Abbeville, GA Fishing: Not Just Wild Hogs

Abbeville is located in south-central Georgia, halfway between Savannah and Augusta. This charming town has a population of around 2,725 residents. The city boasts beautiful gardens, parks, quaint shops, and its historic downtown area. 

This area is well-known for its wild hog population. In May, the Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival takes place at Lions Park on Industrial Drive. Every year, thousands of visitors from across the country come to see wild hogs being hunted. King's Family Hunting Preserve in Abbeville is a wildlife management area in Georgia where you can go deer hunting.

Abbeville is also a popular fishing destination for locals and visitors alike. With so many bodies of water, there are opportunities to fish for species like bass, catfish, crappie, trout, and striped bass. Anglers will enjoy catching fish and enjoying the beauty of the landscape. The water is often bordered by trees and offers a picturesque backdrop. Abbeville provides a wide array of fishing opportunities, making it a popular destination.

Abbeville Fishing

Abbeville offers a variety of fishing opportunities, so grab your rods and head out today. Experienced and beginner anglers can enjoy the variety of fish species found in the waters surrounding the area. Additionally, Abbeville has several public fishing areas to catch trout or catfish. Anglers 16 and older must have a current Georgia fishing license when fishing in fresh or salt water in Georgia. Visit the Department of Natural Resources website to know more about their fishing regulations.

Lake Oliver is a popular fishing spot for anglers who like to catch bream, bass, crappie, and catfish. The average panfish caught is about one pound in weight.

The pier at Lake Lanier is a public fishing spot where you can catch largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, and black drum. If you want to go further into the lake, you can rent a boat from the marina. There is a ramp to access the shoreline at the end of the pier.

The Ocmulgee River is another popular fishing spot in Abbeville. Many people come here to catch bream, catfish, carp, and bluegill. The river is stocked with rainbow trout, making it easy for anglers to catch them.

Charter boats like Matt Dorsey Fly Fishing, Chatham Inshore Charters, Stellar Charters, and Reel N Time Fishing Charters offer guided daily trips; these charters include everything from half-day trips to full-day excursions. Visit their website to learn more information about the rates, available dates, and proximity location. Charter captains have years of experience guiding their clients on these trips. They know what type of bait works best in different parts of the lake. This is the place to go if you want to embark on an adventurous day!

Anglers often visit the Chauga River to fish because of the healthy populations of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, trout, and striped bass.

Lake Sinclair is located about 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta. This lake features bass, catfish, crappie, bream, largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. You can rent boats at this lake, but you have to bring your gas. There are two public boat ramps located near the dam. One ramp is on the north side of the lake, and the other is on the south side.

Lake Hartwell is a man-made lake home to bass, crappie, catfish, bream, largemouth bass, white perch, black crappie, and bluegills. Two public access ramps are located on the lake's west side. Both are equipped with electric trolling motors.

For freshwater fishing enthusiasts, Abbeville has some great options. Lake Oliver is a popular fishing destination for anglers like bass, catfish, and crappie. The Ocmulgee River is another popular fishing location for catfish and bass.

If you prefer saltwater fishing, you should check out Lake Martin. It’s a great location for catching red drum, speckled perch, flounder, sheepshead, and other types of fish.

If you want to try fly fishing, check out the Chattahoochee River near the town of McRae. There are two spots where you can fish from the shoreline: the first is next to the dam, and the second is farther downriver. Both locations provide excellent fishing opportunities.

Head to the Lake Allatoona Dam if you prefer to cast from the bank. Anglers can fish on both sides of the dam, and the lake is stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, and sunfish.

Lake Seminole is a large body of water located in the southeast region of Georgia; it is a reservoir that sits within the boundaries of Harris County. A lake with approximately 2,600 acres, Lake Seminole is an excellent fishing spot and offers many other recreational opportunities. Around the lake, people enjoy camping, boating, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, golfing, biking, picnicking, walking, jogging, and hiking.

Also popular with anglers is Carters Lake. This lake offers camping facilities and canoe rentals at the nearby marina. A large number of fish can also be caught here all year long. Locals recommend using nightcrawlers as bait and bringing cast net fishing for catfish. Some of the fish species the lake offers include bream, crappie, and bass. Carters Lake's shallow waters make it a great place to catch catfish, a bonus for those who love to eat this tasty fish.

On Lake Abbeville, there are several docks where you can go fishing from the pier. This is an excellent place for those looking for a different experience from bank fishing since you do not have to wade. It is located along the Savannah River, and some popular fish species are largemouth bass, striped bass, channel catfish, shellcracker, redear sunfish, and white perch.

There are many places to find good fishing spots in Abbeville. You don’t need to be a seasoned angler to enjoy yourself while fishing. Just cast a line!

Top 10 Fish Species in Abbeville, GA

The top 10 fish species found in Abbeville, GA, are largemouth bass, bluegill, flathead catfish, white crappie, redeye bass, shellcracker, spotted bass, striped bass, bowfin, and rainbow trout. 

Seasonal Fishing

The best fishing months in Abbeville are between March and June, when you can catch a lot of basses. September and October are good fishing months, but spring ones are better.

The most common species found during the summer months are bream, catfish, and redbreast sunfish. The Savannah River is an excellent place to find striped bass between April and May when shad are running upstream to reproduce.

Certain bodies of water in Georgia are better at catching largemouth bass than others. You can catch them in Wiley Slough, Coontail Slough, and Pine Tree Lake. Early morning or late at night are the best times to fish for bass because they tend to feed near the surface when it's dark outside.

Get Smitten With Abbeville

In addition to fishing, Abbeville offers visitors plenty of sightseeing opportunities to explore on their days off.

1. Visit the Abbeville Farmers Market

Every Saturday from the month of April through December, the Abbeville Farmers' Market offers fresh local produce, homemade baked goods, crafts, live music and entertainment, and plenty of family-friendly activities and events.

2. Explore the Abbeville Historic District

There are many historic homes and buildings to explore in the Abbeville Historic District. There are over 40 Victorian-style houses that date back to the late 1800s. Many of these houses were built by wealthy merchants who opened their stores and businesses around. town. Some homes have been restored into bed & breakfasts, restaurants, and even art galleries.

3. Hike the Trails Around Town

Abbeville has many parks and hiking trails throughout the community. Some of the best include Lakeview Park (a large park with a lake), the Abbeville Nature Center, and the Abbeville State Park. The trails are perfect for walking, running, biking, roller-blading, and horseback riding. It's a great way to be active while enjoying nature.