Kayaks are small and lightweight, so the main objective you want to conquer is minimizing weight while maximizing performance. Another-words, choose a flounder gigging light that is multi-functional (serves more than one purpose) and can run on smaller batteries (small batteries weigh less).
Thanks to one of our kayak flounder gigging customers, Kevin Vlaun, we are able to share his setup of 2x Mini Swamp Eye Submersible Flounder Gigging Lights mounted to the front of his kayak.
Mounting the Mini Swamp Eye Submersible flounder gigging lights above water on the front of his kayak is beneficial in the following ways:
1. The Mini Swamp Eye Submersibles can be used above or below water. If the kayak takes a big wave, they are waterproof so it will be ok. If the kayak rolls over, the lights will still be ok but your battery and electrical may not be. Be safe on open water in a kayak!
2. The Mini Swamp Eye Submersibles are very bright and provide a wide flood at approximately 6,000 lumens in output. This allows them to help you see flounder, but also helps you see what's ahead when you are kayaking and allows other boats to see you.
3. Mounting 1 on each side of the kayak gives you the maximum light spread all the way around the front of your kayak. The more area you can see, the more possibilities you have to see flounder.
4. 2x Mini Swamp Eye Submersibles can run on a small 12V DC battery (30 amp hour or larger - typical small lawn mower battery) for 10 hours or more. If you use an even smaller 10-12 amp hour deer feeder battery, you can still get really long run time of over 3-4 hours.
5. Mini Swamp Eye Submersibles come standard with 10 ft of marine grade wire, which is more than enough to run through the hull of your kayak to keep it out of the way. If you end up needing to extend the wire for any reason, we have waterproof wire connectors with battery terminals for making extensions as well as attaching to different types of batteries.
If you prefer to use Swamp Eye Submersibles (underwater only) or mount your Mini Swamp Eye Submersibles underwater instead of above water, then you may benefit from utilizing schedule 40 PVC conduit to drop off the side of your kayak and down into the water. Unfortunately we don't have any good photos of a setup like this, so if you decide to put together a setup with schedule 40 PVC feel free to send them to us and we would be glad to give credit where credit is due!
We have even seen use our Boat Adapter Poles for Underwater Lights on kayaks, but they have to have something to attach to in order for them to work properly. The clamp on our boat adapter pole opens to 3 inches. In some instances, you may need to mount something to the front of your kayak that the boat adapter pole can clamp onto. A piece of wood / lumber would work, or as this customer did on his gheenoe, you can fabricate a piece of aluminum for it to mount to.
This customer opted for the trolling motor bracket for underwater lights, but ended up having to extend the trolling motor mount further out when he mounted it because when he would turn the trolling motor towards the boat, it would hit the side of the boat and rub. So he added a 2x4 to lengthen it out. However, if he was using our boat adapter poles it would not be an issue. As we get more photos we will update this article.
We encourage you to send us your kayak setups for flounder gigging, we would be happy to post them! The more ideas we have, the better we can help others who are figuring out how to best setup their kayak for flounder gigging.
If you want more general mounting ideas - here's some articles on mounting ideas for you Mini Swamp Eye Submersible or Mounting Ideas for Your Swamp Eye Submersible Lights.
]]>Take this fishing boat maintenance guide seriously and follow it closely and it will make life easier; whether you're taking care of a saltwater flounder gigging boat or a freshwater bowfishing boat.
Boat Maintenance Guide
Corrosion Prevention
Preventing Corrosion: Sacrificial Anodes
Magnesium vs. Zinc vs. Aluminum Anodes
Magnesium Anodes
Zinc Anodes
Aluminum Anodes
Best Sacrificial Anode for Trolling Motor
Best Sacrificial Anode for Boat Hull
Best Sacrificial Anode for Outboard Motor
Electrical Connections
Tips for Better Electrical Connections
How to Make Boat Trailer Lights Hold Up in Saltwater
Motor Maintenance
Every Time You Use Your Boat
Every 20 Hours
Every 50 Hours (or 3 months)
Every 100 Hours (or 1 year)
Every 10 Hours
Every 50 Hours (or 3 months)
Every 100 Hours (or 1 year)
Every 200 Hours
Every 500 Hours (or 5 years)
Corrosion is an electrical process that commonly occurs as a result of two metals coming in contact in water. In theory, the two metals become a battery and have an electrical current flowing between them.
The electrons that make up the current are supplied by one of the metals giving up bits of itself, in the form of metal ions, to the water. Sometimes you can physically see this and the metal will look like an Alka Seltzer tablet in the water, dissolving away. Most times, however, this is a slow process that occurs over long periods of time.
The purpose of a sacrificial anode is to serve as an instrument that sacrifices itself through concentrated corrosion, and helps prevent corrosion in other parts of the boat that are far more expensive to replace.
Corrosion can even serve it's purpose to prematurely drain your boat battery if you're not careful! If your battery is hooked up to an accessory (such as an underwater light) that is experiencing galvanic corrosion, the accessory can continuously pull power off your battery until the circuit is terminated. This is why utilizing battery switches on your boat is important.
The 3 core sacrificial anodes are magnesium, zinc, and aluminum. The oldest and most commonly used anode is zinc, but magnesium and aluminum anodes have recently gained in popularity due to availability and reduced manufacturing costs.
In the end, the best anode for your boat is going to vary depending on the elements you are in.
Magnesium makes for a really great anode, it possesses a high current output which does a really great job at diverting corrosion to wherever the magnesium anode is located. This is exactly what you want in an anode.
Recommended use: we recommend magnesium anodes for freshwater use. They will last for a longer period of time in freshwater, and not as long of a time in saltwater. Their performance is superior to zinc in freshwater, although they are priced similarly if not less than zinc.
Zinc anodes have been around the longest and are the most universally used anode, hence the common reference "zincs" when referring to a sacrificial anode.
Recommended use: we recommend zinc anodes for saltwater use. They are a great fit for both fiberglass and aluminum hull boats, and will last longer in saltwater in comparison to the lesser expensive magnesium counterpart.
Aluminum anodes are preferential for some boats because they are noted for lasting longer. In terms of anodes, having something that lasts a longer amount of time means other components on your boat are more susceptible to corrosion.
Recommended use: we do not recommend using aluminum anodes on flounder gigging or bowfishing boats, unless you are mounting them to your outboard motor (made from steel). They are more ideal for steel hull boats, and steel hull boats are rarely used for flounder gigging and bowfishing, they are more commonly used in commercial freight operations.
It is a really good idea to put a sacrificial anode on your trolling motor. Trolling motors aren't cheap, and an anode is a sure-fire way to keep it looking new.
Trolling motors are commonly used in flounder gigging and bowfishing, and it is essential to keep them in top shape if you want to lessen the risk of cutting future trips short.
Let's talk more about saltwater and freshwater trolling motors, and what anodes fit best on these setups.
Trolling Motor Shaft Anode
Trolling Motor Prop Anode
Investing in a trolling motor shaft anode and/or a trolling motor prop anode can be one of the best insurance policies you buy. Trolling motors operate on adjustable power, and can draw 50+ amps at full speed. This adjustable high amperage makes them extremely susceptible to corrosion and premature failure.
Boat hulls should always come standard with a sacrificial anode, even if it's a fiberglass boat. On a fiberglass boat, it typically comes with a strand of wire to connect to a metal ground point. On an aluminum boat, it is typically bolted onto the boat as shown in the photo below.
Most boat hulls used for flounder gigging and bowfishing in saltwater are made from one of two materials: fiberglass or aluminum. Fiberglass boat hulls don't have to worry about corrosion.
Aluminum boat hulls are highly susceptible to electrolytic or galvanic corrosion, and they happen to be the go-to boat hull for flounder gigging and bowfishing due to their ability to hold up well when they come across shallow water obstacles.
Similar to saltwater boat hulls, most boat hulls used for fish gigging and bowfishing in freshwater are made from one of two materials: fiberglass or aluminum.
Aluminum boat hulls are the go-to most commonly used hull due to their ability to hold up to the shallow water obstacles most come across while fish gigging and bowfishing. Fiberglass boats are less resistant to these shallow water obstacles, but will obviously not corrode since they aren't metal.
Outboard motors are made from steel, and all 3 anode types are considered electrically weaker anodes than steel. Thus, any of the 3 anodes will work well. That being said, some anodes may be more beneficial than others depending on the environment your outboard motor is in.
There are typically 5 sacrificial anodes on outboard motors, and they are commonly found in the following locations:
Electrical connections are the source of most problems in boats. Boats are constantly being jarred by waves, and with flat bottom boats being the most commonly used boat style in flounder gigging and bowfishing, they are also the least efficient at handling waves.
Here are some tips for better electrical connections:
Tip 1 - Use dielectric grease everywhere there is a wire connection, including in waterproof plugs.
Tip 2 - When making wire extensions or connections, ALWAYS use waterproof solder seal wire connectors. Normal crimp style wire connectors are more likely to corrode, even if they have heatshrink to cover them. Solder seal connectors weld the two wires together and have an adhesive-lined heatshrink to cover and protect the weld.
Tip 3 - Oil-based battery terminal protectors are a must-have for a longer-lasting battery.
Tip 4 - When repairing or replacing existing wiring, use tinned cable. If needing two strands of wire, use duplex cable. If needed three strands of wire, triplex cable, etc. Purchasing cable that is manufacturer sealed will hold up much better than stranding a bunch of single cable strands together.
Tip 5 - Zip tie your cables together, or put cables inside wire loom and zip tie the wire loom. Keeping electrical wiring neat and orderly will decrease the likelihood a cable gets snagged and pulled loose while out on the water.
The number one cause of trailer lights failing prematurely is due to corrosion at the connection points. This can be solved by using dielectric grease at the connection points including the vehicle plug and utilizing waterproof solder seal wire connectors for extensions.
Additional tips for helping boat trailer lights hold up in saltwater include tips 1 through 5 above in relation to Tips for Better Electrical Connections.
We can’t have a fishing boat maintenance guide without a good look at your motor. The source of most boat motor problems come from two places: the fuel or the battery. Here are some tips to consider in learning how to avoid fuel and battery problems:
It’s important to follow the user manual for your outboard motor for best maintenance practices, but here are some standard boat motor maintenance procedures you will see across most outboard motors:
The owner’s manual is the number one source for proper boat maintenance for airboats, but here are some good maintenance recommendations for what you should be doing based on run times.
The first cool front that causes a drop in water temperature is the catalyst that starts the fall flounder run. The change in temperature varies from one state to the next, but is typically a water temperature change ranging from 5-8 degrees Fahrenheit.
Generally speaking, the fall flounder run typically starts in early October and continues through December. October and November are months of abundant flounder while December is known for having some of the biggest flounder you'll see all year. The flounder will make their way back inshore during the Spring Flounder Run, which typically starts in March-April timeframe, which is when we see the water temperatures start warming back up.
The best flounder gigging spots to use your flounder gigging gear will vary depending on where you’re located but there is only one strategy to the fall flounder run: find the major highways.
Think about the last hurricane your coastal town experienced. Everyone is trying to get out, and where do they go? The major highways. The same concept applies here. The flounder are going to the major highways and areas with water flow.
We like to gig flounder in channels that come off the intracoastal waterway. The intracoastal waterway is the major highway but its pretty deep, the channels that come off the intracoastal make for great shallow spots for flounder to congregate before they head offshore.
Another key ingredient to finding flounder during the fall run is to watch the tidal movement. The best tides for a successful flounder gigging trip can be just about any tide level, you just have to understand how the flounder are going to move within the bay.
Here's some more detailed information on the Best Tides for A Successful Flounder Gigging Trip.
Regardless of which method you choose, the tactic will remain the same. One thing that won't remain the same is the equipment. A boat setup and a wading setup are very different. Here's an ideal setup for each:
The difference in these two setups is from a boat you need a flounder gig and gig pole that can reach out and be used as a push pole. So it needs to be very strong.
The 5 prongs allow for more margin for error and allow you to stick bigger fish and have more holding power. The 12’ pole is ideal for pushing your boat around while gigging.
The Swamp Eye Submersible mounted to the boat adapter pole is a great way to illuminate the area in front of your boat. To see different ideas for setting your boat up, we encourage you to check out these mounting methods for Swamp Eye Submersible Lights.
For wading and flounder gigging, you want something that will light up the area but can run on a small deer feeder battery so it’s more portable. A 6’ pole with a 3 prong gig is ideal because you don’t need as much grip compared to gigging from a boat. Here’s a great guide to make your own wading and gigging setup.
When we first started flounder gigging many years ago, one of our first trips was during the fall flounder run and we limited out quick. That was all it took to get us hooked, and we haven’t stopped since.
Outrigger Outdoors is a leading designer and manufacturer of flounder gigging lights, gigs, and equipment. We pioneered the concept of color temperature adjustability which allows users to increase visibility in clear or muddy water by adjusting the output of their Swamp Eye Flounder Lights. Our purpose-built flounder gigging lights were designed and manufactured from the ground up, meaning we are able to choose the premium components to make our lights the brightest in the business. We generate over 160 lumens per watt, which is an industry leading metric that ultimately means we give you more brightness with less power consumptions. That means you'll see more fish and stay out on the water longer. When you're ready to get rigged up for your next flounder gigging trip, look no further than our selection of Flounder Gigging Equipment.
]]> Texas Flounder Gigging Regulations (TPWD)
Louisiana Flounder Gigging Regulations (WLF)
Mississippi Flounder Gigging Regulations (DMR)
Alabama Flounder Gigging Regulations (ADCNR)
Florida Flounder Gigging Regulations (FWC)
Georgia Flounder Gigging Regulations (GA DNR)
South Carolina Flounder Gigging Regulations (SC DNR)
North Carolina Flounder Gigging Regulations (NCDEQ-DMF)
The TPWD has increased the minimum flounder size limit from 14 inches to 15 inches, effective September 1, 2020.
Texas Flounder Size Limit: 15 inches
Texas Flounder Bag Limit: 5 per person per day from January through the end of October, the flounder fishery is closed to gigging and rod and reel fishing from November 1 to December 14, then back to 5 per person per day December 15-31.
Texas Flounder Gigging Season: All months of the year except November and first two weeks of December.
Texas Flounder Gig Regulations: There are no listed regulations limiting the type of flounder gigs that may be used. Based on our research, a standard barbed flounder gig with 1 to 5 prongs may be used.
Not sure if the Texas regulations are up to date? Check the latest TPWD saltwater bag and length limits.
The WLF is the governing agency for the state of Louisiana, and the regulations for gigging southern flounder are as follows:
Louisiana Flounder Size Limit: there is no size limit stated.
Louisiana Flounder Bag Limit: 10 per person per day
Louisiana Flounder Gigging Season: Open year-round in state waters, excluding October 15th through November 30th.
Louisiana Flounder Gig Regulations: A standard barbed flounder gig may be used for taking only flounder as a legal method of take. There are no regulations stating the number of prongs on a flounder gig. Based on our research, a standard barbed flounder gig with 1 to 5 prongs may be used.
Not sure if the Louisiana regulations are up to date? Check the latest WLF recreational saltwater finfish regulations.
The DMR is the governing agency for the state of Mississippi, and the regulations for gigging flounder are as follows:
Mississippi Flounder Size Limit: 12 inches, measured straight line distance from tip of snout to tip of tail.
Mississippi Flounder Bag Limit: 10 per person per day
Mississippi Flounder Gigging Season: All months of the year in state waters.
Mississippi Flounder Gig Regulations: There are no listed regulations limiting the type of flounder gigs that may be used in Mississippi. Based on our research, a standard barbed flounder gig with one to five prongs may be used.
Not sure if the Mississippi regulations are up to date? Check the latest DMR recreational catch limits.
The ADCNR is the governing agency for the state of Alabama, and the regulations for gigging flounder are as follows:
Alabama Flounder Size Limit: 14 inches
Alabama Flounder Bag Limit: 5 per person per day
Alabama Flounder Gigging Season: All months of the year except November.
Alabama Flounder Gig Regulations: There are no listed regulations limiting the type of flounder gigs that may be used in Alabama. Based on our research, a standard barbed flounder gig with one to five prongs may be used.
Not sure if the Alabama regulations are up to date? Check the latest ADCNR Saltwater Recreational Size and Creel Limits.
The FWC is the governing agency for the state of Florida, and the regulations for gigging southern flounder, gulf flounder, summer flounder, and fringed flounder are as follows:
Florida Flounder Size Limit: Effective March 1st, 2021 the size limit is 14".
Florida Flounder Bag Limit: Effective March 1st, 2021 the bag limit is 5 per person per day.
Florida Flounder Gigging Season: Effective March 1st, 2021 recreational harvest will be closed annually from October 15th - November 30th. The remaining months of the year are open season.
Florida Flounder Gig Regulations: There are flounder gig regulations in certain Florida counties. The allowed and prohibited gear and methods of harvest vary by county for flounder gigging in Florida. Volusia county requires 3 prong or fewer to be used for gigging flounder. There do not appear to be any regulations for flounder gigs in other counties in Florida. Based on our research, a standard barbed flounder gig with one to five prongs may be used in Florida counties other than Volusia County.
Not sure if the Florida regulations are up to date? Check the latest FWC Recreational Flounder Regulations.
The GA DNR is the governing agency for the state of Georgia, and the regulations for gigging flounder are as follows:
Georgia Flounder Size Limit: 12 inches, measured straight line distance from tip of snout to tip of tail.
Georgia Flounder Bag Limit: 15 per person per day
Georgia Flounder Gigging Season: All months of the year.
Georgia Flounder Gig Regulations: Only a flounder may be taken with a gig. A gig is defined as any handheld shaft with single or multiple points, barbed or barbless. Based on this, a standard barbed flounder gig with one to five prongs may be used.
Not sure if the Georgia regulations are up to date? Check the latest Georgia DNR finfish seasons, limits, and sizes.
The SC DNR is the governing agency for the state of South Carolina, and the regulations for gigging summer flounder, southern flounder, and gulf flounder are as follows:
South Carolina Flounder Size Limit: 16 inches, measured straight line distance from tip of snout to tip of tail.
South Carolina Flounder Bag Limit: 6 per person per day, no more than 10 per boat per day. Applies to hook and line and gig.
South Carolina Flounder Gigging Season: All months of the year.
South Carolina Flounder Gig Regulations: There are no listed regulations limiting the type of flounder gigs or nongame devices that may be used in South Carolina. Based on our research, a standard barbed flounder gig with 1 to 5 prongs may be used.
Not sure if the South Carolina regulations are up to date? Check the latest South Carolina DNR finfish size and catch limits.
The NCDEQ-DMF is the governing agency for the state of North Carolina, and the regulations for gigging flounder are as follows:
North Carolina Flounder Size Limit: 15 inches, measured straight line distance from tip of snout to tip of tail.
North Carolina Flounder Bag Limit: 1 per person per day recreational limit.
North Carolina Flounder Gigging Season: The 2023 recreational season opens at 12:01 AM on September 15th, 2023 and closes 11:59 PM on September 30, 2023. Here is the 2023 proclamation for flounder gigging in North Carolina.
The NCDMF/NCDEQ will continue to adjust the flounder gigging season on an annual basis, in accordance to the North Carolina Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. Here is more information related to Amendment 3.
North Carolina Flounder Gig Regulations: There are no listed regulations limiting the type of flounder gigs that may be used in North Carolina. Based on our research, a standard barbed flounder gig with 1 to 5 prongs may be used.
Not sure if the North Carolina regulations are up to date? Check the latest NCDEQ Flounder Gigging Announcements to see if new proclamations have been issued regarding commercial or recreational flounder gigging.
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]]>Let's take a deep dive into everything you could possibly want to know about flounder gigging.
Flounder gigging is a method of fishing where an angler uses a fish spear, or flounder gig, to stab flounder laying on the bay floor. Gigging for flounder is typically done at night in the bay. Flounder gigging is most popular in the United States along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida, the Atlantic Coast from Florida to the Carolinas, as well as the shore line of Australia and New Zealand.
If you've never gigged for flounder before - you'll want to familiarize yourself with your local flounder gigging regulations first. The next step in flounder gigging is pretty simple. Flounder typically lay flat on the bay floor and most of the time you can walk right up to them and they won't move.
On brighter nights such as a full moon, you may have to be a little more aware of where the flounder are because they are more likely to take off before you get close enough to gig them. Regardless, they don't travel far when they move and if you are in a boat you can usually circle around to find where they traveled to pretty quickly. Just be careful to not pressure them too hard and drive them away.
Some flounder fishermen say they look for red eyes shining on the bay floor to find flounder. Personally, I've never had success with this. We typically have our best luck finding flounder by looking for the outline of the fish. There have been several instances where the only thing we see on a buried flounder is a tail or even the head. Sometimes we literally just see a dark spot in the general shape of a flounder and we lightly tap it to see if it moves. (It's best to make sure the flounder are of proper length prior to gigging, because their survival rate is not the greatest once gigged). There are other instances where you can clearly see the entire fish.
Experienced flounder fishermen are typically able to tell if a flounder is legal to take based on local flounder gigging regulations just by looking at it on the bay floor. If a fish is close in terms of legal size, or you aren't sure - don't gig it. The smaller fish often have less meat on them to fillet and the best method of cooking them is to just cook them whole. The current legal size for where we are (Texas) is 15 inches. We typically won't stab a fish unless it is at least 16-17 inches due to the ability to get better sized fish fillets.
One state unlike the rest, North Carolina, has rapidly changing flounder gigging regulations that are issued annually by proclamation. Each annual flounder gigging season is based upon the amount of flounder harvested in the previous year. All other common flounder gigging states have seasons and regulations that stay set from year to year. Regardless, it's important to know your local flounder gigging regulations prior to hitting the water.
To get started flounder gigging, you're going to need the proper gear and gigging supplies. Standard flounder gigging equipment includes a flounder gig, flounder lights, and either some good shoes for wading or a boat setup for flounder gigging. Let’s go into more detail about flounder gigging lights, gigs and supplies.
A flounder gig is a type of fish spear. It fits on the end of a pole or pipe and has barbed tines, or sometimes called prongs, which give it a trident-like appearance. A well designed flounder gig has sharp points and is made of a strong, corrosion resistant material that can stand the abuse associated with gigging flounder in saltwater while poling a boat along in the flats.
Multi-pronged gigs are the best universal flounder gig that work well for both wading and walking because they have a better chance at not losing a flopping fish. A low quality, single-pronged flounder gig may be an ok option if you are walking and gigging, but will not work if you are gigging from a boat. While low quality flounder gigs may be made from carbon steel or 304 stainless steel, the best flounder gigs are made from corrosion resistant 316 stainless steel or 17-4 stainless steel.
Different counties along the coast have different regulations and requirements for the prongs on a flounder gig. Volusia County in Florida is one of the few counties that has a prong regulation, requiring 3 prongs or fewer to be used for flounder gigging. The vast majority of counties and states do not have prong regulations for flounder gigs, including the entire state of Texas. It is best to check your local regulations prior to heading out gigging, making sure you’re stocked with the best gigging supplies. If you'd like to learn more about quality flounder gigs, then you may be interested in reading The Guide to Buying the Best Flounder Gig for Sale.
The best flounder gigging lights are going to do a good job at lighting up flounder laying on the bay floor. Modern flounder light setups are mounted both above water and underwater. Underwater flounder gigging lights do a great job at lighting up flounder laying on the bay floor while above water lights do a great job at illuminating fish further ahead.
A quality flounder light is going to be bright, have the ability to penetrate clear or muddy water, and is small and compact enough to either mount on your flounder gig pole or your boat without adding too much weight. You want to be able to float in as shallow of water as possible, so weight is key to a shallow running flounder gigging boat.
