Flounder gigging

[shaggy3131]

Lakebiker,
I noted in your last post that you stated you flounder gig. I've never done it but am hot to learn how and give it a try. I have a DLV238 and will be in the Bogue Sound, Beaufort, Morehead City area this summer. Do you have any sources on techniques for flounder gigging or any recommendations for where in the Morehead City area. Anything would be a help. I understand the concept that you use a light and a long shafted gig and find the flounder nestled in the sand. Beyond that I know nothing. Any guidance you could give would be most appreciated. What equipment do you recommend?

Thanks,
Aubrey Stone

[Shakespeare]

Shag... I'm not intending to preempt lakebiker and also to avoid sidetracking this topic... if you'll post over in the Bay and Inlet forum I'd be glad to share my MHC gigging adventures with you in addition to lakebikers insight. Thx  Mike C.

[Harry]

I moved this here and retitled it to the question your were asking about.

We try to keep threads from straying off couse and the thread this was started in was a good thread as is this one. I wanted to keep the seperate.

Now,
Back to gigging ......

[FLboy3]

Hey guys, need some info on gigging flounder. Living in florida i'v caught my share of flounder on hook and line but have never gigged one. I have been wanting to try it for a while now so when I was in Charlette NC over the holidays and during one of my daily trips to the awsome Basspro Shop they have there I picked up a light which attaches to the front of the boat with a C-clamp. Its on an alluminum poll about 5' long with a flange and globe with a light bulb in it which I assume is water tight to be submerged under the water on the front of the boat. It has wire and clamps on the other end to hook up to a battery. I was thinking about making something like this and was supprised to find exactly what I was going to make sold there for about 59.00. I plan on trying this out soon and could use all the help on this as i can get. I don't see this done around my area and I'm not sure as to why. I know its legal, maybe its different here than in the carolina area. I allway get the NC Sportsman magazine when I visit there and am amazed at the size of the flatties that are caught there. HELP

[FLboy3]

Sorry Shaggy, I must have been typing my thread same time as you.

[Harry]

Want me to merge this topic with his ?

[FLboy3]

Fine with me if you think i'll get some responses from some florida boys also.

[Harry]

Fine with me if you think i'll get some responses from some florida boys also.


Thanks FLboy3,
I got them to merge successfully. It nice to keep the threads in order that helps organize things & helps with the site loading speed.


NOW BACK TO GIGGING ....

[skiffin16]

I was stationed at Bogue Field (just north of Swansboro) in the mid 70's. We were right on the water (sound) and went flounder gigging there alot. I don't remember the time of year (now would be good I'm sure). I just remember going out at night, one guy pulling the boat and another with the gig. I can't remember how we had the lights rigged up, but it was fun and we got flounder. That area was really good for cherry clams and scallops also back then....

[koolj]

still is good for clams and shrimp in season - my in-laws live right across the cove there in Goosecreek Landing - pretty nice most of the time till those Harrier Jets start taking off and landing those things are loud - for the most part we have gotten use to it now - the shelling over at lejeune still makes you thing a thunder storm is brewing till you figure the guys are training - we have gotten a few flounder in that area but most of the time we go to Broad creek or closer to the Emerald Isle bridge

[Shakespeare]

Allright fellas... Flounder Gigging 101:

First, go on up to the Sea Striker web site. They have a downloadable video up there that pretty much says it all. I won't regurgitate the technique for gigging, but I'll pass on some of my experience that you won't get in the video.

