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Redbreast Fishing on the Savannah River |
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Written by Justin Chandler
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 I grew up on the Savannah River, hunting and fishing along its banks. I still get excited when I am planning a fishing trip on the water where fishing can be tricky but very rewarding. Often my fishing trips revolve around catching redbreast, which in my opinion is the best freshwater fish to eat.
The redbreast is a freshwater fish in the sunfish family. Redbreasts are also referred to as a robin, yellowbelly, redbelly or bream.
The redbreast is one of the brightest colored members of the sunfish family. Males have a bright orangish red breast while the females have a light orange to yellowish breast. Their sides are green to yellow – brown and the membranes of the dorsal and anal fins have bright orange splotches. Near the mouth they have bright bluish green stripes that run back to the base of the elongated black ear flap. They have 10 to 11 spines and 10 to 12 rays on their dorsal fin and 3 spines and 10 rays on the anal fins. Due to the colorful nature of the fish many hobbyists will keep the redbreast in aquariums.
Redbreast can be found in almost all bodies of fresh water that are flowing like rivers, branches and creeks. I believe one of the reasons they taste so good is because they live in cool, flowing water. South Georgia is quite famous for its redbreast fishing and they even have a festival in their honor, the Ogeechee River Redbreast Festival in Midville, GA. Redbreasts grow to a length of 6 to 8 inches with the record length being 12 inches. The world record redbreast was caught in the Suwannee River in Florida in 1984 and weighed 1 lb., 12 oz. Young redbreasts grow more than 2 inches by age one and a redbreast can live for five or six years.
I have found that redbreast are easiest to catch from spring to early fall. Redbreasts begin to spawn when the water temperature reaches about 70 degrees and like most sunfish tend to bite better when guarding their nests. The male redbreast will hollow out a nest near flowing water and around aquatic vegetation or some form of underwater obstruction like boulders, logs or tree roots. When looking for a good spot to throw out your hook look for good cover and running water and you will more than likely find a redbreast.
Redbreasts are not very picky eaters and have the most varied diet of any of the sunfish. They will eat bottom dwelling insect larvae, night crawlers, waxworms, snails, crickets, mealworms, clams, small fish, grasshoppers, shrimp, mollusks, small fish and crayfish to name a few. They will also bite spinners, spoons, plugs, artificial flies and popping bugs. Another characteristic not common in the sunfish family, the redbreast will often rise to strike at topwater poppers. This allows for flyrod fishing for this variety of bream.
There are several ways to fish for redbreast. When I am in the Savannah River I like to ride and find deep holes on the edges with my depth finder, especially when the river is low in the summer. When fishing these deep holes I fish on the bottom using a 6 to 8 lb. test line with a #6 hook and a small bobber. I vary my weight depending on how swift the current is running. I have learned that every hole that looks like good fishing doesn’t necessarily mean the fish are there. For me this is part of the fun in the fishing experience and makes the find that much sweeter when you do happen on a hole that is full of redbreast. Another method that I use on the river is to pitch the banks with a beetle spin. I like to drive up the river a little ways and then drift back down using my trolling motor to maneuver the boat next to the bank. I don’t catch quite as many fish this way but the fish I do catch tend to be bigger fish. When the reds are right and you pitch into the right eddy hole by the bank they will almost knock the rod right out of your hand! The redbreast can also be caught at night, another unusual characteristic of the sunfish.
When fishing in the Savannh or any other river please remember to follow safety practices. Moving water can be tricky and in a minute put you in a dangerous situation. Following a few basic safety practices can make all the difference in the world and possibly save your life. Here a few I follow:
• Tell someone where you are going, when you plan to return, and be where you say you will be.
• Try not to boat alone. If you are alone pay extra close attention to the above rule.
• Check your motors and your gas before going out.
• Check the weather forecast.
• Know when and how to swim for the eddy.
• Have a lifejacket for everyone on board! |