One of the most important features to look for in a good quality flounder gigging light is the ability to have a light that is most optimal in the water conditions you are experiencing. We have noticed that a warm white (yellowish colored) light works best for muddy water, while a cool white light works best for clear water.
Some of the old style flounder lights that were used back in the day were high pressure sodium streetlights and halogen streetlights. These are huge, bulky lights, that would be mounted to a boat and required a humongous generator to run. In today's world, these have lost their popularity because the added weight prevents boats from being able to run in shallower waters, the bulbs were fragile and well known for breaking, they required loud generators, and ultimately a 110/120V AC power source does not mix well with highly conductive saltwater.
The most common flounder lights you see today are LED flounder gigging lights. LED flounder lights are able to provide customized color temperatures to match the water conditions you are flounder gigging in. They are typically more efficient in terms of brightness per watt output, and they take up far less space than their halogen and HPS counterparts. Some of the best flounder gigging lights such as the Swamp Eye Submersible, shown in the photo above, are capable of adjusting color tone from a warm white to cool white; which makes it easy to adjust to changing water conditions and increase your visibility to see the bottom. The best part is they are extremely bright, small and compact, corrosion resistant to saltwater, and they can be used for wading and gigging or for gigging from a boat.
There are two common ways to mount your flounder gigging lights to your boat: physically attach them to the boat, or attach them to your trolling motor. Here's an example of each application.
Mounting Flounder Gigging Lights to Boat
This method of mounting is accomplished with the Boat Adapter with Pole for Underwater Lights.
Mounting Flounder Gigging Lights to Trolling Motor
This method of mounting is done with the Trolling Motor Bracket for Underwater Lights.
If you're primarily focusing on walking while gigging for flounder, then you will be happier with an LED flounder light. The reason being is that LED flounder gigging lights run on low power output but provides enough brightness to light up the waters in front of you as well as to the side of you. It is not uncommon to see stingrays while wading and gigging, so a bright light is very important for your own safety. There are many different wading flounder light options, but the best ones we have seen require a small 12 volt deer feeder battery (typically 7 Ah battery capacity) to run all night long. You can see an example of a Mini Swamp Eye Submersible lit up in the below photo.
There are also wading lights that run on AA or AAA batteries, but proceed with caution. Our experience is that these lights very rarely provide enough brightness to light up the bay bottom and chances are you're going to miss more flounder that were a couple feet away from you than you would with a brighter light, even with the best gigging supplies. One of the best wading lights we've seen is the Mini Swamp Eye Submersible; it provides over 6,000 lumens in light output and comes in warm white or cool white color tones. It will run all night on a 7 mAh deer feeder battery and can be mounted to your flounder gig pole to be used underwater or above water. If you'd like to learn more about handheld setups for wading and flounder gigging, this article has some great tips to consider: Handheld Flounder Gigging Lights for Wading and Walking.
The two major types of wading light setups are for above water or below water. They both have their pro's and con's, which are discussing in How to Make a Wading and Flounder Gigging Light Setup. The most common setup is an underwater wading light, because people like being able to pick out flounder covered in sand the best they can. Above water setups aren't as common but can be more functional if you want to keep your light and gig on the same pole.
I've tried wading and gigging both ways, and my go-to setup is a Swamp Eye Submersible on the aluminum pipe that comes with this boat adapter (it's easy to wade and gig, then attach it to my boat or kayak when I get tired of walking), with a 5 prong flounder gig on a 5 ft aluminum pole. This works for me because I take my boat or kayak when I go wading. If I didn't have these I would just use a PVC pipe to attach the LED flounder light to.
A good flounder gigging boat is one that can run shallow and take the abuse associated with flounder gigging in shallow areas. Flounder come into the shallows at night and are in waters ranging from inches deep to a couple feet deep. Most of the night, your flounder boat will be dragging the bottom and may hit oyster shell, sand, rocks, and other miscellaneous debris that can be damaging to a boat. Due to these circumstances, most flounder boats are made from aluminum because it is more resistant to these methods of abuse than a fiberglass boat is.
That being said, we see plenty of fiberglass boats that are designed for bay fishing but used for flounder gigging and people have had success with it. It's important to just be conscious of your surroundings and the terrain underneath you so you don't end up poking holes in your boat.
If you are building a boat designed specifically for flounder gigging, the easiest method to run shallow is to mount a fan motor on supports above your outboard motor. The flounder gigging boat in the photo above shows a very nice setup commonly used by guides. This individual has flounder gigging lights, like Swamp Eye Light Bars mounted above water, Swamp Eye Submersibles on an underwater drop bar, and he has an air motor mounted above his outboard motor for running in the shallows.
Here are some key points about air motors for flounder gigging:
General recommendation for air motor size, based on flounder boat length:
16 ft or less - 5.5 HP air motor
18 ft or less - 13 HP air motor
20 ft or less - 20 HP air motor
22 ft or less - 23 HP air motor
24 ft or less - 30 HP air motor
These are general recommendations. If you will be flounder gigging in high wind speed areas more often than not, we recommend sizing your air motor for the next size up.
An alternative to a fan motor is to utilize a trolling motor. The pro's to a trolling motor are as follows:
The con's to using a trolling motor while flounder gigging are as follows:
Based on these criteria, we typically see air motors installed on boats that are designed for flounder gigging. Trolling motors are more common on boats used universally for other forms of fishing in addition to flounder gigging.
When mounting flounder gigging lights to your flounder boat, there are two options: mount above water flounder lights or mount below water flounder lights. Above water lights work well because you don't have to worry about them dragging the bottom or getting caught on oyster shell or miscellaneous debris sticking up as you pass over in your boat. The argument against them though is that they can cast a glare on the water, making it difficult to see the bottom. The Swamp Eye Bowfishing Lights are capable of adjusting from warm white to cool white to eliminate this glare. Cool white in clear water tends to not have a glare, but in muddy water it will light up all the suspended solids in the water column and cause what appears to be a glare.
The sure fire way to get rid of a glare regardless of the conditions is to use underwater flounder lights. Underwater lights do a better job at lighting up the bay floor, but they typically do not shine as far ahead as above water lights do to allow you to see what's coming. Thus, we see most flounder gigging guides and commercial fishermen running a combination of both above water lights and underwater flounder gigging lights and gigging supplies on their boat.
If you'd like to see boat setups with both above water and underwater lighting options, please check out these articles: Above Water Flounder Lights, Underwater Flounder Lights 1, Underwater Flounder Lights 2.
The key to finding a good flounder gigging spot is to understand the feeding habitat of a flounder as well as the 4 variables that cause flounder to move: water temperature, barometric pressure, tide, and water clarity.
A flounder's habitat while feeding is in areas with water flow and they tend to prefer a soft mud bottom over any other terrain. If you're able to combine these two together and find an area with a decent amount of bait fish, then there is bound to be a flounder nearby and your gigging supplies can help you land your fish. Flounder can also be found on oyster beds, grass, and sand, especially if there are areas with a good amount of water flow such as at inlets and estuaries, but they seem to be more consistency abundant on the mud flats.
Our rule of thumb is if you can step out of the boat and instantly sink down past your ankles in mud, then you are probably in a pretty good area that has potential to store some flounder. When flounder lie in these mud flats, they will leave imprints of their body, commonly referred to as "flounder beds". If you come across these imprints, then chances are you just missed them. Don't give up yet though - follow the flounder beds and you may end up finding the flounder.
Generally speaking, the key reason flounder and many other fish move into the shallows at night is due to the drop in temperature from day time to night time. The cooler temperatures bring the bait fish in, and flounder follow. If you're out gigging on a hot night, the flounder may be in a little deeper waters ranging from 1-3 feet deep.
As barometric pressure, or atmospheric pressure, increases, it pushes fish down. As barometric pressure decreases, it pulls fish up into the shallows. This is the general methodology behind why flounder gigging right before a cold front moves in is typically a more successful trip than normal. Cold front are low pressure systems, which help bring the fish into the shallows. The driving force behind the changing barometric pressure is due to the discomfort fish experience in their swim bladder. Now, flounder don't actually have swim bladders so they don't experience this discomfort but their target bait fish do and they follow the bait fish.
Tide is possibly the single most important factor to consider when flounder gigging. A fast falling tide, or the end of a falling tide, can make for the worst flounder gigging conditions possible. This is because flounder are moving into deeper waters on a falling tide and the faster the tide moves, the more quickly the flounder move out. The end of a falling tide is also associated with a stirred up bottom from all the sediment that was washed away as the tide moved out. This can negatively affect the water clarity, making it very difficult to see fish while out gigging. However, the beginning of a falling tide can make for very good flounder gigging because the fish haven't moved out yet. Just be conscious of the tide levels, the water depth and your escape route so you don't get isolated or beached on some mud flats due to a fast falling tide.
Flounder move in on a rising tide, so the beginning of a rising tide may not be the greatest but if you wait an hour or two, flounder gigging may rapidly improve. This is due to the flounder starting to move in. A rising tide also opens up more ground for you to flounder gig when gigging by boat.
A good indicator to determine if flounder are moving in or moving out is by watching the direction the flounder are pointed when you see them. If they are pointed towards the shore, then they are most likely still moving into the shallows. If they are pointed away from the shore, then they are moving out into the deeper waters.
Regardless of the tide level, there are various features in the bay you can look for to find a spot that is optimal for gigging flounder. In order to learn more about these spots, I'd recommend reading The Best Tides for a Successful Flounder Gigging Trip.
The water clarity refers to how far light can travel through the water column. The water clarity can rapidly change from one spot to the next, due to 3 primary reasons: wind, tide, and bottom.
The leading cause to bad water clarity is the wind. If you're gigging on a windy night, make sure you find areas that are protected from the wind such as the back side of an island or an area that has tree protection.
As discussed in the Tide section, a falling tide is commonly associated with stirring up the bottom due to the sediment that is washing away with the tide. This can cause bad water clarity due to the suspended solids in the water column.
The last primary cause of poor water clarity is due to the bay bottom. Flounder are most commonly found in mud flats, and when you set foot in these flats or drag over them with your boat it is bound to stir up a bunch of muddy water. If the water clarity is bad enough, it is best to find an area with a harder sand bottom, oyster shell bottom, or even grass bed that you can flounder gig in. These areas are more likely to have better water clarity and hopefully will store some flatties.
Flounder makes for one of the best meals, even if it's not cooked to perfection. Some of the most common flounder recipes call for it to be stuffed with a crab or shrimp mixture and then baked in the oven. Whether you are looking to buy flounder fillets in a grocery store or at your local restaurant, it makes a pretty expensive meal. Many flounder fishermen save by investing in quality flounder gigging equipment to get their own flounder and it can easily pay for itself several times over. My personal favorite method of preparing flounder is a crab stuffed flounder recipe. Other methods include whole fried flounder, baked flounder, and grilled flounder. Our selection of fish and game processing equipment will make preparing your flounder for dinner much easier. Here are some of our favorite flounder preparation methods:
Flounder are found on a variety of bay bottoms and the best way to find flounder is to look for the outlines of their body. Some say you can see their eyes shine, but I have yet to spot a flounder based on eye shine.
In the old days when lighting was not as efficient as today's super bright LED flounder gigging lights, eye shine was the only thing flounder fishermen had to go off of. Today's lighting technology allows fishermen to clearly see the full outline of a flounder laying on the ocean floor, which is more distinguishing than eye shine that could be mistaken for any other marine species. (Shrimp and baitfish eyes are pretty bright under the light!)
Here are some photos of flounder on different bay bottoms for you to get some practice in finding the flounder prior to going out flounder gigging.
Did you like what you read or have something to add? Leave a comment!
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Get started flounder gigging by choosing from our selection of flounder gigging lights and gigs.
(Back to Top of Page) ]]>When it comes to flounder gigging lights, there is no better flounder light than the Swamp Eye Submersible. Our Swamp Eye submersible flounder light was designed for the harsh, corrosive saltwater environment, and it's been tested by some of the top commercial fishermen around the world for durability. The protective cover that our swamp eye submersible light comes standard with is literally sledge hammer proof, and was put in place after receiving feedback from commercial fishermen that the lights would be damaged after running shallow and hitting oyster reefs.
