Hidden Gems: Meet Gabriel Wittosch of The Fish Hawk

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Wittosch.

Hi Gabriel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Fish Hawk was started in 1974 by renowned fly fisherman Gary Merriman. Over the decades, Gary built the Fish Hawk into a world renowned fly shop known for its quality gear and expertise on all facets of the sport. Our focus is not just on local waters, but both fresh and saltwater fishing around the globe. We have a strong travel customer base filled with anglers that take their pursuits around the world. All of us here at the shop are saltwater and big game fishing fanatics, but our local trout and warmwater fisheries always hold a special place in our hearts.

In December of 2021, Gary sold The Fish Hawk to myself and my business partner, Kelly Calvo. Both Kelly and I are lifelong outdoorsman that spent many afternoons over the years chatting fishing and gear at the shop with Gary and the crew. Since the change ownership, we have really put a focus on community events and mentorship. We love our Atlanta fly fishing community and sharing our passion with them! Our goal is to make everyone from beginner to expert feel at home and well guided when they walk through our doors!

Prior to owning the shop, I was an avid angler and competitor on the United States Youth Fly Fishing Team where I won 2 team and 1 individual world championship for the USA. I am a UGA grad with a Finance degree and formerly worked in M&A and Restructuring Consulting.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Transitioning ownership in a business that was founded and run by the same individual for over 45 years always has its challenges. This is especially true in our industry where a lot of value and trust is placed on someone that has been a figurehead in the community for so many decades. Thankfully, all of our customers, both new and old, have embraced the changes at the shop and love the direction The Fish Hawk is headed. We get especially strong positive feedback on the events and parties that we organize for a customers, as well as our travel program where we take our customers fishing around the world!

As you know, we’re big fans of The Fish Hawk. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Fish Hawk is the south-east’s premier fly shop. We are known for our expansive product offering and wealth of knowledge on fishing both close to home and across the world. We specialize in saltwater and travel fishing. What sets us apart from other shops is our long history and the knowledge base. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2024, and in those 50+ years, not only us but our loyal customers have fished almost everywhere you can imagine. This history and experience allows us to cater to and advise our customers on almost any adventure they can imagine! All that being said, we really take pride in our history of culturing new anglers and building up the Atlanta fly fishing community. Regardless of your skill level, we have the advice and gear to turn fly fishing into a lifelong addiction for you!

What matters most to you? Why?
Catering to our new and inexperienced anglers as well as our experienced and adventurous crowd. The Fish Hawk will take care of you whether you need a complete new rod and reel for a trip to Australia or just a couple of flies to take to the Chattahoochee this weekend! Fly Fishing doesn’t have to be expensive, and we always do our best to work around your budget and get you on the water!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thefishhawk.com
• Instagram: @thefishhawk
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefishhawk/