Unique approach to unique state record fish

While angling is popular statewide, many Oklahomans may know little about gigging — an approach that recently yielded two new state record fish. Gigging is the sport of using spears to harvest fish such as the state record Northern hogsucker taken by Bixby angler Clint Williams March 15 and the river redhorse taken by his brother Carl Williams of Coweta two days later. Both fish were gigged from the Illinois River. The hogsucker weighed in at 2 lbs .01 oz and measured 15 5/8 inches in length. Carl’s river redhorse weighed 10 lbs. 19 oz. and measured 28 ½ inches in length. In Oklahoma, gigs and spears are legal for taking nongame fish and white bass only. It’s a sport mostly done at night, and though not widely participated in throughout the state, spearing and gigging fish is like traditional archery deer hunting — it may not be as common as other approaches but participants consider it an exciting way to fish. The Williams brothers started gigging when they were kids and recently started enjoying the sport again. Carl said the sport is like a “combination of hunting and fishing,” and offers a stalking aspect to angling. “There’s nothing like it,” he said. Gigs and spears must not contain more than three points (with no more than two barbs on each point), and their use is legal in all rivers and streams from Dec. 1 through March 31, and year-round in all reservoirs unless restricted under “special area regulations.” Additionally, gigs are permitted year-round in rivers and streams in Delaware and Mayes counties, unless restricted under “special area regulations.” For full regulations, including “special area regulations,” consult the current “Oklahoma Fishing Guide,” available where fishing licenses are sold or online at wildlifedepartment.com. For a complete list of record fish and the procedures regarding certifying state record fish, consult the current “Oklahoma Fishing Guide” or log on to wildlifedepartment.com. