Inshore Fishing Report Late Spring 2025 – Savannah, Hilton Head, Tybee Island

Inshore Fishing Report Late Spring – Savannah, GA. May 19th., 2025

Small brown shrimp are showing in local waterways. These shrimp are only around for a fews weeks but with more bait can mean more fish. River menhaden on some days have been thick. River menhaden are only around 4 inches and can be a good redfish/sea trout bait. Local fishermen have had a consistent bait supply from Mr. Mosely bait shop (Top of the line bait shop) in Thunderbolt. Nonetheless, It might be best to call ahead to make sure bait is available. Mr. Mike has been sending his bait boat out two and even three times a day. His son Christian (shop mgr) has has said everything they get in they are quickly selling. Demand is strong. Call ahead and don’t get locked into live shrimp only. Dead bait can be really effective particularly when shrimp aren’t abundant.

As we progress into summer bait: shrimp, menhaden and mullet will be more abundant. When shrimp are plentiful fisherman can sometimes catch all the shrimp needed for fishing in a few casts. My rule of thumb is if it take me more than a half hour to a catch a quart then its best to buy. When throwing a cast timing the tides is important. In general the lower tide stages are the best. Once the water is the grass so are the shrimp. Also if throwing your on a higher tide stage with an unfamiliar bottom that’s a good way to tear up a net. When conditions are right a cast or two could be about all it takes. When the half hour turns into an hour and you still have few shrimp and you left with a messy boat then you have to decide to press on or clean up.

Shrimp are probably deemed the universal bait on the Georgia/South Carolina coast. I remember hearing one friend (former fishing guide) saying most of your time spent will be gathering shrimp. That’s how important many fishermen feel fishing live shrimp can be. I’ld say live shrimp are important but being flexible is important as well. Raburn Goodman (Yellow Bluff) says you won’t get as many bites but but you will catch more quality fish on mud minnows. Finger mullet, menhaden and cut bait and dead shrimp all be good alternates.

This spring we’ve caught some nice sea trout but the bite has been a little up and down. Reds (redfish) has been more consistent. We caught some flounder fishing oyster points and shallow slopping banks. We had some pretty good whiting in sound with lots of bonnet head sharks showing up this spring. There have been a few reports of jacks showing up in the South Channel as well some triple tail. As more bait pushes in the bite around Warsaw will likely be picking up. Most the bite has been north of Savannah but definitely not all.

I hope this fishing report has been of interest. Keep only what you want to eat and release the rest.

Fish On!

Jack Capt. Jack McGowan, Coastal River Charters