Question 1

What do I need to bring?

Accepted Answer

EVERYTHING is fully outfitted and equipped for the day. We provide all fishing rods and reels, tackle, live bait, life jackets (if required or requested), ice, and cooler for your fish or drinks. We always have complimentary bottled water for everyone as well. If you booked a trip out of Homosassa, no license is needed, we provide that for you. If you booked for Lake Lanier, the only thing you need for the day is your Georgia Freshwater Fishing License if required by the state. For more info and to purchase your license visit www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com. Other than your license just bring your snacks/drinks for the day and a cooler to leave in your vehicle if you plan on keeping some of your catch.

Question 2

What shouldn't I bring on a trip?

Accepted Answer

No Bananas please. You will have to Google that one. :)
Spray sunscreen. It's fine to bring aerosol sunscreen but please apply it before the trip at the dock. The spray sunscreen becomes very slippery when the excess gets on the deck becoming a major safety hazard. 
Any glass. This includes beer bottles. Please bring cans. 
Your own equipment. We already have top of the line equipment ready and rigged. We also have the vessel maxed out with rods and reels for everyone including backups. I understand some really like to use their own rigs. If so, please contact the captain before the trip just to confirm your setup will work and so we can make room for the extra gear. 
Hard sole shoes like cowboy boots. This mainly pertains to the winter months. We do wear insulated boots but nothing with leather, nails, or extremely hard soles. 
No illegal drugs or hard liquor. Beer, seltzers, and things like that are okay in moderation. Please be responsible.
For Homosassa, please no GPS devices or cell phone pictures at our fishing spots. Due to GEO tagging on cell phone pictures, we take great pictures for you throughout the day upon your request and always get a few back at the fillet dock. At the end of your trip, we send via text or airdrop them to you. Please be ethical and avoid pictures while we have lines in the water. Between spots it is perfectly fine to snap away.

Question 3

When is the best time of year to book a trip?

Accepted Answer

In Homosassa, FL year-round we have great fishing. Our main target species might change throughout the season changes, but fishing is great year-round. We adjust our trip times daily around the tides and current conditions.

For Lake Lanier: WEEKDAYS. Yes, if you can pick your days, weekdays are always better. Lake Lanier is a busy lake on the weekends. Both heavy fishing pressure and pleasure boat traffic can greatly affect the bite as well as your experience. Don't worry we still provide weekend trips. We understand not everyone can get a weekday off.
 To break down the seasons, mid-March through early June yields great fishing. High number catches. Bass, Striper, and Crappie as well as the bait fish will be either in their pre-spawn, spawn, or post-spawn stages. However, you will catch all species on a typical day. The Bass and Stripers will be in the same areas feeding on the same food source. This makes for plenty of action all day. As you get into the heat of summer, late June through late August/early September is our peak Striper fishing season. The Stripers that remain scattered lake wide the rest of the year all group up on one side of the lake, to the cooler water for the summer making them our primary target. This is the best time of year for consistent numbers and my favorite time to target them. October when things start to cool down we experience "lake turnover". Which will scatter the Stripers a good bit making them challenging targets. However, the Bass picks up and the Crappie fishing is great. November once the turnover is complete, we get into some great opportunities for topwater Striper fishing. Big schools are found busting the surface is the conditions are right. Topwater artificials or sub-surface baits are typically our main strategy at this time. Now on to winter, December through February Stripers start to push to the backs of creeks and can be found on schools making them easy targets. We just keep an eye out on the fronts to play the weather right. If you do, this could make for some incredible days of catching big ones! Also, Crappie always remains on the hot menu these months as well.

Question 4

Do I need to know how to fish or have any experience fishing?

Accepted Answer

No experience is necessary and we always encourage new anglers! If you're a seasoned fisherman or new to the sport, we will show you the ropes and you'll be reelin' in the big ones before you know it.

Question 5

Can I keep what I catch?

Accepted Answer

Homosassa, FL: Yes, we normally target species to keep and eat while abiding by all state and federal regulations. We do offer fish cleaning included as part of your trip.

