If you live on the East coast (I don't know about the West coast) and are looking for things to do and enjoy a good adventure--go flounder gigging.  I am going to assume here that you do know what a founder is, oh ok so you don't.  It is a delicious, mild fish--a favorite of many--that is found in our waters here in EasternCoastal North Carolina. 

Perhaps you think all fish are caught by hook or net but that is not necessarily true. On a calm night when there is no wind and the moon is shining brightly over the bay, is a perfect night for flounder gigging. No, you cannot gig during the day, it must be at night.   Let's see if I can explain how it idone.

Equipment Needed

• 1.  A gig --3 or 5 prong spear on a long stick
• 2.  Underwater lights --available at any hardware store, bait and tackle shop and even convenience stores
• 3.  A battery to hook the lights to (like a car battery)
  
• 4.  A clear and calm night with a medium tide
• 5.  Sand bar where flounder come in as the tide rises
• 6.  A flat bottom boat (nothing fancy here) --you're not going to be riding--the boat is to carry the lights and battery and perhaps one person that poles the boat (the motor is not allowed)
• 7.  Mosquito spray
• 8.  Your favorite beverage 
• 9.  Shoes you don't mind getting wet (remember you will be walking in the water) 
• 10. A couple of good friends  

Ok, you're set with all the equipment.  You have hooked the lights to the battery and put the lights in the water are now walking along, gig in hand.  How do you find the flounder?  As you walk along (remember I said the water needed to be clear and you will be on a sand bar so it is not deep) you look for the outline of the flounder in the sand.  It will be almost totally buried, but once you get the hang of it - you will see the outline of the fish very clearly.  Obviously, once you see one that is adequate in size (there are legal size limitation) you stab the flounder with the gig.  Easy enough?  Well, maybe and maybe not.  It is more of a challenge than you might thinkto get the fish with the first try (after all, you have been enjoying your beverage of choice on the ride out so your perceiption may be a little distorted) and if you miss, Mr. Flounder definitely does not stick around for you to try the second time.  But...once you get one, you're the one hooked! 

What a great way to spend a summer night was some friends, walking around in the sound with a spearlooking for buried fish!  Sounds a little primitive, doesn't it?  And talk about good eating, I make a stuffed flounder that is incredible.  Maybe I will post that soon.   

 Did you learn anything?    I'd like to know.

Cynthia Tilghman, Onslow County Home Specialist

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Kingsbridge Realty, Inc.