Bully netting spiny lobster in the Florida Keys is quite the adventure, and the Swamp Eye Submersibles will light up your night like you wouldn't believe. The Swamp Eye submersible light is the go-to for many commercial bully netters, primarily because they hold up year after year. We typically see bully netting boats put 2-3 Swamp Eye Submersibles on the front of their boat and many of them will utilize our removable boat adapters or our trolling motor brackets to mount them to their skiff.
The Swamp Eye Submersibles are used on some bowfishing setups, but the Swamp Eye Light Bar is more commonly used. The submersibles work great as added light to mount onto your trolling motor shaft with a 1/4-inch U-bolt. This is the most common method of use we see for bowfishing boats.
Here are photos of Swamp Eye Submersibles mounted to boats, used for wading and gigging, mounted to paddle boards and even trolling motors.
The photo above is a Mini Swamp Eye Submersible Flounder Gigging Light mounted to a 6 FT Flounder Gig Pole wrapped with a Heatshrink Ruler for Flounder Gig Pole, and a 3 Prong Flounder Gig on the end. This flounder gig setup takes minutes to put together, and it’s a lightweight, bright, bulletproof setup that will last for a very long time. If you want a durable setup that lasts, this is one of your best options.
The one discrepancy to this statement is the pole you use to go gigging. The best flounder gig pole length is 6 ft for wading or 12 ft for gigging from a boat.
We've seen a lot of different flounder gig poles. Stainless steel, galvanized pipe, aluminum, bamboo, wood dowels, broomsticks, PVC conduit, and many more. Despite how crazy some of these materials sound, they all have their advantages and disadvantages when used as gigging supplies.
Stainless steel and galvanized pipe are both strong and work well if it's all you have, but they're heavy and most people would rather a lighter weight alternative for their gigging supplies. Wood dowels, broomsticks, and PVC conduit are all good options if you're looking to throw something together and want to make the most out of what you've got in the garage.
There's nothing wrong with a true homemade flounder gig pole, but using better-quality materials is going to help you create the best flounder gig. As you can imagine, the materials in your garage probably aren’t the strongest or most durable options for your flounder gig. None of these garage find materials are very strong but they are lightweight and will probably last a trip or two before you're ready for an upgrade.
The two most popular materials for flounder gig poles are aluminum pipe or bamboo sticks. These are both lightweight options and they both have enough rigidity to hold up to sticking a fish. If you're poling the flats, aluminum is going to be a little stronger. If you go to stop your boat on an instant, an aluminum pole might bend a little but a bamboo pole will snap. Aluminum is more forgiving than bamboo, which is the primary reason we typically recommend aluminum flounder gig poles over bamboo.
We've consulted with several flounder gigging and fish gigging guides, and when aluminum is compared to bamboo for gigging poles, the most common feedback we've received is that aluminum holds up better for the long haul. So what’s the best flounder gig pole? There are a few types for you to consider, and each one has its own benefits and detriments.
A bamboo flounder gig pole has a lot of flex and is lightweight, but if you try to stop a boat with a bamboo pole, you're likely going to break it. So it’s not the best flounder gig in terms of strength, but it is very flexible.
When using bamboo poles for fish gigging:
An aluminum flounder gig pole is lightweight, has enough rigidity to stop a flounder boat on an instant when trolling along, and is a readily available gigging supply that comes with free shipping from Outrigger Outdoors.
If you're a weekend flounder gigger, then either a bamboo or an aluminum flounder gig pole will work for you. There are also plenty of flounder gigs out there that will fit both options. Our flounder gigs will mount to either pole, but the vast majority of our customers prefer aluminum flounder gig poles.
Making your own flounder gig pole is pretty easy when you start with a solid foundation. Our flounder gig heads are made with a pipe insert and come with a 316 stainless steel bolt. They are designed for 3/4-inch NPS pipe (3/4-inch NPS, nominal pipe size, means actual OD of pipe is approximately 1.05").
One of the newest innovations is a heatshrink wrap that fits flounder gig poles with a 1-inch outside diameter by Outrigger Outdoors. This heatshrink ruler for flounder gig poles is a quick and easy way to turn your flounder gig pole into a multi-use measuring stick.
We use ours for measuring water depth as well as measuring fish. We've even laid a flounder gig pole down next to a flounder to measure him, and he never moved believe it or not.
1.) Remove the stainless steel bolt from the flounder gig head
2.) Slide the gig head over the 3/4-inch NPS pole
3.) Drill a 1/4-inch hole through the bolt hole on the gig while it's mounted to the pole
4.) Slide the stainless steel bolt through the gig head and pipe.
OR
Purchase a make-ready Flounder Gig Pole Setup.
In a matter of seconds, you’ll have the best flounder gig in your hands so that you're ready to hit the water and go gigging.
The easiest method to convert your flounder gig pole into a wading and gigging setup is to use a 1/4-inch bolt or U-bolt to attach your flounder gigging light to. If wading and gigging, we recommend using the Mini Swamp Eye Submersible or Swamp Eye Submersible Flounder Gigging Lights. The mounting brackets they come with are made to fit 1/4-inch bolts and U-bolts, which makes it easy to attach them to any flounder gig pole.
Next, we recommend utilizing a 7 mAh "deer feeder" battery to power your wading and gigging setup. It is easiest to attach F1-type heat shrink connectors to the power leads on your flounder gigging lights, which are made to fit the battery terminals on the small 12V DC deer feeder batteries. If you include a note on your order of flounder lights asking for them, Outrigger Outdoors will happily include these heat shrink connectors free of charge.
Once you're setup with your new flounder gigging supplies, you're ready to go wading and gigging!
Here are some photos of flounder gig poles our customers have put together.
Scroll down to the bottom to see photos of mounting ideas for the Mini Swamp Eye Submersibles.
One of the most common uses for the Mini Swamp Eye Submersible is for walking the shore gigging flounder. It can easily run on a 12V deer feeder battery for a night of sticking fish. It can be used above or below water, and the bright light works great for lighting up flounder or for helping avoid stepping on stingrays or foreign objects.
If you're flounder gigging, you may need to run lights both above water and below water. The Mini Swamp Eye Submersible is capable of running either way and the compact nature of these lights means they don't take up much space on the front of your boat.
Most bowfishing boats opt for our Swamp Eye Light Bar for bowfishing light, but some will still use the Mini Swamp Eye Submersible because of how compact they are. For similar reasons, we've also had customers mount our Mini Swamp Eye's in tight-fit spaces where they happen to have shadows with their current bowfishing lights. Another common mounting method for bow fishermen is to mount them to their trolling motor with a 1/4-inch U bolt to give them a better underwater view.
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Outrigger Outdoors is your trusted source for all things flounder gigging. To learn more about flounder gigging, we encourage you to read our Complete Guide to Flounder Gigging. If you'd like to get set up with flounder gigging equipment, feel free to contact us with any questions.
]]>Want to know how to gig flounder? Read on!
Gigging for flounder involves walking the flats with a fish spear (flounder gig) and bright light (flounder gigging light), looking for the outline of a flounder. With a quality flounder gig and a bright light, you have everything you need to get started. When you spot a legal sized flounder, spear him right between the eyes and put him in the ice box. It's best to not gig flounder in the main body or tail, but to aim for the head.
These are just a few key points for you to learn how to gig flounder. Let's talk about the where - where are you going to find flounder?
The most common place to find flounder to gig is in the mud flats of saltwater bays. To learn where to gig flounder, it’s helpful to keep the habits of this type of fish in mind. Flounder move into the shallows at night and can be found in depths of just a few inches of water. Flounder are found on a variety of bay bottoms, including rock bottom, grass or sand bottom, and even oyster reef bottoms, but their preferred choice is a soft mud bottom. This can make it tough for flounder giggers to wade and gig, which often results in most flounder fishermen gigging from a boat.
The most common states for gigging flounder are the states along the gulf coast from Texas to Florida, and up the east coast to North Carolina. The regulations for gigging flounder vary from state to state, so we recommend checking your local wildlife and fisheries department prior to heading out.
If you're new to the flounder gigging sport, and want to learn more about how to find a good flounder gigging spot, the best tides for flounder gigging, what equipment you need for gigging flounder, or even want some good ideas for cooking flounder, we recommend reading our in-depth article that covers all things related to gigging for flounder.
If you're a seasoned flounder gigging veteran but want to learn more about how to track flounder movement based on the different tides, we recommend reading The Best Tides For a Successful Flounder Gigging Trip.
Outrigger Outdoors is a leading designer and manufacturer of flounder gigging lights and flounder gigs. Our Swamp Eye Flounder Gigging Lights have an unrivaled brightness and are color temperature adjustable, making it easier for giggers to see flounder in clear or muddy water. Our flounder gigs are made from 17/4 stainless steel with sharp points and stout barbs that will keep your prized doormat from flopping off. If you're looking to put more flounder in the cooler, shop our selection of flounder gigging lights and flounder gigs today.
]]>The fall flounder run is essentially the fall migration of female flounder to the Gulf to spawn, so you can find them in the cuts and channels heading that direction. If you’re at all interested in catching flounder this season then the fall flounder run is the time to do it! Flounder are most abundant during this time of year.
Timing is Everything
Time is of the essence when it comes to the fall flounder run. The flounder are actively making their way out to the Gulf so if you can time it right then you’ll find yourself among a slew of flounder! The flounder run lasts approximately from the end of September through early December. Opinions vary, but a lot of fisherman say that if you really want to fill your ice chest with flounder then hit the water before a front hits. The barometric pressure is falling right before a front which means that the flounder are on the move.
Be Prepared
Whether you’re catching flounder with a rod and reel or a gig it’s important to be prepared to bring home some delicious tasting fish. There’s nothing worse than seeing a flounder get away because of a bad hook or gig which is why we recommend our 316 Stainless Steel Flounder Gig. Flounder definitely won’t be flopping off of this gig! Our Swamp Eye Submersible and Mini Submersible flounder gigging lights are designed to stand up to the harsh saltwater environment and light up the bay to bring in more flounder for a bigger haul. They’re color tone adjustable which means that you can adjust the color tone depending on your water conditions. Unlike most underwater lights, the Swamp Eye Submersible flounder gigging light is capable of taking constant abuse (see YouTube video of us slamming it with sledge hammer!)
We hope you have full ice chests this season, good luck and we encourage you to send us photos of your experiences!
]]>This week's blog discusses the Spring flounder run and includes supplementary information from the flounder gigging sports best guides.
The Spring flounder run is not as publicly well-known as the Fall Flounder Run, which often times makes for better fishing with less competition of other anglers. Flounder have spent their time offshore spawning and are coming back to the bays ravenously hungry. A Galveston, Texas based flounder gigging charter said the following about the Spring flounder run:
"the Spring run can be just as fun as the fall run just with lighter fish. The same 24 inch 7-8 pounder will only weigh 4-5 pounds after the spawn. Once the water temperature gets close to 70 degrees it will be in full swing." - Capt. Eric Winstanley, Night Moves Gigging
Finding flounder during the Spring run is much easier than a typical gigging trip but still takes basic knowledge to understand their behavioral tendencies. A Rockport, Texas based flounder gigging charter said these are the must haves to find flounder:
"I have 4 must haves: clear water, a good amount of current, plenty of bait fish present, and a variation of the bay bottom." - Capt. David Dupnik, Surrender at Sunrise
Another important factor is the importance of the tide. In our Survey of Over 100 Professional Guides and Tournament Fishermen, (sign up to our blog in the bottom right corner to receive this invaluable PDF report) the importance of a falling or rising tide was among the most crucial. A rising tide is beneficial for maintaining clear water conditions while also benefitting from flounder moving in to the shallow banks. A falling tide is equally beneficial as the flounder start moving to deeper waters but makes for a more difficult time to spot them due to the falling tide stirring up the muddy bottom.