http://www.seastriker.com/ss_files/downloads.htm

Next, download the Sea Striker catalog and you'll see the lights, gigs, and accessories that you'll need. I would heartily suggest you get the more expensive stainless steel gigs as the cheapo black steel ones will rust out on you, stain your boat, and give you something that you might need a tetanus shot for. You'll need a deep cycle battery to power your lights as you definitely don't want to use your primary bat for this. I've heard of some using 120VAC lights and a converter off the battery, but I get a little edgy messing around water and 120 volt electricity. There's some that'll run the lights off of a generator. A 100 watt 12 volt bulb is typically used unless you do the generator or converter thing. Personally, I like my gigging experience to be quiet and peaceful. The Sea Striker lights come with a pole and a C clamp that attaches to the boat. I had to flip the C clamp around to get it to fit on the lip of the DLV. Tighten everything securely but don't lock the light pole wingnut very tight in case the light drags on the bottom. You'll want it to "break away" (rotate) if that should happen. You can submerge the light globe and reflector but wait until the unit is in the water before turning it on else the bulb might suffer from thermal shock a-k-a putting your *** in the dark. If you're not gigging from a Jon boat, but on a larger boat, you'll need some company to help pole the boat around. On my 218DLV it takes two and is even better with three as one can be dedicated to gigging and the other two help to navigate through the shallows. First and foremost, if it's windy, then just forget about going out... period! The water will be choppy, you won't be able to see, and you'll get one heck of a workout trying to stay in position. I like to time my arrival right before high tide and get positioned so that the current helps to propel me along (less work and more beer drinking time). If there's a breeze, that may dictate which shoreline you work off of. After the tide change you can switch over to the other side of the shore for the ride out. Hopefully you will have a nice GPS/Chartplotter which will be your "eyes in the dark" and let you know what you're approaching. Be sure to keep your Nav lights on also. You'll be amazed at all the aquatic life that comes up to your light. I always take a net to scoop up glass minnows and finger mullet for the next days fishing. Take a pole and some lures or one of those minnows as you might see a big red wallowing around in the shallows. Here in NC, the same restrictions for catching flounder on hook applies to gigging as well. Check your local regs for whatever applies to your area.

I had the pleasure last fall of being out for a night's gigging along in Bogue Sound, near Morehead City. It happened to be Seafood Festival weekend. That was a Saturday night and without notice there was a spectacular fireworks show. Me and my buddy just put everything down, pulled out a couple of cold ones and enjoyed seeing the reflections of the fireworks sparkling along the waterway. Catching fish or not, polling around the shallows at night is a lot of fun.

Mike C.

[lakebiker]

Sorry being late getting this but, I been out for a while.
I don't really know what to add to Mike's post. He's done a hell of a job with it. I started out in 13' Boston Whaler with the kind of set up you bought back before the Army in the late 60's gigging around Sneads Ferry/Top Sail, N.C. Graduated to a bigger Jon and MANY times, I wish I still had at least one of my old Jon's back cause as Mike stated, a C.S. even my 198 DLX is a friggin hand full with ANY wind or tides to fight. I've currently got a home made set up, 4-200 watt 110v running off a generator. Folks used to say I would cook them just before I stuck em. With the skiff, I've gone down to two as I've now got a trolling motor to help move that hog around and save my old azz back a little. I didn't have the room for all 4. I use LONG aluminum poles with the wide 4 prong heavy gig like Mike was talking about. I also try to work the tide and wind. For starters, I always go as far as I think I might want to gig that night and work my way BACK to the dock/trailer. Just a side note, gigging from your starting point for 1/2 the night and the boat won't start when you want to go home, well, that ain't no fun if you understand what I'm saying. Before depth finders, I would run till I hit bottom, kill the engine, throw over the lights and get started, well, pretty much what I do now. I've heard full moon, no moon well, I've had good and bad night on them both so if you have the wind right, go cause it don't matter about that. Work as close to the bank as you can get and as far out as you can see bottom till you start finding them, they will be laying anywhere, even up in the grass. If you ever see the first one, the rest are pretty easy to see. I try to stick em right behind the eyes so no meat is messed up. When you stick em, hold on cause them suckers will put up a fight. Don't be in any hurry to pick it up, let him lay till he calms down then bring him overboard. OK Mike, what am I leaving out? You're going to have to pick up from here cause I don't really know anything about Morehead for gigging. My play place now is up around Drum Inlet.
Hope this helps, any questions, just ask. Be glad to help if I can.
Good luck, have fun.
Later,
LB

[Shakespeare]

Thanks for the complements there LB.  :) I know the inquiry was directed to you and I apologize for jumping in ahead of you, but I was about to bust 'cause I love to go gigging.  ;D  The only thing I want to add about the equipment is that after you go out a time or two, and you find out you like this new pastime, then you'll be wanting to add additional lights to increase your field of view. I wouldn't recommend this from the get go though... as the lights are a bit pricy. Get a feel for it then add equipment as needed.

