This is a report of a different kind, so I apologize to all.
Passed a guy going east on 52 with ~17ft Al boat with gen and lights in tow. Thought to myself “Cool, at least someone is getting to go out. Wonder if he is going gigging or bowfishing?” I stopped to get fuel at Sunoco, and he pulled in as well. I figured I had time to say a friendly “Hello” and “Good Luck” to a fellow fisherman while truck was filling up. Walked over and said “Hey, you goin gigging?” He responded, “Nope, just driving around with boat.” (Guess he hasn’t heard of bowfishing.) It was a brilliant Bill Engvall Here’s your Sign reference completed by guy with boat behind me. Had brief very standoffish exchange about weather being bad and his destination of Charleston Harbor. I said “Good Luck” and walked away.
To whomever it was I spoke to: I do hope you do well and stay safe tonight, but good grief man I wasn’t asking to date your wife. I’m genuinely sorry if some random guy at the gas station talking to you made you uncomfortable. I assure you I am not trying to steal your spot. I have had hauls in my canoe you wouldn’t believe if I told you(in that area). I will even share techniques I’ve learned with other giggers like you, if…oh well.
On this note I would like to make a request for more courtesy between giggers when we meet somewhere besides CF.com, especially on the water. It is all too often that giggers wake each other leaving bad results for both parties. I know gigging is far more competitive than fishing because a much larger territory is used by a single boat. But we can choose to be polite. I have been out with a friend and we were waked, ruining the whole bank for about 30 min. I encouraged my friend NOT to retaliate in kind. All experienced giggers know that there are plenty of fish out there for everyone and exploring new territory can be very rewarding. Whenever I see another gigger on the water, I prefer to approach slowly and ask where they are headed so I won’t cut them off.
the lights help. Agreed not the safest practice, but personally I would rather attempt courtesy than starting a wake war or cutting in on what someone perceives as “their bank.” I understand that most won’t do it. I am usually in a canoe, so I am not very threatening. I dread the day I hear of someone having “river rage.”
i had a home made gig pole+trident(as i call it) in my boat other week at the gas station.(gtown) had a guy come up and started talking randomly… joking about my fuel bill and took notice of the spear…
i was friendly made general conversation… his last words to me were try this spot with that pole… its not my honey hole but it seems to produce everytime… gave me a number for the plotter and we went our separate ways…
didnt even try my spear got all the ray i could want on rod/reel… but still pretty cool in my book. u can approach me anytime lol…
I have a big sign too. Dilly Dally all over the side of my boat. It invites conversation because most anglers I know, and were trained by, are fabulous wonderful people, even when getting gas. I would categorize the person you met as quite possibly someone who does not sleep well at night.
I gig mostly Pawley’s island and have had some interesting experiences. Some guys on a dock started shouting at me one night accusing me of stealing crabs out of their pots… I ignored them at first but after a while I’d had enough and poled over to their dock and showed them my cooler. They shut up and apologized …i usually gig alone so I always carry. You never know. I’ve had big things in the water hit my boat which is creepy but the worst was the time I got stuck in a lightning storm at low tide and left motor in truck …only had gig and push pole for propulsion. Both metal
Ill actually be in Charleston next week on vacation and bringing my gigging boat. Just made a new led gigging light that I’m anxious to test. This one has a warmer 3000k light color that I’m hoping will do better in murky water. I’d be interested in talking with any other giggers so pm me if anyone will be out. I definitely dont “wake” other folks and try to be courteous.
The man was out in full force this weekend and we watched him write several tickets and take folks away. These people were gigging everthing, Thanks DNR
You nailed the #1 reason why I do not go gigging on the weekends. I love it when some jackass jumps ahead of you and starts working the bank you were on.
.
PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
You nailed the #1 reason why I do not go gigging on the weekends. I love it when some jackass jumps ahead of you and starts working the bank you were on.
.
PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
I had a boat full of youngsters pull in 40 yards behind me on a bank I was working a few weeks ago. I quickly educated them. I hate having to do that but people will walk all over you if you let them…
Good. I’m glad that at least some of them are being caught. On a different note, I went Monday night gigging at IOP. I use Dad’s boat for gigging, and the dang E-Tec broke down on me. So, I pushed it all the way back to the IOP Marina from Capers Inlet…5.64 miles away according to Google Earth. On the way back, I did a pretty good job of letting the air out of the flounder and a limit of redfish.
quote:Originally posted by Local Boy
The man was out in full force this weekend and we watched him write several tickets and take folks away. These people were gigging everthing, Thanks DNR
Local Boy, Just having fun.
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
You nailed the #1 reason why I do not go gigging on the weekends. I love it when some jackass jumps ahead of you and starts working the bank you were on.
.
PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
Ha,ha…saying you are sorry is no good if you keep doing the same thing over and over again…LMAO.
quote:Originally posted by 23Sailfish
quote:Originally posted by sellsfish
You nailed the #1 reason why I do not go gigging on the weekends. I love it when some jackass jumps ahead of you and starts working the bank you were on.
.
PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
