FLOUNDER GIGGINGHAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW TOO…

HOW TO GET STARTED?

Many people have their own way of gigging. If you’re trying it out for the

first time, I’ll show you my setup here as a starter. Find out what

works for you and adjust as needed. Take some time and research what works well in your area. Make sure

that you follow the laws for your state.

WHAT DO I NEED?

• Fishing license

• Gigging light: Check out this LINK to learn how to build your own Gigging pole: some people use stainless steel gigs and others just get a cheap spear and put it on a broom stick. I use an 8 foot bamboo stick with a spear on the end. Check your state fishing laws to see if barbs are allowed.

• Head lamp: I use this when I am adding fish to the stringer. It also serves as a backup light.

•  Stringer or float: I use the Berkley deluxe stringer (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Berkley-Deluxe-Stringer/16880480). Once I get my first flounder I tie one end to my belt and allow the flounder to swim behind me as I walk along the water. I carry a knife so if a shark decides he wants the fish more than I do, I can quickly let him have dinner. Some people make floats made from PVC to trawl the flounder and keep them out of the water.

•   Backpack: I carry a fairly big 12-volt battery in the backpack and run a wire from the top of the light pole straight down the top of the backpack into the battery. I use electrical tape to secure the wires to the battery, so they aren’t accidentally pulled out.

•  A place to gig

KEEP IN MIND THIS IS ONLY WHAT I BRING AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH

AND FEW TIMES OUT THERE YOU WILL FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU

WHAT IS A GIG? This information is reproduced from http://

www.floridagofishing.com.

For those of you who do not know what a Gig is, it is a pole with a forked-end containing one or more sharp spears called

barbed tines. A gig is also called a spear, trident, trishul or leister.

Gig's are in the same category as spear guns so the Rules for Spearing apply to Gigs - it is OK to use a gig to catch a fish as

long as it is not on the can't spearfish list. Check with your local or state ordinance for more clarification, always inquire

locally as to the rules to stay out of trouble.

HOW TO GIG FOR FLOUNDER

Flounder settle in on sandy bottoms covered in sand with only their eyes and outline visible from above. They lay still, camouflaged waiting to ambush their dinner of shrimp or bait fish. The mission is to shine the light into the water to see the Flounder resting in

the sand and the reflection of the Flounders eyes. Once you find the Flounder, Gig him! You will also look for the Flounder's tracks in the sandy bottom. Flounder are seldom found on muddy bottoms so

look for shallow sandy areas with clear water. Lighting up the water also reveals amazing sea life below the surface so you get a wonderful education

along with dinner if you catch a Doormat.

Click on the picture to the right to check out Florida Go Fishing article on the rest of how to gig for

Flounder.

CAN YOU SEE IT?This is a great video that James

Bramblett took with his go pro 3. Once you get used to seeing the outline of the flounder you will find it is easy to spot them afterwards. As you see in the video make sure that you aim for the head in order to keep the meat

from bruising when you go to clean it. James did a great job with the video

and has some great shots of the other wildlife you get to see when gigging.

WARNING: Do not gig what you do not want to keep. If it looks under the size limit do not gig it as it will dye when you release it.