Hey everyone,
I just got myself a 14’ G3 jon boat, and I’m looking to rig it up with a great giggin’ lights setup. I go flounder giggin’ and catfish giggin’ with my buddies, and I’ve got the fever! Looking around at lights, though, and I’m confused about what’s best. Can anyone help me?
I’ve looked at…
Sea Striker pole lights ($90 each, halogen, not sure if they work or how many I need)
Halogen work lights (cheapest I know, but draw a ton of power, and very flimsy)
LED light bars (looking at putting a 48" 2600 lumens LED bar on the front, and a "24 1300 lumens bar on each side, mounted with PVC pipe frame. But, just not sure that it will put out enough light.)
Anybody out there a Giggin’ Mr. Myabi who can give me some good advice on lights? Thanks!
That is a good idea! But who’s gonna want to hold the light for me while I gig these mofo’s? Maybe I can mount it to a hat! 1,000,000 candle power miners light!
I can hold the light and gig just fine. Before Q Beams were invented we used Coleman lanterns and gigged plenty of fish with those too. The pump up gas lanterns, not propane. Seriously, try a good lantern before you spend a lot of money. There is no need to light up the water where you aren’t looking, and you can only look in one direction at a time. With the spot light you can pick up fish at a distance, change the light angle to catch the outline, see the gator on the bank you almost got too close to. And you’ve only got a couple of lights drawing bugs…
I’ve never seen the need for all the light bars and generators. I can spot fish just fine with a good flashlight and it sure is quieter. I like to hear the gators too:smiley:
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
Well said! Solid advice! So solid I’m going to follow you up on it! Actually going camping at Santee State Park w some fellas from work and all but the following weekend is a holidy and I plan on doing some gigging! Thanks for the wisdom! (haven’t done either in YEARS so i’m excited about both!)
Q-beam spotlight is a very, very bad idea. I have been flounder gigging for 25 years, and the only thing a spotlight is good for is finding the markers in the channel on those really dark nights or counting my fish in the bottom of the boat. If you use a spotlight you will miss 3/4 of the action. Here are some tips for success:
(1) Get a dome…the bigger the better. You need a dome like the ones you find in a warehouse ceiling.
(2) Paint the inside of the dopme white. White will give twice what any silver reflective product ever will provide.
(3) Mount the dome using conduit so that it will have a 45 degree or so angle off the front of the boat. Should be appromimately 4 feet off the water.
(4) Get 100 watt 12 volt bulbs for the light.
Some people use generators with 300 watt bulbs, but they are actually too bright for gigging in most situations–especially for the fish you see as you are about to pass by it. Not to mention that if a drop of water touches that hot bulb…pop; you need a new bulb. You have a hard time talking to your buddy with a generator in the boat too because even though they are quiet, they are still too noisy for talking comfortably.
100 Watt 12v bulb with a big dome and a deep cycle marine battery are all the things you need. You only need one in the right position in the front of the boat. All that other stuff is garbage. Yes, people used to use laterns for gigging, but since it is 2013 and we have batteries now, there is no need for laterns; however, the 100 watt 12v bulbs is similar is some ways to the way laterns cast light in your fishing path.
Give me till next year until I get home from Okinawa, Japan. Then, send me a PM. I’ll show you at leats part of the secret. Finding the fish, reading the tides/conditions, and actually finding fish will be trial and error on your part.
quote:I've been gigging for 50 years, don't think I've missed much action
I’ll be back next year. I’ll put my method up against your Q-beam anytime. 1 on 1 four hour tornament in 2014 when I get back. Notice 1 on 1 no extra help in the boat. 20 fish limit 2 hours on either side of low tide. IOP, Bulls Bay, Wando, Beaufort, the Gulf of Mexico…the place does not matter–pick one. I have fished them all. Wanna test the methods to see which one is the best? I love competition. It could be fun. What say you?
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
LOL I just wanna join you for some gigging! I’ll buy gas, “refreshments” of choice, and or pretty much be the best help you’ve ever had on a boat! So when we going?!?!?
I’ve been gigging for 50 years, don’t think I’ve missed much action:smiley:
I love competition. It could be fun. What say you?