Mahi-mahi fishing from Savannah is documented thinly. The port has a catch near South Ledge that tied the Georgia saltwater mark, and some named ledge and reef structure offshore, but no season window, mahi-specific method or confirmed run distance. This page sets out what is known and what is not, and the Savannah port page has the river entrance and ramp details. For the wider coast, see the mahi-mahi fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide.
When mahi are around Savannah
May is the only mahi month confirmed for Savannah, from a catch near South Ledge that tied the Georgia saltwater mark. No season window is confirmed for the port beyond that. Along the Georgia coast the Gulf Stream swings wide offshore, so the run is longer than it is off South Florida, and the fish arrive later than they do in the Keys.
Where boats run
Boats from Savannah reach the Atlantic through the Savannah River entrance at Tybee Roads, or through Wassaw Sound from the Wilmington River side. The entrance is protected by jetties. The north jetty is awash at mean high water, and the south jetty is submerged at mean high water and marked by a light at its east end, so stay in the marked channel at the top of the tide. The ebb from the entrance jetties runs about 2.2 to 3.1 knots and the flood about 1.6 to 2.4 knots. Heavy rain upriver or water released from the lock and dam can make the outer reaches run strong. Offshore, Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary lies to the southeast, with a closed zone in its southern third where fishing is prohibited, so check its boundary on a current chart before you set lines on a heading toward it. Check conditions yourself before you take the entrance.
Grounds and structure
The named structure includes South Ledge, where the catch that tied the Georgia mark came, although its distance is not stated. Deli Ledge lies about 80 miles east of St. Catherines Island. That is measured from the island rather than from Savannah, so do not read it as a run from the dock. Snapper Banks sits about 45 miles offshore on a Savannah-start trip, in about 100 feet of bottom, but it is not described as a mahi ground. Georgia’s artificial reefs lie closer in. SAV is about 6 nautical miles southeast of Tybee Island in 30 to 40 feet, KC about 9 miles east of Wassaw Island and DUA about 7 miles east of Ossabaw Island. None of these is tied to mahi.
How mahi are fished out of Savannah
The one documented method is trolling a blue and white chugger paired with ballyhoo, the rig that took the catch near South Ledge. Beyond that, the general approach applies: troll ballyhoo and skirted lures along the edge and the weed at a steady pace, and keep one hooked fish in the water to hold the school.
Who fishes it
Captain Matthew, an independent guide with a Savannah start, lists mahi as a general target. No website for him is confirmed here, so contact him directly before you book. No Savannah mahi tournament is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
When is mahi season at Savannah?
No season is confirmed for the port. May is the one documented month, from a catch near South Ledge. Regionally, the fish reach Georgia after South Florida.
How far offshore are the mahi grounds?
No mahi distance is confirmed. Snapper Banks is about 45 miles out, but it is not described as a mahi ground. Find the edge on the water before you commit.
Is there a charter for mahi out of Savannah?
Captain Matthew lists mahi as a general target. Confirm current trips with him before you book.
Are there tournaments?
None is confirmed for mahi at Savannah.
