Isle of Hope resident Garrett Ross has charted a life that winds through military service, cross-country moves, and a leap of faith that led him to the water. A self-described military brat, he grew up everywhere from Florida to Oregon before his family returned to Savannah during his freshman year of high school. After graduating from Calvary Baptist Day School, he joined the Air Force, met his wife, Liz, and welcomed their oldest daughter while stationed in Alaska. The couple settled in Isle of Hope in 2010, where they’ve raised their two daughters and built a life anchored to the water.

Ross is the owner and operator of Flex Appeal Charters, a family-run business based on Isle of Hope. After leaving the Air Force, he sampled civilian life through HVAC work and later at Gulfstream, but the pull of the water never left him. Eventually, he walked away from the corporate world and committed fully to guiding. Eleven years later, he has taken countless locals and visitors across Savannah’s inshore waterways aboard his 25-foot bay boat, built for both comfort and adventure.

What sets Ross apart isn’t just his experience — it’s his approach. He never set out to be “the best fisherman in Savannah,” he said. Instead, he wanted to be the guide people enjoyed spending time with, even on slow bite days. That mindset has created a loyal client base of repeat anglers and referrals who appreciate his knowledge, humor, and steady outlook.

Flex Appeal Charters is a true family operation. Neighbors often spot Liz bringing bait down to the dock or one of the Ross daughters helping scrub the boat at day’s end. Looking ahead to 2026, Ross is excited to welcome both returning and first-time clients aboard.

He’s always happy to talk fishing, he said, as long as people remember one thing: “Nothing I tell you is the right way — it’s just what works for me.”