Meet the Guides
Owner/Full-Time Charter Guide
Capt. Andrew Hammond
Owner/Operator of Big Bite Charters.
Our guide Andrew is a USCG licensed, insured, and federally permitted Captain who grew up in the small town of Brooksville, FL. He spent most of his life fishing on Florida’s Nature Coast near Homosassa and Crystal River. As a young kid Andrew spent every day after school bass fishing all the surrounding local lakes and ponds. As a teenager Andrew caught the salt bug. He started chasing Redfish, Speckled Trout, Snook, and Tarpon on fly up and down the Gulf of Mexico. At the age of 21he started to really enjoy putting other people on the pursuit of these game fish and loved the challenge. Later on in life he moved to Georgia and has been chasing Stripers in Georgia's deep-water lakes for well over 15 years in addition to seasonally guiding the Nature Coast area. Capt. Andrew is a very avid outdoorsman. When he is not with clients, he enjoys hunting and even more fishing when he is not guiding!
Please check out more bio on Capt. Andrew Hammond below.
Full-Time Charter Guide
Brad Whitehead
For the past two decades, Brad has been guiding in the lake and is an expert in striper fishing. He prides himself on his knowledge of the lake and its conditions so he can provide anglers with a successful and enjoyable fishing trip.
He grew up in Alpharetta GA and he enjoys helping fellow anglers to learn the various ways to catch the hardest fighting fish this side of the ocean while making memories to last a lifetime.
With a lifetime of experience, he specializes in striped bass fishing and has become a master at trolling, bottom fishing, jigging, and more. His passion for fishing is evident and as an experienced angler, his knowledge offers valuable insight to guests who have never tried striped bass fishing before or are seasoned veterans looking to hone their skills.
Brad Whitehead's 2016 Sea Hunt center console is a dream come true for avid boaters. This 22-foot vessel is powered by a 200 HP Yamaha outboard. It's equipped with the latest and greatest technology to help you find, identify, and catch fish.
Full-Time Charter Guide
Joe Hilliard
Joe Hilliard has been fishing Lake Lanier for over 40 years. He started off bass fishing and tournament fishing. In 1990 he caught his first striper when a local guide took him on a striper fishing trip. He was hooked on striper fishing after that. Soon after that first striper trip he sold his Skeeter bass boat and bought his first bay boat. Since then he has been striper or offshore saltwater fishing for the last 34 years. He is on the water at least 300 days per year and works with a group of guides to stay on top of where the fish are.
The boat you be on is a 25' Blazer Bay 2550 GTS powered by a 300 HP Suzuki. It has all the latest electronics including Radar, 2 twelve-inch Simrads, a 12” Garmin and a 16” Garmin with LiveScope and PS 30 transducer. Joe will work extremely hard to insure you have a great day on the water!
Capt. Andrew Hammond
Your guide Andrew is a USCG licensed and insured Captain who grew up in the small town of Brooksville, FL. He spent most of his life fishing on Florida’s Nature Coast near Homosassa and Crystal River. As a young kid Andrew spent every day after school bass fishing all the surrounding local lakes and ponds. As a teenager Andrew caught the salt bug. He started chasing Redfish, Speckled Trout, Snook, and Tarpon on fly up and down the Gulf of Mexico. At the age of 21he started to really enjoy putting other people on the pursuit of these game fish and loved the challenge. Later on in life he moved to Georgia and has been chasing Stripers in Georgia's deep-water lakes for well over 15 years in addition to guiding seasonally on Florida's Nature Coast. Capt. Andrew is a very avid outdoorsman. When he is not with clients, he enjoys hunting and even more fishing when he is not guiding!
Andrew has over 30 years experience fishing the Gulf Coast of FL from the panhandle down to the 10,000 Islands. Since relocating to Georgia, Andrew has over 15 very successful years chasing Stripers on Lake Lanier and many other surrounding reservoirs.
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Capt. Andrew is recognized as a "Florida Friendly Fishing Guide." This is special training for fishing guides offered by The University of Florida (UF/IFAS), Sea Grant Florida, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This program recognizes fishing guides who are committed to preserving the future of fisheries through sustainable boating and fishing techniques. "Florida Friendly Fishing Guides," provide a richer fishing experience for their clients through their angling expertise and environmental stewardship. To assist keeping our clients healthy and happy, and to preserve sustainable fishing habits for future generations, we anglers must ensure that we follow the best practices when out on the water. This course offers an in-depth background in fishery management, marine ecology, ethics, catch and release techniques, understanding of waterways, sustainable waste management and fueling, seafood safety, onboard materials, and simply giving back. We believe our conservation efforts as anglers are one of the most important values and practices where we can all do better. We should educate our fellow anglers and clients as part of the daily fishing experience we offer. There is more to it than just putting fish in the box. Click the images and links below if you would like more information on the program and to find a Florida Friendly Fishing Guide. Capt. Andrew is listed under the Big Bend Region in Homosassa, FL.
The vessel is a quick 24' Blazer Bay 2420 GTS. It's very spacious and can accommodate up to 6 passengers. It's equipped with a Mercury 300 Pro XS, the latest Simrad, Minn Kota, and Power Pole technology to constantly keep you on the bite. All the fishing equipment, bait, lures, rods/reels, tackle, and coolers of ice are provided free of charge. The only thing you need to bring is your snacks/drinks for the day and a cooler to take home your fresh catch. We are looking forward to sharing a great day of catching and unforgettable memories on the water with you soon!
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