YES! You can gig a flounder in Florida in most Florida Counties but not all. You will need a saltwater fishing license and you will have to follow the rules and regulations concerning the minimum size limits and the maximum number or flounder that you can keep per person.
Do you need a fishing license to gig flounder in Florida?
Florida residents and visitors are required to possess a Florida hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing license when engaged in fishing and hunting activities. A license is required to attempt to take fish. If you cast a line or catch and release, you need a fishing license.
Can you gig flounder on the beach?
It is similar to fish gigging in the Ozarks, but it’s done along the coast because flounder are saltwater fish. Many fishermen say gigging for flounder on a slow night is far more entertaining than a slow day of rod and reel fishing.
Can you gig for flounder during the day?
Time to Gig
You can gig for flounder during the day but the glare from the daylight makes it much harder to see the bottom under the water. Next, we need to know where to go. We know they like shallow waters. We also know they like to hide and wait for their food to pass by.
What are the flounder regulations in Florida?
Extending ALL Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(FWC) flounder regulations into federal waters. Increasing the minimum size limit from 12 inches to 14 inches total length (recreational and commercial). Reducing the recreational daily bag limit from 10 to five fish per person.
Is there a closed season for flounder in Florida?
Regulations Gulf and Atlantic State Waters
Seasonal Closure: Closed annually from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
What is the best time to go flounder gigging?
Although gigging can be done in the daylight hours, it is far more fun and productive to gig for Flounder on a very dark night. Gigging a few hours before dead low tide or at low tide before the tide starts to come in will bring you the best results as the Flounder will be closer to shore.
Is it legal to fish at night in Florida?
There are no particular statewide laws for night fishing in Florida, and you’ll have to check for your body of water. While freshwater gamefish can only be taken with a pole-and-line or rod-and-reel, you can take non-game fish at night by bow and arrow, and gigs.
Is flounder gigging good on a 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.
What color light is best for flounder gigging?
warm white light
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.
How many flounder can you keep in Florida?
Florida Flounder Gigging Regulations
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.
Can you gig flounder in March?
Normally, the season starts in late August and lasts through November, although you can also arrange a gigging trip in spring and summer if local regulations allow it. If you’re planning a Flounder gigging trip in Australia or New Zealand, November until May is the best choice.
What is the best rig for flounder fishing?
Best Flounder Rigs
Like the basic fish-finder, this flounder fishing rig begins with the fishing line running through an egg, bullet or flat sinker, which is then tied to a barrel swivel. Next, a two-foot section of mono that’s lighter than the main line is tied to the opposite end of the barrel swivel.
Why is flounder season closed in Florida?
A recent stock status update suggested that the flounder fishery statewide is likely overfished and undergoing overfishing on the Atlantic coast of Florida, which led the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to approve an annual season closure late last year.
How do you gig for flounder?
Once you’ve spotted a flounder, you need to push the gig straight down on him like you mean it and hold him down. Flounder gigs don’t have barbs so it you lift it, he’ll slide off and swim away. To get the fish off the gig, slide your hand under the fish while pinning him to the bottom with the gig.
What is the biggest flounder caught in Florida?
20 pounds, 9 ounces
It averages 2-4 pounds, but fish running 8-12 pounds are caught each year—mostly in the fall around major inlets from the Georgia line to Sebastian. World and Florida records 20 pounds, 9 ounces.
Where is the best flounder fishing in Florida?
Top Florida flounder fishing spots
- Fernandina Beach.
- St Johns River in Jacksonville.
- Pensacola and Escambia Bay Pensacola.
- St Augustine rivers and inlet.
- Indian and Banana Rivers at Cape Canaveral.
- Choctawatchee Bay.
- Ft Pierce Inlet.
- Panama Bay.
What saltwater fish are in season in Florida right now?
Yellowtail, mutton, grouper, kingfish, sailfish, tuna, and even red snapper are all active and ready to catch.
How do you catch flounder on the beach in Florida?
BAIT AND WAIT. Livebait fishing for flounder is the most popular way to target these tasty fish, with the two most effective baits being finger mullet and mud minnows. Bump stressed to make sure, no matter the bait, that they are alive and frisky.
Can you gig flounder in Destin Florida?
We suggest October through February for flounder gigging. We suggest March through October for night time bowfishing. We also can take bowfishing charters on our 24′ Skeeter during the day.
What freshwater fish can you gig in Florida?
Game Fish – black bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, warmouth, redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish, flier, mud sunfish, longear sunfish, shadow bass, peacock bass, white bass, striped bass and sunshine bass.