At IOP with family last week. Went out near folly with old roommate from The Citadel. too close to high tide and didn’t see anything. Ended up calling it a night and headed back to IOP around 1am. Got back to beach house at 145 and realized someone locked me out (suspect mother in law) after realizing I could not get back in without waking the entire house up I decided to sleep in truck for an hour and head back out. After an hour of sleep I woke up and put in at one of those fancy ramps. I checked the ramp out earlier in the week and felt a bit out of place since I wasn’t wearing a pastel collared fishing shirt, costa sunglasses and I have a camouflage boat (as opposed to an expensive flats boat). I put in around 345 (2 hours before low tide) and hit a few of the banks. My expectations are low but then I start seeing fish. Ended up putting 6 in the boat before sunrise. Gigged a nice one and couldn’t reach net. Had to get out and use gill technique but I miscalculated and he chomped down on my finger. Saw lots of big reds and resisted urge to stick them. Cleaned fish and stuck new bubba blade in my finger during process… very sharp knives but I should probably invest in one of those chain mail gloves. Despite the injuries it was a good trip.
Nice job on the fish. Sounds like you are really worried about what others think about you. Plenty of jon boats put in at the “fancy ramp” at IOP every day…
Nice flounder, what type of lights do you use and how are they rigged? I use a 12 volt 4ft summersible led that clips to a battery. The lights are mounted on a PVC frame that floats in front of the boat on top of the water using pool floats.
Thanks, I have 1548 G3 with 2 HydroGlow LEDs mounted up front and a submersible Alumiglo. The alumiglo is mounted to a trolling motor bracket I can drop in water and adjust depth. Trolling motor mount works great and the alumiglos are solid…I’ve run it into oyster banks numerous times and it keeps on working.
I’m building a new submersible LED light to mount to my SUP. Its almost done, I just need to pot the LEDs in clear silicone. For the LEDs I found a brighter more efficient 12v LED strip and ordered it in 3000k color vs. the 6000 that the Hydro glow and alumiglos use. I’ve read 3000k color penetrates murky water better so I decided to build one and test it out on my SUP.
Thanks, I have 1548 G3 with 2 HydroGlow LEDs mounted up front and a submersible Alumiglo. The alumiglo is mounted to a trolling motor bracket I can drop in water and adjust depth. Trolling motor mount works great and the alumiglos are solid…I’ve run it into oyster banks numerous times and it keeps on working.
I’m building a new submersible LED light to mount to my SUP. Its almost done, I just need to pot the LEDs in clear silicone. For the LEDs I found a brighter more efficient 12v LED strip and ordered it in 3000k color vs. the 6000 that the Hydro glow and alumiglos use. I’ve read 3000k color penetrates murky water better so I decided to build one and test it out on my SUP.
Sounds like a sweet setup, here’s the link to my lights: http://www.fishinglightsetc.com/FlounderPro2600.html
They are super bright and are very tough, theres a video on the website of them running it over with a truck. There’s also a few gigging rigs on there for inspiration. Do you use a trolling motor or pole with the gig? And are you using batteries/inverter or generator?
Good stickkin’! You can go anywhere you want with that ring in Chucktown. C/O '96er here. I’m currently out of state but just rigged up some handhelds and was talking to another F-Trooper today about putting them to use next month. We should try to hook up. Drop me a PM with particulars when you get a chance.
I have same flounderpro2600 and I have it mounted on a trolling motor bracket… here’s a pic of the mount without the light attached
flounderpro2600 is a great light and have used it alone for 2 years…they are solid.
“I’m curious how you gig by yourself. Are you using a trolling motor?”
gigging alone isn’t too bad…I actually prefer it these days. I have 2 boats set up; a 12’ alumicraft and the 1548 in the picture above. The 12’ boat is easy to handle by myself and I don’t use a trolling motor, I have a push pole like this http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Telescopic-Push-Pole-or-Push-Pole-Duck-Feet/product/6087/ with the paddle attachment that I can use like a SUP…most of the time I can get where I need to go in the 12’ boat with just my gig as a push pole. I rarely crank my motor. My 1548 I also use the push pole but was thinking of getting a trolling motor as it is a bit more difficult to control with just the gig/push pole. The main thing I’ve learned about gigging alone is to plan for the tides and wind. I can let the tide move my boat and I just use my gig as a guide or brake to slow down my boat if the tide starts pulling me too fast. If I need to turn my boat around I just anchor my gig and let my boat pivot around… takes some practice and its quite a workout.
I’m actually selling my 12’ boat and have started gigging off of my SUP (pic below) which is much easier to control
Very cool, I love your set up. I’ve actually done something similar recently.
My light set up is just one 12v DC battery with 3 clamp on lamps. I’ve been gigging from my 17ft CC this summer and with one other person it is actually pretty easy to pole. Like you said, using the wind and current to your advantage is totally key. This past week I tried gigging from my kayak for the first time and it went pretty well. I have a Native Ultimate 14.5 Tandem. I took out the front seat, put the battery in a soft cooler bag and clamped the lights right to the side. I can actually fit my kayak in my CC to transport it up a creek I want to gig.
Elcid, how do you like the hydro glows? I have the flounder 2600 and find it lacking as it doesn’t penetrate enough for me. Are the hydro glows brighter or about the same? I am currently using a Honda eu2000 with 4 x 500 watt floods which are very bright but I really miss the quietness of 12 volt!
I have some 30W LED waterproof set ups for sale that work really really well. if anyone would like to see them ill be glad to meet you on my way to the dock one night. PM or call/txt
I’m just jealous I dont have a flats boat and have a cheap pair of Calcuttas. Almost bought a flats boat last year instead of the g3 but wanted something more versatile I could duck hunt and gator hunt with.
Regarding hydro glows vs. 2600…2600 seems brighter. Been doing some research on candlepowerforums to figure out best setup. I have a couple of lights I built …just need to pot them in silicone and they will be ready to test.