The Spring flounder run is coming quick. Make sure you have your flounder gigging lights and supplies ready to go. Our stainless steel flounder gig and Swamp Eye Submersible Lights are second to none when it comes to gigging flounder. Make the most of this unique opportunity!
It's no secret that the brightest and most versatile flounder gigging lights available are the Swamp Eye Submersible Lights, but now it's time to figure out how to make the most of them!
The Swamp Eye Submersible and Mini Swamp Eye Submersible both work well as boat mounted lights or lights for wading and floundering. As you may already know, the Mini Swamp Eye Submersible can be used above water or below water while the full size Swamp Eye Submersible is underwater only. If you haven't already, I would recommend checking out our commercial grade Flounder Gig, which holds up extremely well for wading and gigging as well as gigging from a boat. The strong barbs and sharp points work well for flounder, sheepshead, gar, and more.
Now let's talk setups for wading and flounder gigging. The cheapest option is always to get your setup right the first time, so we're here to help you based on our experience and the experience of our customers.
If you aren't interested in taking the time do all this yourself, you can purchase our wading and gigging combo: flounder gig and light.
Quick Reference Guide:
Build Your Own Flounder Gig & Wading Light Setup (GIG & LIGHT IN ONE)
Items Needed - Flounder Gig & Light Wading Combo
How to Put the Flounder Gig & Light Setup Together
Build Your Own Flounder Gigging Light Wading Setup (LIGHT ONLY)
Items Needed - Flounder Gigging Light Wading Combo
How to Put the Wading Flounder Light Setup Together
1 - 3/4-inch Schedule 40 Aluminum Pipe or 3/4-inch Schedule 40 PVC Pipe
This can be difficult to obtain, it is often easier to just purchase a Flounder Gig Pole
1 - 1/4-inch stainless U-bolt or 1/4-inch stainless bolt
Available at local hardware store.
1 - Flounder Gig
3 prong or 5 prong are the best, Volusia County in FL is only 3 prong-only county we are aware of. If you plan to use the flounder gig from a boat, then 5 prong is the better option.
1 - Swamp Eye Submersible Light or Mini Swamp Eye Submersible Light
If attaching to flounder gig pole and running above water, Mini Swamp Eye Submersible is recommended. If running light pole separately from gig pole, Swamp Eye Submersible is recommended.
For Swamp Eye Submersible (dual color):
1x ON-OFF-ON switch or 2x ON-OFF switches (available at local marine supply or automotive store) for dual color light.
For Mini Swamp Eye Submersible or Swamp Eye Submersible (single color):
1x ON-OFF switch (available at local marine supply or automotive store)
1 - Wire Extensions
Depends on length of aluminum pipe, size should be 16-18 gauge. these saltwater proof wire connectors work great for making underwater (or above water) connections that won't rust.
1 - 12 volt Deer Feeder Battery
Available at local hardware store, Wal-Mart, Academy, or similar. Most are 7Ah batteries, the higher Ah capacity the better.
EXTRA: Heatshrink Ruler for Flounder Gig Pole turns your flounder gig pole into a fish measuring stick.
The above setup is an all-in-one flounder gig and wading light combo.
Here's a 5 Setup for Wading and Flounder Gigging with Gig & Light:
Slide the flounder gig over the 3/4-inch aluminum pipe and then drill a hole for the 1/4-inch stainless bolt (included with gig) to slide through to hold the gig on the pole. Skip this step if you purchase one of our flounder gig poles.
Note: if you purchase a different pipe schedule or thickness, you may have to sand/grind down the end of the pipe for the gig to fit. If you use a pole that is slightly small and not a perfect fit, then we recommend wrapping the end of the pole where the gig slides over with some electrical tape and you will achieve a tight fit. Obviously this is only for small voids. Rods and poles have different nominal diameters. The exact outside diameter of a 3/4-inch pole is 1.05 inches.
The next step depends on if you want an all-inclusive flounder gig pole with light attached to it, or if you prefer to carry a second PVC pipe to run your wading and gigging light underwater.
Now that the flounder gig is on the end of the pipe, you can get an idea for where you want the light to be. Many people claim it’s best to mount the light underwater. This is true if you are on a boat, but not always the case if you are wading and gigging. It is more safe to light up everything around you so you don’t put yourself in danger (stingrays). That's really why it's important to gig with bright lights, beyond just seeing more flounder.
When mounting your light above water, we've found it best to mount it 2-3 ft above the flounder gig. This provides enough flood to see what's around you and is also close enough to the water to penetrate through and light up the bottom.
Below water setups for wading and gigging are common because the light is closer to the bottom and provides a little higher definition in picking out flounder laying in the sand. The only downside the below water setups is they don't light up the surrounding area quite as well as above water setups. If using the full size Swamp Eye Submersible light however, you will still light up a large area even though it's underwater due to the shear brightness of the light.
For underwater wading light setups, we recommend using a 1/4-inch U-bolt or 1/4-inch bolt to mount your flounder light to the end of your light pole. Generally speaking, PVC is a light-weight, cheap, commercially available pipe that works very well for a wading and gigging light pole. Gig poles need to be stronger, so aluminum is a better option for flounder gig poles.
As we previously mentioned, the mounting brackets for the mini and full sized Swamp Eye Submersible lights were made for 1/4-inch bolts and U-bolts.
If you want to hide your wiring, drill a small hole behind the location where you mount the light and run the wire inside the pole out the end of the pole. Otherwise, just zip tie the wire to the pole.
When you receive your Swamp Eye Submersible Light, it will have three (3) wire leads. The Mini Swamp Eye Submersible will have two (2) leads.
The red wire(s) is your positive lead, which will go to your switch(es).
The lights come with ~10 ft leads, so you shouldn't have to extend the wire. In the event you do want to extend the wire, we recommend doing so with saltwater proof wire connectors. If installed properly, the connection will be fully sealed, corrosion resistant, and can literally be run underwater (we have worked with flounder guides who have done this).
If extending wire from an on-off or on-off-on switch, we recommend using heat shrink connectors, wrapping with electrical tape, regular adhesive heat shrink, or another method of sealing to prevent saltwater from corroding your switch connection.
If you purchase a 12 volt deer battery as we recommend, you can use a "Female Push-On Heat Shrink Terminal" to attach to these deer feeder batteries. The two male ends on the deer feeder battery are sized to connect to these terminals.
Some people prefer carrying their flounder gig in one hand, and the flounder gigging light in the other hand. If you want to skip having to build it yourself, check out our Flounder Wading Light Stick. Otherwise if you want to build it yourself, here's how to build it:
The above setup with only a flounder gigging light consists of the following:
1x 6 ft Heatshrink Ruler for Flounder Gig Pole
1x Underwater Flounder Gigging Light - Swamp Eye Submersible or Mini Swamp Eye Submersible will not only last you a lifetime, but are extremely bright.
2x 6 volt Deer Feeder Batteries
Note: The two batteries are wrapped together with duct tape and a piece of a ratchet strap to act as a belt loop to easily carry at night. It also has a short wire connecting the batteries in series to turn the 2x 6 volt batteries into a 12v battery. You can use a 12v battery, but 2x 6v batteries is smaller and lighter weight. You can get these from local hardware store.
2x 3/4-inch PVC tees. You can get these from hardware store.
2x 3/4-inch PVC caps. You can get these from hardware store.
1x 4 ft length of 3/4-inch PVC pipe cut into 3 sections: 32 inch, 8 inch, and 6 inch sections.
Note: The 32 inch section is the longest section, the 6 inch section acts as the handle, and the 8 inch section extends to help your forearm hold the underwater light in place while wading. You can get these from hardware store - and usually they will cut the PVC pipe for you too.
1x PVC pipe "purple primer" and "clear PVC cement" to glue the joints together. You can get this from hardware store.
Installation Tip: We recommend mounting everything in place and running the wire for the light first, then cutting the heatshrink to fit second and sliding it on. Third, prior to shrinking the heatshrink down with a torch or lighter or blow drier, we recommend priming and gluing the joints the way you want them. Lastly, shrink the heatshrink down to cover the glue and give it a more finished look.
Don't want to mess with building it yourself? You can buy it pre-assembled here: Flounder Wading Light Stick
STEP 1: Cut PVC to appropriate lengths.
STEP 2: Drill hole in the center of one of your 3/4-inch tee's and bolt your Swamp Eye Submersible or Mini Swamp Eye Submersible to the tee.
STEP 3: Assemble the PVC setup as follows:
STEP 4: Cut the heatshrink ruler wrap to fit the PVC joints (32 inch, 8 inch, 6 inch joints - the heatshrink will be a lesser length than this so please measure once assembled), slide the heatshrink ruler wrap on the joints but do NOT shrink them yet.
STEP 5: Run the wire for the Swamp Eye Submersible / Mini Swamp Eye Submersible through the PVC and out the end of the 8 inch extension piece. You can drill a 1/4-inch hole in the 3/4-inch PVC cap that goes on the 8 inch extension piece to make it look better.
Note: If you remove the handle, it will make it easier to run the wire through. Sometimes the wire will get stopped at the 3/4-inch tee where the handle connects.
STEP 6: Assemble the entire unit and adjust the handle angle so it's comfortable for you. We recommend having the handle at approx. a 45 degree angle from the flounder gigging light. This allows you to hold the light out in-front of you and use your forearm to keep it straight.
Once you have it assembled the way you want, so it's comfortable, continue to next step. You can't make changes once you continue though.
STEP 7: All PVC joints should have heatshrink on them that hasn't been shrunk yet. In addition, everything should be assembled in a manner that fits you.
So now -
STEP 8: Align heatshrink and shrink it down to fit.
STEP 9: Let cure for an hour, meanwhile attach heatshrink spade terminals to the end of the flounder light wiring and also use them along with a short piece of wire to connect the 2x 6 volt batteries in series. If using a 12v battery, you do not need to connect it in series.
Step 10: Use a small piece of ratchet strap or similar material to make a belt loop - wrap around batteries with duct tape until tight. This allows you to put the deer feeder battery on your waste, making it more accessible than putting in a fanny pack. If you prefer to put in a fanny pack or backpack that is also an option.
YOU’RE DONE! GET TO GIGGING!
]]>There is no question that the winter marks the best time of the year to get monster fish - whether that's bowfishing big buffalo or gigging monster "doormat" flounder. This is one of the biggest reasons we keep at it down here in Texas.
If you don't plan on making the most of the cold weather and opt to put your boat in the shop - then it's time to start preparing for the winter and making the changes you wish you had during the heat of the season.
While you are making your repairs, make sure you are getting ahead of the game so you aren't experiencing these same pitfalls during the heat of the season season.
The following criteria is applicable for most boats, but more particularly outboard motors:
STEP 1: Add fuel stabilizer to fuel, or empty fuel tank
STEP 2: Flush the engine with fresh water.
STEP 3: Engine wash down
STEP 4: Fog the air intakes on the motor
STEP 5: Remove fuel line from the motor while running.
STEP 6: Apply water resistant grease to propeller shaft and threads.
STEP 7: Change the gear oil in the lower unit.
STEP 8: Lubricate the exterior of the engine
STEP 9: Trim the outboard motor down.
The flounder run is so consistent and heavy that many state fish and wildlife agencies are taking the initiative to close the season during parts of this major migration.
There are two major flounder migrations each year. They move inshore during the end of winter and start of spring after breeding, and they move offshore during the start of fall to start breeding again. The move inshore is very sporadic, but the move offshore during the fall is more distinct and this is the move most anglers target. The fall flounder run which starts in early October and continues through November well known among most fishermen, but the Spring flounder run is not as commonly known.
The best place to find migrating flounder is near inlets and passes. Flounder use these ares to move from inshore creeks and flats to the deeper waters offshore. Flounder tend to be lazy fish and during migration they move using tidal currents. During out going currents they will use the current to help them swim offshore. During incoming currents they will often times be found feeding on the edge of a fast moving current and slower tidal flow.
Now to answer the question we are all wondering - when does the flounder run start in my area?
The trigger that sparks the flounder to move offshore and inshore is water temperature. To accurately predict when the flounder are moving, we need to understand our water temperature trends. Lucky for you, we've done this research for you. Check your local water temperatures and compare them with the changes we have noted below. If the temperature has already changed or is in the process of changing, the flounder run may be starting!
When time comes to hit the water, make sure your equipped to make the most of the good water temperatures. Check out our selection of flounder gigging gear which includes the best flounder lights and flounder gigs.
Texas
AVG. Water Temp. (October).........................77 F
AVG. Water Temp. (November)......................69 F
Water Temp. Change (Fall Flounder Run)......8 F
AVG. Water Temp. (December-March)...........58 F
AVG. Water Temp. (April)................................71 F
AVG. Water Temp. (May).................................79 F
Water Temp. Change (Winter Flounder Run)...8 F
Louisiana
AVG. Water Temp. (October).........................77 F
AVG. Water Temp. (November)......................70 F
Water Temp. Change (Fall Flounder Run)......7 F
AVG. Water Temp. (December-March)...........59 F
AVG. Water Temp. (April)................................70 F
AVG. Water Temp. (May).................................77 F
Water Temp. Change (Winter Flounder Run)...7 F
Mississippi
AVG. Water Temp. (October).........................75 F
AVG. Water Temp. (November)......................65 F
Water Temp. Change (Fall Flounder Run)......10 F
AVG. Water Temp. (December-March)...........55 F
AVG. Water Temp. (April)................................70 F
AVG. Water Temp. (May).................................77 F
Water Temp. Change (Winter Flounder Run)...7 F
Alabama
AVG. Water Temp. (October).........................75 F
AVG. Water Temp. (November)......................65 F
Water Temp. Change (Fall Flounder Run)......10 F
AVG. Water Temp. (December-March)...........55 F
AVG. Water Temp. (April)................................70 F
AVG. Water Temp. (May).................................77 F
Water Temp. Change (Winter Flounder Run)...7 F
Florida
AVG. Water Temp. (October).........................81 F
AVG. Water Temp. (November)......................75 F
Water Temp. Change (Fall Flounder Run)......6 F
AVG. Water Temp. (December-March)...........70 F
AVG. Water Temp. (April)................................77 F
AVG. Water Temp. (May).................................84 F
Water Temp. Change (Winter Flounder Run)...7 F
Georgia
AVG. Water Temp. (October).........................75 F
AVG. Water Temp. (November)......................70 F
Water Temp. Change (Fall Flounder Run)......5 F
AVG. Water Temp. (December-March)...........58 F
AVG. Water Temp. (April)................................59 F
AVG. Water Temp. (May).................................65 F
Water Temp. Change (Winter Flounder Run)...6 F
South Carolina
AVG. Water Temp. (October).........................72 F
AVG. Water Temp. (November)......................67 F
Water Temp. Change (Fall Flounder Run)......5 F
AVG. Water Temp. (December-March)...........53 F
AVG. Water Temp. (April).................................56 F
AVG. Water Temp. (May).................................63 F
Water Temp. Change (Winter Flounder Run)... 7 F
North Carolina
AVG. Water Temp. (October).........................79 F
AVG. Water Temp. (November)......................75 F
Water Temp. Change (Fall Flounder Run)......4 F
AVG. Water Temp. (December-March)...........58 F
AVG. Water Temp. (April)................................62 F
AVG. Water Temp. (May).................................69 F
Water Temp. Change (Winter Flounder Run)...7 F
Virginia
AVG. Water Temp. (October).........................70 F
AVG. Water Temp. (November)......................65 F
Water Temp. Change (Fall Flounder Run)......5 F
AVG. Water Temp. (December-March)...........50 F
AVG. Water Temp. (April)................................56 F
AVG. Water Temp. (May).................................60 F
Water Temp. Change (Winter Flounder Run)...5 F
These average water temperatures values were determined from data obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
It all started with an "Albino Flounder" harvested last weekend by a young man in Charleston, South Carolina. Several others commented calling it "piebald" and "leucistic" which are both possible color schemes, but we aren't biologists to confirm the proper nomenclature. We'll let you decide what you think the proper description is for this flounder. There's no argument that it's one unique creature.
This picture sparked further conversation, and we received more photos of flounder taken near Port O'Connor, Texas as well as areas near Jekyll Island, Georgia. Regardless of what you think the coloration is, these are some rare flounder photos you don't get to see too often!
The flounder above was taken near Port O'Connor, Texas. Notice that this is the bottom side of the flounder (eyes are on opposite side), where the flounder is normally completely white.
Here is another unique flounder taken near Jekyll Island, Georgia. This flounder appears to have a piebald or leucistic color scheme where some of the color pigment is non existent. Notice this is on the upward facing side of the flounder (eyes are on top) where the flounder is normally a camouflage green color.
This flounder was taken along the southeastern coast, at a location that was not disclosed to us. According to the fishermen who harvested this fish, it was camouflage green color on both front and back side of the flounder. He was not able to find additional photos to show the backside in more detail. This fish was harvested earlier this year.
Have any unique hunting or fishing photos you've recently taken? Send them to us! We will be happy to share them.
Outrigger Outdoors is a leading designer and manufacturer of flounder gigging lights and flounder gigs. Our Swamp Eye Flounder Gigging Lights pioneered the concept of color temperature adjustability, which allows flounder giggers to have better visibility in clear or muddy water. Swamp Eye Flounder Lights have an unrivaled light output as well, reaching an industry high 160 lumens per watt. This means we not only maximized the brightness of our flounder lights, but we minimized the power draw which means you get to stay out longer and see more fish. If you're looking to gain the edge and put more fish in the cooler, look no further than the Swamp Eye Flounder Gigging Lights.
]]>This weekend (Saturday, September 22, 2018) marked the official first day of Fall. Not only does Fall mark the opening of hunting seasons, it also marks the prime time for flounder gigging.
The Fall flounder run is the most opportune time all year for fishermen to catch or gig flounder. The cause of the flounder run is due to hormone driven females to pile up along points and passes on their way out to the Gulf of Mexico to spawn. Whether you are a professional guide or amateur flounder gigger, your chances of gigging or catching flounder are significantly higher this time of year. Make sure you are prepared with good flounder gigging equipment and a quality flounder gig that can take the abuse associated with gigging a bunch of fish and the mistaken rocks that come along with it.
Apart from the the exciting Fall season, we have some great news to share only with YOU, our subscribers!
Here we go...
One of the most common points of feedback we’ve receive from you guys is that you really like the color tone adjustment feature on the Swamp Eye Lights, but there are three things we’ve been told people want us to improve on:
1 - They are not fully submersible
2 - They are very bright above water, but there is a lot of wasted light going to the sky that should be re-directed to the water.
3 - They are only capable of running on 12 volt. It would be beneficial for them to be capable of running on 12 volt DC or 120 volt AC to run on a generator.
We’ve been silent the past month because we’ve been designing, prototyping, and then re-designing lights that will satisfy these criteria. We are happy to announce that we have new lights that should be available come mid-October, although we haven’t set an official date yet. We have broken the Swamp Eye Light up into two styles: 1) Above Water and 2) Submersible, Below Water.
1 - Above Water Swamp Eye Lights
The new above water Swamp Eye Lights utilize new, even higher efficiency LEDs, with a light bar layout that broadcasts a large flood towards the water while minimizing the amount of light that is wasted to the sky and surrounding areas. The above water lights are still color tone adjustable and they’re also 15,000 lumen. On top of all of this, the new Swamp Eye Light Bar will come with the option to run on BOTH 12 volt DC and 120 volt AC. This way, you can run the light on a 12 volt battery if you want to stay quiet or you can switch over to a 120 volt generator in the event your battery runs low. However you decide to use them, our flounder gigging lights can also be used as a piece of bowfishing equipment to light up the water.
2 - Below Water Swamp Eye Lights
The new below water Swamp Eye Lights also utilize new, even higher efficiency LEDs, on an even more compact housing. The new lights will increase in luminosity from 12,000 lumens to over 18,000 lumens. The flood beam is still 180 degree beam, since it is below water, we want to light everything up. The submersible lights are color tone adjustable and come with longer leads to hook directly up to your battery or boat wiring harness.
The new lights, both above water and below water, will draw 120 watts. As you already know, a 120 watt light from us is not comparable to a 120 watt light from anyone else. We use high efficiency LED chips specifically designed to maximize luminosity while minimizing power draw. The conventional LED chip will illuminate 80-100 lumens per watt. Our new LED chips illuminate up to 160 lumens per watt. This high efficiency maximizes the life of your battery while providing twice the illumination of the comparable light giving you a high-quality piece of flounder gigging equipment.
For more products to help with your bowfishing equipment and flounder gigging equipment for your next fishing trip, Outrigger Outdoors can help
If you want a complete handheld setup for wading and gigging - you can purchase the wading and gigging combo: flounder gig and light.
When you are gigging flounder at night, you want to light up the entire area around so that you can maximize the amount of fish you can see at once. This is good for spotting flounder you otherwise would not see, but it is also good because you can locate dangerous fish such as sting rays or venomous snakes that may be out on the water. The more area that is lit up, the more flounder you see and the more aware you are of other fish surrounding you.
Similar to the previous point, you want to maximize the brightness of the lights you are using. Most conventional LED lights are 80-100 lumens per watt and are made in China. There are more efficient options available such as the Swamp Eye Flounder Gigging Lights which are 140-160 lumens per watt. Lights such as these can draw less power while outputting significantly more lumen brightness. This will make for longer, brighter trips of gigging at night.
If you're flounder gigging in muddy water, we recommend the Swamp Eye Submersible - 2000k Flounder Gigging Light. This light is a more amber color and does a great job at penetrating through the suspended solids in the water column, allowing you to see better in muddy waters.
If you're flounder gigging in clear water, we recommend the Swamp Eye Submersible - 6000k Flounder Gigging Light. This light is a "bright white" color and has higher all around luminosity for casting as much light as possible out on a dark night. These lights aren't recommended for muddy waters though because they can do the equivalent of turning your brights on in the middle of fog. They work extremely well in clearer waters.
Most portable gigging lights have similar power supplies - they are usually able to run off small 12 volt portable deer feeder batteries. A typical 7 mAh battery that you can purchase from Academy Sports and Outdoors or a similar local retailer will last you all night long on a light such as the Swamp Eye Flounder Gigging Light.
We strongly recommend steering clear of any flounder gigging light for wading that runs off AA or AAA batteries. These batteries cannot supply enough power for lighting up a quality light, most lights supplied by these batteries will not output any more than 1,000 lumens. On the contrary, utilizing a small 12 volt battery, you can use a lights such as the Swamp Eye Flounder Gigging Light which outputs 19,500 lumens, equivalent to almost 20x the light output of the comparable light for wading.
In summary, do your research to make sure you are well aware of all your options. Understand that if the light is powered by AA or AAA batteries, you are going to be making a huge sacrifice on the brightness fo the light. If you consider an option that can run on 12 volt batteries, that expands the opportunity for more brightness.
We recommend the Swamp Eye Flounder Gigging Light for wading and gigging due to the ability to adjust the color tone, the extremely high brightness, and the portability for wading and gigging. These lights are the best in the business and are sure to light up the entire area around you to increase the amount of flounder you see at night.
If you are primarily in muddy or clear water, we recommend considering one of the solid color Swamp Eye Submersible options. Here's our selection of Flounder Gigging Lights, all designed to put more fish in the cooler.
You've got an idea of what you need to light up the water for walking and flounder gigging at night, now it's time to put it all together. Here is a step by step process which explains how to make a wading and gigging light setup.
Skip the hassle of making your own wading and gigging setup by purchasing a wading and gigging combo: flounder gig and light.
Whether you are on the market for a flounder gig or flounder gigging light, Outrigger Outdoors' selection of flounder gigging equipment is second to none in terms of strength, enhancing water visibility, and overall quality craftsmanship.
