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Fishing Altamaha River: what the data says
Lumber City to Jesup. Georgia's Little Amazon: giant flatheads in the outside bends. The river tops out around 15 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Flathead Catfish fishing at Altamaha River
In spring, flathead catfish run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. Tailout eddy (mile 54.4) is the standout, a eddy pocket at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring flathead catfish. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Altamaha River
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. They move out to 5 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Crappie fishing at Altamaha River
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 11 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Altamaha River
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 5 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Longnose Gar fishing at Altamaha River
In spring, longnose gar run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 1 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 11 ft, rated prime for fall longnose gar. Best bite is midday and the evening. Tie on a rope lure or a small white spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Common Carp fishing at Altamaha River
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. They move out to 3 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. Tailout eddy (mile 54.4) is the standout, a eddy pocket at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for winter common carp. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Cherokee Lakes Dam West tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Rayonier Lake Dam North tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Cherokee Lakes Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Youman Pond Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Neal Youman Pond Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- ITT Rayonier Aeration Basin 2 A Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.8): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.6): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.8): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.9): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.8): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.7): creek channel, around 11 ft
Common questions
How deep is Altamaha River?
Altamaha River is about 15 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Altamaha River?
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, common carp, longnose gar on Altamaha River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Altamaha River?
Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Altamaha River?
For flathead catfish, the summer bite is best in after dark and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Doboy Sound · Sapelo Sound · Saint Simons Sound · Saint Andrew Sound · Lake Blackshear · Lake Sinclair
See how Altamaha River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Georgia · best crappie lakes in Georgia · best channel catfish lakes in Georgia · best flathead catfish lakes in Georgia
Browse all Georgia fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.