Business Details
Your Trusted Mountain Lake Fishing Guide Service
Big Ol' Fish has been the premier fishing charter provider in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina and North Georgia for over two decades. Founded by seasoned professionals Shane Goebel and Darren Hughes, our service combines over 60 years of cumulative local fishing expertise with state-of-the-art equipment to deliver unmatched angling experiences. We specialize in guided trips for striped bass, hybrid bass, smallmouth, and walleye on four premier mountain lakesNottely, Hiwassee, Chatuge, and Blue Ridge. Our captains operate spacious Carolina Skiff center console boats outfitted with modern electronics and tackle, ensuring optimal conditions for trophy catches.With a proven track record of landing fish exceeding 50 pounds and a commitment to personalized service, we cater to both novice and experienced anglers seeking memorable family outings or corporate team-building adventures. Our deep local knowledge, honed through decades of daily operations, positions us as the definitive authority on mountain lake fishing in this region. We maintain rigorous standards of professionalism while preserving the authentic, down-home charm that distinguishes our customer interactions. This balance of expertise and approachability has earned us consistent recognition as the area's top-rated fishing charter service.
Services
Guided Fishing Charters
Trophy Striper Fishing
Corporate Fishing Trips
Fishing Reports
Gift Certificates
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of local fishing expertise from two veteran captains
- Our fleet includes three modern 22-25ft Carolina Skiff boats
- Specialized in live bait and artificial fishing techniques
- Proven track record catching trophy fish over 50 pounds
- Family-friendly service with personalized attention to all skill levels
What people say
Awesome guide
Great guy
Put your trip on fish
Family-friendly adventures
Entertaining humor
Services
Guided Fishing Charters
Our expert-led charters cover four premier mountain lakes using modern boats and equipment. Captains Shane and Darren employ proven live bait and artificial techniques to target trophy striped bass, hybrids, and smallmouth. With decades of local knowledge, we guarantee productive fishing locations and personalized instruction for all skill levels.
Trophy Striper Fishing
Specializing in catching trophy stripers weighing 20-50+ pounds, we focus on prime locations during peak seasons. Our proven methods and deep understanding of fish behavior maximize your chances of landing record-breaking catches. Both Lake Nottely and Hiwassee offer consistent opportunities for anglers seeking monster fish.
Corporate Fishing Trips
We provide unique corporate team-building experiences combining professional fishing instruction with mountain lake scenery. These outings foster teamwork and communication while offering competitive angling opportunities. Our spacious boats accommodate groups seeking memorable business retreats or client appreciation events in a relaxed outdoor setting.
Fishing Reports
Stay informed with our real-time fishing reports detailing current conditions, successful techniques, and fish locations. Updated regularly throughout the season, these reports help plan optimal trip dates and equipment choices. We share insider knowledge about seasonal patterns and recent trophy catches to maximize your fishing success.
Gift Certificates
Flexible gift options available for half-day to full-day charters, including special package deals. Our non-expiring certificates make ideal gifts for fishing enthusiasts, offering recipients the freedom to schedule trips at their convenience. Corporate gift options also available for bulk purchases.
People
Shane Goebel
Fishing Guide & Owner
Murphy, NC native with 30+ years of local fishing expertise. Specializes in trophy striper techniques, holding personal best of 44-pound catch. Operates modern center console boats equipped with advanced fishing technology for optimal client experience.
Darren Hughes
Fishing Guide & Owner
Blairsville, GA resident and professional guide with 30+ years of mountain lake experience. Co-owner of Hughes General Store and Bait Shop. Holds personal record of 53-pound striper caught on Lake Nottely. Expert in live bait and artificial fishing methods.
Questions
What lakes do you fish on?
We operate on four premier mountain lakes: Lake Nottely (Blairsville, GA), Lake Hiwassee (Murphy, NC), Lake Chatuge (Hiawassee, GA), and Lake Blue Ridge (Blue Ridge, GA).
What fish species do you target?
Our primary targets are striped bass, hybrid bass, smallmouth bass, and walleye. We specialize in trophy striper fishing with proven techniques for catching 20-50 pound fish.
What's included in a charter trip?
All trips include modern boat equipment, professional guide services, fishing tackle, live bait, and safety gear. We provide rods, reels, and expert instruction for anglers of all skill levels.
How long are your fishing trips?
We offer half-day (4-5 hour), 6-hour, and full-day (8+ hour) charters. Custom durations available upon request to accommodate specific group needs and seasonal fishing patterns.
Can beginners participate?
Absolutely! Our guides specialize in teaching all skill levels. We provide personalized instruction on casting, reading water, and fish fighting techniques. Many first-time anglers catch trophy fish on our trips.
Do you offer group discounts?
Yes, we provide special pricing for groups of 4+ and corporate outings. The Sportsman Package Deal offers significant savings for multiple-day bookings or combined services.
Reviews (5)
Stevens Yang
Oct 02, 2021
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It was a pleasure fishing with Capt Derek. This is our first visit to Hiawassee. The lake is beautiful, the weather was perfect and the trip was relaxing. We enjoyed the boat ride and fishing. Derek knows where to find the fish. He is so nice and we like him. We got a few big bass and love it. We definitely will come back again.
Lori Jones
Apr 25, 2021
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What an AMAZING trip this was. We booked a vacation a month ago to come from south Florida to stay in Cherry Log Georgia. We chose Big 'Ol Fish because of their reviews and so happy we did. They communicated with us all the way up to the trip and made everything so easy with directions and took us to the lake where we were sure to have the best time and catch the most fish. Jason our guide was so sweet and took such good care of us even offering his jacket to our daughter. We caught HUGE stripper and he even filleted the couple we kept to bring home. The beauty around Hiwassee Lake was breath taking
Susan Ward
Mar 25, 2021
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Best trip ever! Beautiful lake, weather was perfect and we loved the fishing . Stripers , a small bass and one big Ole flathead catfish 50-60 lbs . Great guide . Shane . Still cannot get over the remote for the trolling motor!!!!
Michael Rubeis
Feb 17, 2021
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Had a fantastic morning with Darren and Joe. Having long experience with guided fishing I know all too well that the amount of fish that you catch is, to at least some extent, due to the luck of the day on which you fish. That being said, these guys recommended the lake on which we should fish and the tactics we should use and the result was 15 very nice fish in a morning of fishing. The small fish were big and the big fish were bigger. Lots of great fights and loads of fun. Hard to imagine a better way to spend a Monday morning. I would recommend this outfit without reservation.
Sandra Parkes
Jan 27, 2021
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We had an awesome morning with Shane fishing on Lake Hiawassee. I lost count but we caught around a dozen stripers, a couple of spotted bass and one catfish. It was a beautiful day and Shane's boat has everything he needs to make sure he delivers a day of fishing you will remember for a long time and take home some for a great meal. The fish were so beautiful I didn't mind releasing them once we reached our limit. This was a vacation for the memory books. Thank you Shane for showing us what fishing is all about!
