Good time to go flounder gigging

A lot of hunters and fisherman spend this time of the year in the woods deer hunting, but for those who don’t there’s some fun to be had on the water at night right now flounder gigging.

So far this fall the action has been very hit or miss, and other than one good week back in October, it’s been slow for the most part. Most people are blaming it on the lack of cool weather and cold fronts, so they're still hopeful that the best is yet to come.

Once the cold fronts start moving through, the flounder will move out of the bays, rivers, bayous, and backwaters and make their way out into the Gulf to spawn.

Red snapper season open this weekend

This process usually will last for quite some time with a push of fish moving on each front, but any night during the fall can be worth going.

Unfortunately, usually the best time to go is on the nights when the conditions aren’t exactly the most comfortable, while the front is literally moving through. The drop in barometric pressure causes the fish to start their journey to the Gulf to spawn.

The tools needed for gigging are simple: good lights, a sharp gig and your set to go. Lighting is the most important part when it comes to flounder gigging, simply because if you can’t see the fish you can’t gig them.

Whether you’re wading or using a boat, you should decide if you want to use underwater lights or lights above the surface. The Brinkman Starfire Lights are very popular for those who prefer the light to be underwater. If you’re using them above the surface, the propane tank light works great for waders and shop lights mounted on the bow are perfect for boats.

Other than the lights, the only other necessity is a gig and there are hundreds of different ones to choose from.  Some prefer an aluminum pole, while others like to use a bamboo pole because it is lighter and doesn’t get cold. The opinion on gig heads also changes from one person to another, but most choose to use a three- to five-prong head.

It’s possible to find them swimming along just about any shoreline in Pensacola Bay or other nearby bodies of water. The shorelines near Pensacola Pass are usually the best once it gets going, but early in the season you can often do better looking further up in the bay.