Here's another video that I recommend; http://www.niterangercharters.com/videopage.html  Click on the link labeled "Gigging Video". It's a bit long and self promotional and after seeing so many flounder being gigged it gets monotonous, but hang with it because at the end he gives a really good tutorial on how to fillet those buggers. He also has made a nice little box to pull the flounder off the gig and to store them in, so you can check that out also.

As far as where to go in Bogue Sound, there's lot's of opportunities there. The sound is chock full of marsh and sand bars... just note where they are during low tide or look at your charts and give them a try later. I've polled around on the east side of the causeway, the west side past Ft. Macon towards the Coast Guard Station, and parts between. Whenever time and good weather prevail, I want to explore the inlet side of the Shackleford Banks, cause there's miles and miles of nice sandy beach running back towards the middle marshes. It looks like prime gigging territory to me. A depth finder and chart plotter is a must when straying away from home base unless you are very intimately aware of the underwater terrain. Your whole perspective changes at night.

Shaggy, we'll have to catch up with you sometime this Spring down there at MHC.  ;D

Mike C.

Edited for spelling

[lakebiker]

Hey Mike, no problem with the jump in. I understand completly and for sure, I don't know it all. Another area that really looks good to me is the waters going from Harkers out to Bardens Inlet. Never gigged it before but it's some purdy looking stuff.
One other point for shaggy, were some cloths you don't mind getting wet cause you might have to get out and pull the "tank" off a bar to get to some deeper water. Heck, it seems sometimes I spend more time pulling my tank than I do riding in it. And for sure, don't start out with a ton of money tide up in stuff cause you might not like it. It won't hurt though to have an extra battery or two if you're planning on staying out for a long time and DO NOT use your starting battery to run your lights with. Dang, all this talk is making me want to get something WET, even if it's ME!! ;D ;D Come on Spring time!!!!!!!!!
Later,
LB.

[shaggy3131]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the tutorials and recommendations re: flounder gigging as well as links. You really peak my interest and desire. So ASAP I'll try gigging the flatties. I've read some people just wade out and don't even bother dragging the boat. I'll have to work up to that part of the adventure.

Thanks again,
Aubrey

[lakebiker]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the tutorials and recommendations re: flounder gigging as well as links. You really peak my interest and desire. So ASAP I'll try gigging the flatties. I've read some people just wade out and don't even bother dragging the boat. I'll have to work up to that part of the adventure.

Thanks again,
Aubrey



True, a LOT of folks walk and some do pretty good at it. That said, I'm old and lazy and when I'm tired, I crank up and RIDE home. The main advantage to the boat is you can see a whole lot better the higher up you are plus, you don't have to walk back. Another plus, you don't have to worry about any "toothie" critters sneaking up behind you and having a snack off your flatties. And yes, that does happen. :o :o
Go get em. Keep us posted.
LB

[FLboy3]

Hey thanks from me to guys. That was just the info I was looking for. I'v got the light for the front of the boat like I said earlier and I bought one of the painted black 3 prong gig which I'll use untill I can get SS one ordered. The only thing I wish I had is the trolling motor for a little help manuvering. I'm still saving for that since its going to set me back around a grand for one for my big *** boat. Thats the only draw back of getting a bigger boat. When I was building my J14 it seemed like everything was 2-3 hundred dollars, with the 2480 everything is a grand on up. 001