Georgia · Georgia Coast
REDFISH FISHING
IN TYBEE ISLAND
Tybee Island is an outstanding destination for redfish fishing, with peak season in March, April, October and good catches in January, February, May. Book a charter and target redfish with local experts.
About Redfish Fishing in Tybee Island
Also known as Red Drum, one of the most sought-after inshore gamefish in the Gulf. Known for powerful runs and the distinctive spot on the tail.
Redfish — also called Red Drum — are the most popular inshore gamefish along the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts. They are bronze-copper in color with one or more distinctive black spots near the tail, which scientists believe confuse predators into attacking the wrong end. Juveniles (called "rat reds") are bright gold or copper, while bull reds over 30 inches take on a deeper bronze-red hue with a pronounced hump behind the head. Males and females are visually identical, though females grow larger and are the primary spawners.
Scientific name: Sciaenops ocellatus
Redfish Seasonal Calendar — Tybee Island
Month-by-month availability for redfish in Tybee Island, GA.
How to Catch Redfish in Tybee Island
Techniques & Bait
Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.
Recommended Tackle
Medium or medium-light spinning rod (7 ft), 2500-3000 size reel, 10-15 lb braided line, 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. For bull reds: medium-heavy rod, 4000 reel, 20-30 lb braid, 30 lb leader.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Tybee Island
Top spots where local captains target redfish and other inshore species.
Lazaretto Creek
Lazaretto Creek separates Tybee Island from the mainland marsh system, creating a productive tidal waterway where redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and speckled trout hold along the dock pilings, oyster beds, and creek bends. The creek's strong tidal flow concentrates baitfish on moving tides, drawing gamefish from the surrounding marsh. The Lazaretto Creek boat ramp is the primary launch point for Tybee Island fishing, and anglers often catch quality fish before leaving the creek itself.
Tybee Creek
Tybee Creek runs along the south side of Tybee Island, winding through pristine spartina marsh where redfish, flounder, and trout feed on the abundant shrimp and crab populations. The creek's oyster shell banks and undercut marsh edges provide prime ambush structure for redfish cruising the shallows on rising tides. Low-tide sight-fishing for tailing redfish on the exposed mud flats along Tybee Creek is a quintessential Georgia Lowcountry inshore experience.
Bull River
The Bull River flows between Tybee Island and Wilmington Island through a wide tidal channel lined with spartina marsh and oyster beds that hold redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum. The river's width and depth allow it to be fished from the bank, by kayak, or from larger boats, making it one of the most accessible inshore fishing spots near Tybee Island. Winter sheepshead fishing around the Bull River's dock pilings and bridge structure produces impressive catches.
Little Tybee Island Creeks
Little Tybee Island is an undeveloped barrier island south of Tybee accessible only by boat, and its network of tidal creeks and marsh flats provide pristine inshore habitat for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. The island's lack of development ensures minimal fishing pressure and healthy populations of gamefish feeding on the rich marsh ecosystem. Kayak anglers paddle from Tybee across the creek to explore Little Tybee's secluded creeks for a wilderness fishing experience.
Other Species in Tybee Island
More fish you can target while visiting Tybee Island.
Redfish Fishing in Tybee Island — FAQ
The peak months for Redfish fishing in Tybee Island are March, April, October, November. During these months, Redfish are most active and abundant in the Tybee Island area.
Redfish fishing charters in Tybee Island are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.
No — when you book a charter in Tybee Island, your captain provides all required Georgia fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Redfish regulations in Georgia include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Redfish in Tybee Island, you may also catch Sheepshead, Cobia, King Mackerel, Black Drum, Black Sea Bass. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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