Lake Lanier, GA: Big Bite Charters strongly encourages catch and release fishing for all of our Bass and Striper games fish. However, if you choose to keep some of your catch, you are welcome to based on all state and federal bag and size limits. Please keep in mind this is not an unlimited resource. When harvesting any fish and game please be ethical about what you keep and help preserve our great fishery for everyone including you in the future. Please note, Lake Lanier does not have any fish cleaning stations anywhere. All harvests must be cleaned on your own terms. The ONLY exception is on our Crappie fishing trips. We do bring a cleaning station setup and fillet all of your catch. It is included with the trip. Visit www.GeorgiaWildlife.com for all Georgia fishing regulations.

Question 6

What species of fish will we be targeting during our charter?

Accepted Answer

Homosassa, FL: Redfish, Snook, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper, Grouper, Cobia, Tarpon, Hogfish, just to name a few. Target species will change throughout the season.

Lake Lanier, GA: Striped Bass, Spotted/Largemouth Bass, and Crappie. We focus on different species throughout the season.

Question 7

Do you accept gratuity?

Accepted Answer

Tips are always appropiate and greatly appreciated.

Question 8

Does Big Bite Charters have a cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Reservations may be canceled or rescheduled up to 7 days prior to your trip for any reason and the deposit will be refunded or you may use the deposit for a future trip. If the trip is canceled within 7 days or an event of a no-call no-show, the $100 deposit will be forfeited. To book another reservation a new deposit will have to be paid. We understand life happens. Only the deposit will be given up and not the entire trip amount. The reasoning for this, is once a date is reserved it is very hard to refill that date last minute. It's a process for clients to schedule their time off from work, family, and friends. That is why most all charters are booked well in advance.  
In the event of inclement weather, only the Captain can make the call if the trip needs to be rescheduled to another date, time, or canceled. In the event of unsafe conditions, if possible, the trip will be rescheduled to a different date or time. This is an outdoor activity. We fish year around in hot, cold, light rain, and wind. Please dress appropriately for the conditions. If there is any chance of lightning, we will not be on the water.  We do fish in and around light rain, and it is encouraged. Stripers love to eat in low or falling atmospheric pressure systems. You do not want to miss these days of light weather. For example, summertime yields many afternoon pop-ups. The forecast may call for 95% chance of rain. That may be true for a 10-minute afternoon pop-up. Which in most cases your trip will be finished by then or we just work around it. You can assure your captain is very safe and we will never be in any danger of lightning or heavy storms. Your safety is our number one priority! If a reservation must be canceled due to unsafe conditions, the deposit will be refunded in full if the charter cannot be rescheduled.

WE HAVE 2 LOCATIONS:
-Homosassa Springs, FL
-Lake Lanier, GA

U.S.C.G. Licensed and Insured
Federally (NOAA) Permitted

404-803-8608

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to bring?

What shouldn't I bring on a trip?

When is the best time of year to book a trip?

Do I need to know how to fish or have any experience fishing?

Can I keep what I catch?

What species of fish will we be targeting during our charter?

Do you accept gratuity?

Does Big Bite Charters have a cancellation policy?

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to bring?

What shouldn't I bring on a trip?

When is the best time of year to book a trip?

Do I need to know how to fish or have any experience fishing?

Can I keep what I catch?

What species of fish will we be targeting during our charter?

Do you accept gratuity?

Does Big Bite Charters have a cancellation policy?

WE HAVE 2 LOCATIONS: -Homosassa Springs, FL -Lake Lanier, GA

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to bring?

What shouldn't I bring on a trip?

When is the best time of year to book a trip?

Do I need to know how to fish or have any experience fishing?

Can I keep what I catch?

What species of fish will we be targeting during our charter?

Do you accept gratuity?

Does Big Bite Charters have a cancellation policy?

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to bring?

What shouldn't I bring on a trip?

When is the best time of year to book a trip?

Do I need to know how to fish or have any experience fishing?

Can I keep what I catch?

What species of fish will we be targeting during our charter?

Do you accept gratuity?

Does Big Bite Charters have a cancellation policy?

WE HAVE 2 LOCATIONS:
-Homosassa Springs, FL
-Lake Lanier, GA