Photo: Karol M, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
No dams regulate the Ogeechee. The river rises and falls with the rain in its watershed, and that natural rhythm drives fish growth, spawning success and, in the end, the fishing. It is one of Georgia’s best redbreast sunfish rivers, with good largemouth, crappie and catfish too.
The Ogeechee begins in Taliaferro County where its North and South forks meet, then runs southeast across the Coastal Plain to Ossabaw Sound below Savannah. Its bottom is mostly sand and silt. The Canoochee River joins it along the Bryan and Chatham county line.
- Best betsRedbreast sunfish, largemouth bass, black crappie, catfish
- Best seasonApril for bass; cold months for crappie
- Watch forFlathead catfish: do not release, report to 1-800-241-4113
- DNR contactWildlife Resources Division, 912-727-2112
2026 Fishing Outlook
Georgia DNR’s 2026 forecast is upbeat. High flows over the past few years, especially floods in early 2025, have been very good for the fish, and fall 2025 sampling found more fish across the river. Low water through fall 2025 could affect the 2026 bass spawn. In 2024 an angler caught the Georgia state record spotted sunfish on the Ogeechee.
| Species | Outlook | Technique | Where to target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redbreast and other bream | Numbers up after high water; one of the state’s best redbreast fisheries. Bluegill, redear and spotted sunfish too. | Crickets or worms under a bobber; small beetle spins, Rooster Tails and popping bugs | Backwaters and slower stretches of the main channel |
| Largemouth bass | Numbers and growth look very good; average catch rates expected. Best in spring, especially April. | Spinnerbaits along banks; flip jigs and worms into tight cover | The railroad trestle upstream of the Highway 56 boat ramp in Midville, where bass up to 7 pounds are common |
| Black crappie | Good numbers and growth; average catch rates. Scattered pockets give good cold-weather fishing. | Small minnows; small screw-tail or feathered jigs | Submerged trees and brush around the mouths of oxbows |
| Catfish | White and channel catfish and bullheads; above-average catch rates expected. | Worms or cut bait on the bottom in deep holes | Heavy cover; white catfish increase toward the estuary |
Flathead Catfish Warning
Flathead catfish are not native to the Ogeechee and could devastate its redbreast and other native fish. DNR crews have found them in recent sampling, including a stretch just upstream of I-95, and are working the basin to remove them. If you catch a flathead, do not release it. Report sightings or any information about illegal stocking to the TIP line at 1-800-241-4113, 24 hours a day.
Maps and Access
DNR’s Guide to Fishing and Floating the Ogeechee River (PDF) has a color map with river miles, boat ramps and fishing tips. Near the coast, Fort McAllister State Park sits on the lower river, and the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal trail is close by.
Blackwater BendsCypress, sandbars and snags
Free-Flowing RiverNo dams on the main stem
River MapFrom the Forks to Ossabaw SoundMore rivers: Georgia rivers guide and map.
Sources we checked
Facts in this guide were checked against the agencies and operators that run these places:
- Georgia DNR fishing forecast: Ogeechee River (2026)
- Georgia DNR: Guide to Fishing and Floating the Ogeechee River (PDF)
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.
Common Questions
Where does the Ogeechee River start and end?
The Ogeechee begins where its North and South forks meet in Taliaferro County, just south of Crawfordville, and flows southeast across the Coastal Plain to Ossabaw Sound, about 16 miles south of Savannah. No dams block its main stem.