The Red Tide is a common worldwide phenomenon that can put a severe damper on a planned vacation or saltwater fishing trip. Not all Red Tides are toxic, but the vast majority of them will result in dead aquatic life washing up to shore and humans with allergy and respiratory problems. It typically occurs annually, at the peak of the summer heat, and can last for days at a time with rare occurrences lasting several weeks to a month with ideal conditions. The actual cause of the Red Tide is an algal bloom containing several types of phytoplankton and dinoflagellates which contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in color from brown to red. Another words, the Red Tide is not always red, it can make the water appear overly murky.
Where does the Red Tide Occur?
The Red Tide commonly occurs in oceans, bays, and brackish water areas where freshwater meets saltwater. The algal bloom will usually occur offshore first at extreme depths and then work its way inward to the bays. It does not survive well in freshwater environments, hence the reason we never see it in freshwater lakes and rivers.
What are some key ingredients to the Red Tide?
1 - Water Temperature: 72 - 82 degrees Fahrenheit
2 - Salinity: 31-37%
3 - Ideal nutrients in water can help the algal bloom thrive for prolonged periods of time
4 - Lots of sunlight
5 - Wind: Onshore winds can bring it into the shore while Offshore winds can drive it out to sea.
6 - Currents: similar to wind, onshore currents can keep the algal bloom in the bays while offshore currents can send it back into the ocean.
7 - Depleted oxygen levels
**Red Tide typically starts at extreme depths offshore and works its way to the bay areas.
Can we predict Red Tides?
Unfortunately, we are unable to currently predict when and where Red Tides will occur. Scientists constantly gather data and monitor water conditions to understand when the opportunity for a Red Tide is the highest, but the only way they can consistently predict an incoming Red Tide is when it shows up in samples they collect.
How does the Red Tide effect humans?
When the Red Tide algal bloom rides waves and crashes into the beaches, the brevetoxins are released into the air and act as a toxic irritant to humans. The toxins can cause allergies and respiratory complications that are not usually fatal but can be troublesome to deal with. When swimming in the Red Tide, it can act as a skin irritant, it is not recommended for anyone to expose themselves to the Red Tide. If the Red Tide occurs during your vacation, we recommend finding another beach or island nearby that has not been affected.
How does the Red Tide effect aquatic life?
The Red Tide is a colloquial term that is scientifically known as a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB). The algal bloom typically occurs for days at a time but can leave fish and other aquatic life dead, washing up to the shore for weeks following the occurrence of the actual bloom. The Red Tide is very harmful to the aquatic life.
Can you consume fish taken during the Red Tide?
We do not recommend taking the risk of eating fish, shellfish, or mollusks harvested during a red tide. However, there are regulations set in place for commercial fishermen who make a living harvesting these fish. Commercial fishermen are not legally allowed to harvest shellfish or mollusks during the Red Tide season, because they contain toxins which humans can ingest and result in food poisoning.
Fin fish such as redfish, trout, flounder, etc. will have toxins gathered in their guts and the toxins to not appear to contaminate the fish fillet. Thus, as long as the fish fillets are thoroughly washed and the guts are disposed of, the likelihood of food poisoning is significantly lowered.
Crustaceans such as lobster, shrimp, and crabs should be thoroughly washed prior to consumption to reduce the likelihood of food poisoning.
Regardless of fish type, we do not recommend harvesting dead or distressed fish.
**Note: cooking and freezing does not destroy the Red Tide toxin, the toxin cannot be seen or tasted.
What do you do while waiting for the Red Tide to pass?
This is a good time to make repairs to your boat and supplementary equipment. Use this time to set up some flounder gigging / bowfishing lights or rigging up one of our new strong, corrosion resistant, and SHARP flounder gigs!
Thank you for reading our blog and don't forget to sign up to receive more valuable information and discounts in the coming weeks!
Quality flounder gigging equipment is important. As we will soon discuss, the tide levels can change the water clarities and conditions due to sediment washing in and out of the bay. This is where having good set of flounder gigging lights can make or break your trip. Another key point is having a flounder gig that can do more than just gig flounder. It has to be strong enough to be used as a push pole in the shallow gigging areas, but maintain a sharp point for sticking flounder all night long. Fast moving tides can require a strong flounder gig for pushing along, to keep the boat on track.
This weeks blog will discuss how to understand the rising and falling tides and how they effect flounder gigging. We’ll also briefly discuss times of the year that you can literally throw truck loads of flounder on the bank without a gig (we recommend only taking your lawfully allowed limit).
As you already know, flounder are elusive fish who bury themselves underneath the sand to blend in with their surroundings and feed on bait fish that swim over the top of them. As the tide comes in, the flounder and bait fish come in with it. As the tide goes out, the flounder are the first to leave so they are not left high and dry. With this in mind, we can expand on the effect of the different types of tides and how they effect a flounder’s behavior.
As the earth rotates, the Moon's gravitational forces pull on different parts of the planet. This can cause tidal swings, which can have a direct impact on flounder gigging at night. Flounder gigging can be great on any tide as long as the fisherman is aware of the cause and effect associated with each of the tides.
The technical term for a falling tide is an ebb tide. Once the tide has reached it's lowest point, it is now referred to as a low tide. In terms of flounder gigging, understanding these tides is important because as the tides moves out, fish move out with it so they are not left on the bank. Many flounder fishermen prefer a falling tide because they can gig flounder as the fish move out. However, a slow falling vs. fast falling tide can yield different results.
A fast falling tide is possibly worst case scenario, and it will make for a very difficult flounder gigging trip. Not because you can't find flounder, but because you either get the boat stuck on a sand bar or you can't see from the stirred up muddy water. As the tide falls, sediment from the marsh is mixed into the water which ends up making it really hard to see the bottom, where the flounder are laying. It's best to flounder gig near deeper pockets of water on a fast falling tide to keep from getting stranded and give you the most opportunities to see flounder coming out of the flats.
A slow falling tide will still have flounder moving out, but the sediment will be mixing with the water at a slower rate which in turn allows for clearer water. A falling tide is almost never associated with clear water unless you're on a sand beach with no mud flats. The best method to combat a falling tide is to make sure you have flounder gigging lights that can handle the muddy water.
How to combat a falling tide - If the tide is falling hard, we recommend gigging islands in the deeper parts of the bay rather than the shoreline. The beginning of a falling tide can make for really good flounder gigging, but gigging towards the end of a falling tide can give you a really hard time. The number of areas available to gig decrease, the likelihood your flounder boat ends up on the beach increases, and the stirred up muddy water which often times makes for bad water clarity decreases your chances of seeing a flounder. These islands with access to deeper waters typically fare the best in comparison to standard bay inlets.
Utilizing more advance technology flounder gigging lights such as the Swamp Eye Flounder Lights will allow you to see in clear or muddy water. This can help you increase visibility whether you're flounder gigging on a low, high, rising, or falling tide.
The technical term for a rising tide is a flood tide. Once the tide has reached its highest point, it is referred to as a high tide. A rising tide corresponds with fresh water from the gulf moving into the bay. Naturally, a rising tide is associated with good water clarity while a falling tide is associated with bad water clarity. Because of this, a rising tide can be your bread and butter for finding flatties. As the tide comes in, the flounder are going to be coming in with it. The beginning of a rising tide may not be the best because fish take a little time to come in, but wait an hour or two and let the fish move in and flounder gigging can really heat up.
How to combat an abnormally high tide - There are many more locations to gig flounder as the tide comes in, and likewise the ability to move a boat around in the shallows becomes much easier. A rising tide can make for some of the best flounder gigging conditions one can ask for, but it's still important to be able to locate good flounder spots. If you're looking to learn more about finding good spots and more about flounder gigging in general, I'd recommend checking out our blog post on the complete guide to flounder gigging.
The Jubilee refers to the time and area of the bay at which there is an upwelling of oxygen poor bottom waters forcing bottom feeding fish and crustaceans ashore. These deep water pockets tend to collect plant matter that has been washed into the bays. As the plant matter decomposes, it provides food for microorganisms in the water. As these microorganisms grow and multiply, they consume tremendous amounts of oxygen, resulting in an oxygen-poor environment.
Due to the lack of oxygen, these “jubilee affected” fish and shellfish are unable to operate their muscles normally. They move very slowly and are reluctant to swim to even escape capture. However, fish rarely die during jubilees except to the enthusiasts who make the most of an easy fishing trip.
According to some locals who experienced the event in Mobile Bay, there are swarms of fish who are essentially pushing themselves out of the water. It would be very easy to fill up pickup beds full of shrimp, crabs, or flounder in an hour or two.
When and where is the next Jubilee going to occur? The Mobile Bay Jubilee in Alabama is one of the few annual recurring jubilee locations. It can still happen at other locations, but it is very sporadic. Jubilee’s most commonly occur during the month of August, in the morning hours, on an easterly wind, a rising tide, at the meeting of two water masses, and a full moon. They typically span about 15 miles. If you recognize these conditions in a place local to you, keep an eye out!
We recommend utilizing the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s free website for tide predictions. This website is a government funded organization and the NOAA scientists study the skies and oceans. Find out more about today's tides and currents at the NOAA.
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SMALL JON BOATS / RIVER BOAT SETUPS (10-16 FT)
Most small river boats vary in length from 10 ft to 16 ft and vary in width from 36 inches to 70 inches in width on the higher end. These boats are small and compact, which work great for bowfishing narrow rivers and streams as will as gigging bays for flounder and sheepshead. We recommend one light up front in each corner, mounted at an angle for maximum exposure. similar to the picture below. When angled, the light will illuminate a large area in front of the boat and on each side, making the most of your purchase.
MEDIUM SIZED JON BOATS (18-20 FT)
The medium sized jon boats range in size from 18 ft to 20 ft length and can range in width from 48 inches to 96 inches. These boats are a little big for the small rivers and streams, but make for a much more comfortable ride on the larger bays, bayous, rivers, and lakes. The placement of lights on this size of boat varies from customer to customer but the most common setup we see is 2-4 lights mounted up front, with 1-2 lights mounted on each side. Some of our bowfishing customers will only put 2 lights up front and will run 3-4 lights on each side, since they typically shoot to the side of the boat rather than the front. Below is an example of one of our customers boats.
LARGE / COMMERCIAL SIZED JON BOATS (22+ FT)
The large / commercial jon boats make for a very comfortable trip out on the bays and lakes and are typically 22 ft and greater in length. The widths are usually custom, range from 60 inches to 108 inches or more. The budget and brightness with these type of boats is usually no budget but maximum brightness. Thus, we try to fit as many lights as possible on the boat. If you have a boat this sized and are still trying to maximize efficiency, we recommend 2-3 ft spacing of lights around the boat.
Outrigger Outdoors was founded on their 3 prong and 5 prong Flounder Gigs, prior to their development of other flounder gigging products. This Flounder Gig continues to serve as the staple of the business and continues to lead the industry in the strongest, sharpest, and most resilient flounder gig you can find at an economical price. You can even make life a little easier by mounting a Fish Rake in your cooler or fish box. These gigs hold on super tight, and the fish rake takes them off with ease.
]]>The best flounder gigging lights for sale are going to be more quality focused than they are price focused. The reason for this is flounder gigging is done in saltwater. If you opt to go cheap in a saltwater environment, whatever you buy will not last.
This brings us to our main point of searching for a quality, well-rounded flounder gigging light that is not only feature-focused in providing the best user experience but also durability-focused to hold up to the saltwater for a long time. Whether you're going flounder gigging a couple times a year or a couple times a week, your flounder gigging light is the single most important tool you use and you shouldn't skimp on it.
Let's dive in to the details on what makes the best, most well-rounded flounder gigging light for sale.
There is one things you can't change about flounder gigging, and that's where it's done. Flounder are found in saltwater environments, and the best flounder gigging lights are typically run underwater to minimize the amount of light reflecting off the water surface. The number one cause of premature failure on lights used for flounder gigging is due to their inability to hold up to long term saltwater exposure.
This is one of those features that most don't realize when they first purchase their flounder gigging lights, but realize very quickly when they arrive and start figuring out how to put them to work.
