Question About Gigging/spearfishing?

[Chief Grey Bear]

Glorification? I don't think by simply including a story in the magazine is glorifying it.

And when you state that it is not traditional because of upgrades in equipment, that would include all types if fishing. Jets and electronics immediately come to mind. And then we can get into tackle.

As for the number of articles for stream fishing vs gigging, it is usually one each. But some years it is zero for gigging. You are more than welcome to submit articles for publication consideration on stream fishing. But I would think with all the complaints about river traffic, meat eaters, poachers and what not, you wouldn't like a lot if press on the subject.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Perhaps dorks was too strong of a word. However they seem to glorify gigging, as you say, more than bass fishing and sometimes I feel they should change their name to the Missouri Department of conversation because all they do for the past 15 years that I've noticed is talk about doing things about fishing instead of actually doing anything. Please do something about fishing MDC, while were still young!

I think you may be confusing the MDC with the MSA.

[ozark trout fisher]

Eh, I don't like gigging. But I can't entirely justify it. My go to argument is that I think you should have to fool fish instead of stabbing them. But then I hunt rabbit and deer and I don't have to "fool" them, I just have to try to get close enough to get a decent shot, which is basically the same idea.

So here's where I'll come down on this: just because it's an "Ozark tradition" (so is hunting deer with dogs) I don't have to like it, I reserve the right to wish it weren't happening after seeing those gig marks in bass, but I guess when it comes down to it I don't think it should actually be banned. But in-season, I sure do think there should be a higher level of enforcement on the more popular streams to curb illegal gigging of gamefish.

But at the end of the day, I don't quite see how one could get so bored catching fish on a good old hook and line that you'd simply feel the need to go at them with a spear. That part won't ever make sense to me.

[Guest]

deleted

[Mitch f]

Sick of seeing stuck gamefish too. Don't mind that they can do it, but see far too many that abuse the rules and no enforcement. Season needs to be shortened and some regulations on lights.

Spot on guys!

Start by eliminating gigging in Special Management Areas

[ozark trout fisher]

Spot on guys!

Start by eliminating gigging in Special Management Areas

Yep, I think that's a good place to start.

[Smalliebigs]

Perhaps dorks was too strong of a word. However they seem to glorify gigging, as you say, more than bass fishing and sometimes I feel they should change their name to the Missouri Department of conversation because all they do for the past 15 years that I've noticed is talk about doing things about fishing instead of actually doing anything. Please do something about fishing MDC, while were still young!

Agreed 100% Mitch..... I really don't care what Britt says....the simple facts are that we observe illegal gigging....When the conditions are right, meaning very low water and very clear we see gamefish that have beengetting stuck. I don't care what any of you say about ethical giggers. When the conditions are right big Smallies and Walleye are getting stuck on the middle Meramec every year,I also have seen Smallies skewered Gasconade and Jacks Fork.

"This Ozark Tradition" is inherently dangerous to Smallmouth because of their slow growth rates and isolation during gigging season. Gigging also goes angainst the fair chase aspect IMO. I have gigged and once you know where to aim and if you have good vision with just a little eye to hand cordination you can put a beat down on fish.

Do hook and line fisherman poach??? hell yes but, it's harder to clean out a hole fishing than gigging and usually fisherman are out in the daylight hours. Illegal gigging is too efficient of a method for cleaning fish out if you choose to just gig any thing that swims.

I will continue to report and now video poachers and give what I can to the MDC but, they are much more concerned about deer hunting that time of year. They really don't think it's an issue IMO.....it's all lip service from them and that is why Mitch and I call them Missouri Department of Conversation......very little action on there part unless there is a revanue stream behind the venture.

I know there are ethical gigers out there and way more of them than poachers but, the act itself combined with the slow growth rates of Missouri's top game fish in the rivers makes it too east for the few that poach to do serious damage......it's a killing machine when done improperly.......I see it every fall and winter.....I don't care what the legal giggers say it's bad for Smallmouth and Walleye on the Meramec.

[Greasy B]

"Missouri Department of Conversation"

I like that.

[Flysmallie]

It's not a gigging problem, it's a poaching problem.

I've seen guys with illegal fish that they have caught fishing. I've seen the cleaned fish at an access that were obviously take illegally by fishing. Are we going to demand a ban on that next?

You can impose all the restrictions that you want, you guys are all about that, but if we could just get some enforcement of the current regulations then just maybe things would get better.

[bfishn]

jimithyashford may be the worst wade-fisher in the history of man, but his success at trolling is exemplary!