When cobia are off Savannah
Cobia fishing out of Savannah follows the spring migration, which begins in late spring, around April or May, and lasts until early fall. FishingBooker’s Savannah fishing overview gives that window, and it sets the timing for everything below.
These fish are part of the Southeast Atlantic cobia run (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide) that moves along the coast each year. For the port itself, start with Savannah and the water it opens to.
This page covers:
- when the fish are here
- which grounds to run to and how far each one is
- how the fish are fished
- who runs charters for them
Where boats run from Savannah and how far
Boats run to the Savannah Artificial Reef, the Tybee Island area, and wrecks, reefs and buoys. The grounds below are listed from the shortest trip to the longest.
Chart layers are not for navigation. Use the numbers here to plan trips, and use your official charts to make the run.
Nearshore artificial reefs
Four Georgia offshore artificial reefs sit between 4 and 9 nautical miles out. BSF, at 4 nautical miles, is the shortest run on the list.
| Reef | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|
| BSF | 29 ft | 4 nautical miles east of Little Tybee Island |
| SAV | 40 ft | 6 nautical miles southeast of Tybee Island |
| DUA | 45 ft | 7 nautical miles east of Ossabaw Island |
| KC | 50 ft | 9 nautical miles east of Wassaw Island |
Buoys, towers and longer runs
Past the reefs, the grounds stretch out in this order:
- J-Buoy: 16 miles east of Tybee Island.
- Savannah Snapper Banks: 100 ft.
- R-6 Tower: a named tower ground off Savannah.
- North Hole: about 60 miles east of Savannah, the long-range run on the list. Plan your range and fuel before choosing it.
How cobia are fished out of Savannah
Boats work wrecks, reefs and buoys. Since the structure is what holds the fish, pick the ground first and the method second. Live prawn or shrimp is the bait cited locally.
For general tackle and technique, see our cobia guide.
Who fishes for cobia out of Savannah
These local charters list cobia, which helps if you want to see the grounds before running them yourself:
- Miss Judy Charters
- Reel ‘Em N Deep Sea Fishing Charters: the Reel Em N II, a 43 ft boat with 700+ HP, carries up to 20 passengers and is rigged for fishing.
- Tybee Island Charters: the 21 ft Carolina Skiff is named the Flounder.
FAQ: cobia fishing out of Savannah
When do cobia show up off Savannah?
Late spring, around April or May. The run lasts until early fall, so cobia fishing out of Savannah stretches across the warm months.
What is the closest reef?
BSF: 29 ft, 4 nautical miles east of Little Tybee Island.
How far is J-Buoy?
16 miles east of Tybee Island.
What bait is used?
Live prawn or shrimp, fished around wrecks, reefs and buoys.
Can I charter instead?
Yes. Miss Judy Charters, Reel ‘Em N Deep Sea Fishing Charters and Tybee Island Charters all list cobia.
Where are guides for other gamefish?
See our coastal and offshore gamefish guides.
