Flounder Gigging
Water temperatures are starting to rise. This means the flounder will start showing up again. I have some luck in the creeks, but have yet to get out and try a summertime favorite, flounder gigging. Some people call it striking, but it consists of going out at night and poling your boat or walking along the bank with a bright light and a long handled gig. As you ease down the bank you can see the faint outline of a flounder that has buried itself. They are difficult to see, but after awhile you get know what to look for. You have to quickly strike him in the head before he gets spooked. You don’t want to hit the fish in the body because it will ruin the meat. Keep the fish pinned to the ground until you can drag it to shore or lift it into the boat. It is like hunting and fishing combined, very primal and exciting.
The limits are currently seem ridiculously high at 20 fish per person and 40 maximum per boat. This is proposed and will likely change soon to 10 per person and 20 per boat. The minimum size for flounder has increased this year from 12″ to 14″ and it is tough to tell when they are under water and buried in the sand, so you must use caution.  There are also proposals for eliminating gererator powered lighting in some area, so check with DNR if you are not sure of the local regulations.
Some friends had a successful trip this week, see the pictures below. Also pictured from the USGS is a flounder buried in the sand.
