmall group experience with maximum 2 guests per trip
If you're looking for a solid morning on the water without the hassle of a full-day commitment, this 3-4 hour inshore charter with Whiplash Fishing Charters hits the sweet spot. We're talking prime time fishing in some of Georgia's most productive waters, where the Savannah River meets the Atlantic and creates perfect habitat for redfish, trout, flounder, and black drum. With just two anglers per trip, you'll get personalized attention and plenty of elbow room to work your lines. Our captain knows these waters like the back of his hand and will put you on fish using live shrimp and mullet – the gold standard baits that local species can't resist.
Your morning kicks off early when the fish are most active and the boat traffic is light. We'll launch from one of Savannah's prime marinas and make a quick run to the productive grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths that hold fish year-round. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – one cast you might hook into a bull redfish cruising the shallows, the next you could be fighting a keeper flounder hiding in the sand. Our boat is rigged with quality rods and reels, tackle, and a live well stocked with fresh bait. The captain will position you over structure and current breaks where fish congregate, then coach you through the presentation and hookset. Whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time, we'll adjust techniques to match your skill level and keep the action steady.
Inshore fishing around Savannah is all about reading the water and matching your approach to conditions. We primarily fish with medium-action spinning gear loaded with 15-20 pound braided line for sensitivity and strength in structure-heavy areas. Live shrimp gets rigged on circle hooks under popping corks for trout and redfish, while finger mullet works great on Carolina rigs for flounder and black drum. The captain will show you how to work baits along oyster bars, drift grass beds, and probe creek bends where fish stage during tide changes. We'll also throw some artificial lures when conditions are right – soft plastics, spoons, and topwater plugs can trigger aggressive strikes from feeding fish. The key is staying mobile and following the bite, which means covering different depths and structure types throughout the morning until we find active schools.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Savannah's inshore scene and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers cruise shallow flats and oyster bars year-round, with fish ranging from schoolie reds in the 18-27 inch slot to bull reds pushing 40+ inches that'll test your drag system. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, but winter fishing can be red-hot when you locate schools in deeper holes. What makes reds special is their fighting ability – they'll make multiple runs and use their broad shoulders to pull hard right to the boat.
Sea trout, or spotted seatrout as they're officially known, provide steady action throughout the warmer months. These silver bullets love live shrimp fished under corks around grass beds and drop-offs. Most fish run 14-20 inches with occasional gator trout over 25 inches that make your heart skip a beat. They're notorious for their soft mouths, so setting the hook requires a gentle touch, but once hooked they'll jump and shake their heads trying to throw the bait. Peak season runs April through October when water temperatures stay above 60 degrees.
Summer flounder are the ultimate ambush predators, lying buried in sand and mud bottoms waiting to pounce on unsuspecting baitfish. These flatfish can be tricky to target but are worth the effort – keeper-sized fish over 15 inches provide excellent table fare and a fun fight on light tackle. They're most active during moving tides when baitfish get swept along current edges. Look for them around creek mouths, channel edges, and sandy areas adjacent to structure from late spring through early fall.
Black drum often get overlooked but they're fantastic fighters that will surprise you with their power. These bottom-dwellers cruise oyster bars and hard structures using their pharyngeal teeth to crush shellfish and crabs. They range from smaller fish perfect for dinner to monster bulls over 30 pounds that can spool you if you're not careful. They bite best on cut bait and live shrimp fished on the bottom, and once hooked they'll use their weight and leverage to try wearing you down. Spring and fall provide the most consistent action when schools move into shallow water to feed.
A half-day charter with Whiplash Fishing Charters gives you the perfect taste of what makes Savannah's inshore fishing scene so special. You'll experience world-class fishing without sacrificing your entire day, leaving time for other activities or a relaxing afternoon. Our top-rated guides know how to put you on fish consistently while sharing local knowledge that you can't get anywhere else. The intimate two-person limit means you'll receive personalized instruction and have plenty of opportunities to get your line in the water. Whether you're visiting Savannah or you're a local looking for a customer favorite experience, this charter delivers the goods every time. Book your trip today and discover why anglers keep coming back to fish these productive Georgia waters.
Your fishing adventure awaits aboard our 2014 22-foot Pathfinder center console, powered by a reliable 250HP Yamaha that'll get you to the best fishing spots fast. This boat cuts through Savannah's inshore waters at up to 45 knots, putting you right where the redfish, trout, and flounder are biting. The center console design gives you 360-degree fishing access, while our fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating your targets. Keep your catch fresh in the onboard icebox, and let the wireless trolling motor help you sneak up on those finicky fish without spooking them. GPS and radar ensure we navigate safely through Savannah's channels and creeks, even when visibility drops. With room for up to 2 anglers, you'll have plenty of space to work live shrimp and mullet without getting tangled up. This boat's built for serious inshore fishing - shallow draft gets you into those productive backwater spots where the big ones hide.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, running anywhere from 5 to 30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. These grey-black bruisers love our oyster beds and shallow muddy flats where they use their powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. They're fantastic fighters that'll test your gear, though stick to fish under 15 pounds if you plan to eat them since the bigger ones get tough. My go-to trick is using fresh crab on a Carolina rig and letting it sit right on the bottom near structure.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and signature black spots near the tail. These powerful fish typically range from 18-30 inches in our waters and absolutely love the shallow flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths around Savannah. They're year-round residents but really fire up during spring and fall when they school heavily. What makes reds special is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights - they'll peel drag and make long runs. Plus they're excellent eating with mild, sweet meat. The secret here is sight fishing the shallow flats on an incoming tide. When you spot their backs or tails in skinny water, cast well ahead and work your bait slow.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them, are beautiful silver fish with distinctive black spots that typically run 1-5 pounds in our Savannah waters. They love grass flats and shallow areas where they feed on shrimp and small baitfish. These fish are most active during cooler months and low-light periods like dawn and dusk. What guests love about trout is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they're absolutely delicious with tender, flaky white meat. They can be finicky though - one day they want topwater, the next they want it slow on the bottom. My local trick is to work your bait just above the grass line where they like to cruise and feed.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are our local flatfish masters of disguise, typically running 15-20 inches and putting up a surprising scrap for their size. These "doormat" fish lay flat on sandy bottoms in our estuaries and inshore waters, perfectly camouflaged until they ambush passing baitfish. Fall months from September through November are when they really turn on before their winter migration. What makes them special is their excellent table quality - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They're ambush predators, so patience pays off. Here's the key: when you feel that subtle tap-tap, don't set the hook right away. Let them mouth the bait for a few seconds since they bite sideways.
Savannah, GA