The most desirable voltage to run flounder gigging lights is 12V DC, because it's easy to hook them up to your standard deep cycle battery. If you want to run them on a generator, then it's easy to utilize a power converter to do so. If you opt for an AC voltage flounder gigging light such as metal halide, HPS, or halogen, then you are stuck with AC voltage only and it is very difficult to run these off batteries. These lights are also not very durable or friendly to mount to boats - they are well known for breaking easily.
Lights such as the Swamp Eye Submersible and Mini Swamp Eye Submersible are compatible with boat adapter poles that will quickly and easily mount to the lip of your boat with an all-cast-aluminum c clamp. These are designed to hold up to saltwater long term, and are also very versatile to various boats commonly used for flounder gigging.
Another easy method to mount the Swamp Eye Submersible Lights is the Trolling Motor Adapter for Underwater Lights. Quickly and easily attach the underwater lights to your trolling motor, making it easier than ever to turn any boat into a flounder gigging boat.
There are very few lights made to be submerged in saltwater and run year after years of use. The Swamp Eye Flounder Lights have truly raised the standard for what's expected in a flounder gigging lights. They are made to withstand harsh environments, and keep running year after year.
Above all else, the Swamp Eye LED Flounder Gigging Lights are simply made to last. They were designed to withstand electrolysis, stand up to corrosion, and take the beating associated with running underwater while flounder gigging.
The best lights for flounder gigging are the Swamp Eye Flounder Gigging Lights by Outrigger Outdoors. They are available in various formats, all specifically designed for anglers who are flounder gigging at night. The Swamp Eye Submersible is a great option for those gigging from a flounder boat, while the Mini Swamp Eye Submersible is a great option for above water lighting or for flounder lights for wading and gigging. The Swamp Eye Light Bar is commonly used on above water flounder boat setups.
The minimum amount of lumens for flounder gigging is 5,000 lumens if you are wading and gigging and 20,000 lumens if you are gigging from a boat.
The amount of lumens you need for flounder gigging depends on the size of your boat or if you are wading and gigging. If you are wading and gigging, at least 5,000 lumens is ideal for being able to properly illuminate your surroundings and safely locate flounder. If you are flounder gigging from a boat
As we discussed above, it really depends on the water clarity. A warm white light works best for muddy water and a cool white light works best for clear water. The Swamp Eye Lights offer the best color light for flounder gigging because they are adjustable from warm white to cool white for different water conditions.
You can make your own flounder lights by ordering LED chips, mounting them to a heatsink, and using silicone to waterproof them. Seems simple right? Not so much. In order to get quality components at competitive prices, you have to order at large volumes and know exactly what to specify. This is similar (but smaller scale) to trying to build your own car. The car manufacturers have the technology and manufacturing abilities to produce cars for far less than you can build one yourself, which is why people steer away from building their own cars. We have received many customers who end up frustrated after spending hundreds of dollars on making their own flounder lights that ultimately do not last due to the lack of quality components and a sub-par design. It's a lot cheaper to invest into a reputable brand up front that has tested and proven quality flounder lights that actually work.
Thanks for reading along! Outrigger Outdoors is your trusted source for all things flounder gigging.
]]>As you may have heard, flounder is some of the best meat that the ocean provides. It’s delicious just about any way you cook it. In order to actually make the most of the flounder that you bring home, you need to know the best place to stick ‘em! We’re going to show you the best place to gig a flounder to maximize the meat on your plate and reduce the chances of the fish falling off your gig.
Gigging flounder is no doubt tons of fun. It’s even better when you get to make a meal out of what you brought home. Since flounder are some of the best eating fish around, it’s important to be careful where you aim your barbed flounder gig prongs.
As you can see in the image below, the fillet starts behind the gills and continues down the body to the tail. This is where you do not want to stick a flounder if at all possible. Most restaurants charge $20 per lb or more for flounder, so make the most of your late night gigging trips! Anywhere from the gills forward is fair game in terms of saving meat.
After years of hands-on experience, the general consensus on where to actually place your prongs is on the head of the flounder. However, the head can sometimes be small and can result in the fish falling off of your gig or you completely missing the flounder.
Quality flounder gigs are sure to hold on tight to flounder. Make life a little easier by investing into a fish rake to easily slide the flounder off into the ice box.
We like to say that the best place for those that are a little less accurate is right around the gill plate. This still preserves that delicious meat while giving you enough surface area to confidently bring the fish into the boat without fear of it falling off.
Gigging flounder in the head can kill them instantly which reduces the struggle and flopping that can cause flounder to fall off lesser quality flounder gigs, so either make sure you're a good shot or make sure you purchase of the best flounder gigs around. When gigging flounder, be sure the gig head is pressed in deep to avoid losing the fish. Anyone that has ever been gigging can tell you that having a flounder fall off your gig is a major buzz kill.
It is also important to keep in mind the size regulations for your area. As of the time of writing this blog, a few of the current size limits for total length of flounder are as follows (please read your latest local regulations prior to going flounder gigging):
Texas - 15 inch minimum
Mississippi - 12 inch minimum
Alabama - 12 inch minimum
Georgia - 12 inch minimum
Florida - 12 inch minimum
South Carolina - 15 inch minimum
North Carolina - 15 inch minimum
Virginia - 16.5 inch minimum (changes annually)
Don’t go flounder gigging without the right light. Our Flounder Gigging Lights and Supplies are super bright, color tone adjustable for clear or muddy water, and our flounder gigs are second to none in terms of quality craftsmanship. Easily expose and gig fish such as flounder, sheepshead, black drum, and many more.
Flounder gigging has a higher success rate when we have a new moon rather than full moon. A new moon makes for a darker night, which allows the bright flounder gigging lights to blind them and leave them stationary because they can’t see you. A full moon allows their eyes to adjust, giving them a better opportunity to spot you in advance and move out before you have the opportunity to gig them.
When flounder gigging, two there are two critical key factors to finding flounder:
While it is not impossible to find flounder in areas that do not meet these critical key factors, keeping them in mind will help increase your success rate.
It is important to understand the tide when strategizing your gigging trip. As the tide moves in, flounder will follow the baitfish in. As the tide moves out, the baitfish move out and flounder will follow. In most cases, the tide is lower during the day and higher at night. This is a key reason why flounder gigging gets better as the night goes on. The tide will continue to rise and flounder will continue to come in. If you are concerned you are going out gigging to early or late, a good rule of thumb is to watch the direction the flounder are faced when you spot them. If they are head towards the shore, they are still moving in. If the head is faced away from shore, then you need to be out on the water earlier because they already came in and are heading back out.
Flounder are very elusive fish. We have watched them sit still while waiting on baitfish and not even moving when crabs walk all over them. We’ve even seen a crab step on its eye and the flounder did not flinch! They will leave indentions in the sand when they leave. If it’s a fresh print, it will be a sharp edge where the flounder would have quickly move away and in some cases they can even be buried down underneath the sand. It is good practice to double check these flounder beds to make sure one isn’t hiding underneath the bed. In some cases, you can follow bed paths to locate additional flounder.
The new Swamp Eye Revamped flounder gigging and bowfishing lights have encountered some production issues, which are being corrected as I type this blog. We are very excited to release these new lights and expect to have them available in 2-3 weeks. Thank you all for your patience and we are looking forward to a great 2018 flounder gigging season!
We’ve had some really good questions from our flounder gigging customers so we’ve decided to dedicate this week’s blog to the topic.
One of the most overlooked aspects of fishing is barometric pressure. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division Assistant Director, Spud Woodward, exposes the science behind it. Woodward explained that a fish senses pressure changes through air in its bladder. “Fish that have small air bladders, such as kings, spanish mackerel, wahoo and dolphin, aren’t as affected by barometric changes as those with large bladders such as trout, redfish, tarpon, grouper and snapper.” Woodward continues to explain how changes in barometric pressure cause the fish to experience discomfort, and to appease the discomfort the fish will swim to deeper waters where the pressure is more constant.
Woodward did not comment directly on flounder, so we’ve done some additional research to expose the correlation. The Southern Flounder maintain its position on the ocean floor by maintaining a small body cavity and the absence of air in their bladder. However, most of the baitfish the flounder feed on are upright swimmers with small bladders. Based on these findings, flounder may not be directly affected by barometric pressure changes but their food source is, so barometric pressure changes should always be kept in mind. Low pressure fronts are more advantageous for fisherman than high pressure, but regardless, it is the mere change that causes discomfort in the fish so both will hinder the chances fish will be feeding. Key takeaway: be aware of barometric pressure changes, hit the waters before a front moves in. Pre-frontal bite is most aggressive with a dropping barometric pressure.
When it comes to flounder gigging at night, moon phase is not one of the aspects that will make or break your trip but it may make for a hard time gigging flounder. After interviewing several commercial and recreational fisherman, the most common feedback we received matches with our personal experiences: a full moon makes it more difficult to gig flounder because they will spook very easily, but we still find success with a full moon. If you can spot and gig the flounder quickly, you can often catch them before they start moving. When they start moving they typically move away slowly and then, as you get closer, they speed up. Key takeaway: have quick reflexes in a full moon.
If you neglect the navigating difficulty associated with a low tide for boats with a deep draft and primarily focus on flounder behavior, a low and rising tide is typically the most beneficial for shallow water fishing and flounder gigging. Flounder, redfish, and baitfish alike will come in as a low tide rises. If your boat drafts too deep for a low tide, we recommend finding some clear water on a high tide with conditions that match those in previous blog posts. There are several internet resources to find the tide in your area. One that I recommend is: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov. You are able to find a lot of valuable local information from this government resource.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Earth rotates through two tidal “bulges” each lunar day and coastal areas will experience two high and two low tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes. High tides occur 12 hours and 25 minutes apart and it takes 6 hours and 12.5 minutes for the water at shore to go from high to low, or from low to high. The lunar day is 50 minutes longer than the solar day because the moon revolves around the Earth in the same direct the Earth rotates around its axis (Sumich, J.L., 1996; Thurman, H.V., 1994).
Key takeaway: be aware of the tide, a low tide and rising has high potential for success.
Understanding Their Behavior
When the water temperature starts to drop, flounder activity goes way up. Accordingly, prime time for flounder gigging is usually in the fall once the cold fronts start rolling in. As the water cools off, the flounder start their “run” and fill the water ways on their way out to deeper waters to spawn. The flounder will spawn in water temperatures ranging from 53-66 degrees Fahrenheit at depths of 60-160 feet. When the eggs are laid, they will float in the water column and hatch about 72-75 hours later.
Where to go?
Flounder are going to rally along the shorelines, at the mouths of bayous, cuts, coves, and along drop offs in depth. The preferred bottom is eel grass beds and wharf pilings due to the protection they offer. In the summer time, they will be found on sandy and muddy bottoms of bays, harbors, and along the open coastline in temperatures ranging from 62 to 66 degrees F. Most of the larger flounder prefer deeper waters.
The key to finding flounder in the winter off-season months in your area is going to be the ability to find some warmer pockets of water. Most depth finders and GPS monitors on today’s boats have the ability to measure water temperature. Make sure your thermometer is working properly and make a run through the bay during the daytime to mark down any warmer pockets of water you come across. Make a note on these locations and visit them come nighttime to try to find some winter flounder. Once March rolls around, flounder gigging will continue business as usual due to the warming waters until the run which starts in late October, early November.
Outrigger Outdoors is a designer and manufacturer of purpose-built flounder gigging lights. We offer a wide range of above water and underwater flounder gigging lights, with our most popular versions being our Swamp Eye Submersible, Swamp Eye Gen 2.X Light Bars and Swamp Eye HD Lights. Our flounder lights are corrosion resistant and made to live in the saltwater environment. Their color output adjustability means you can adjust your lights on the fly to see in clear or muddy waters. Designed from the ground up, our technology utilizes minimum power draw while maximizing the lumen output to give you the best of both worlds in terms of brightness and run time. If you're ready to start putting more doormats in the cooler, shop our selection of flounder gigging lights today.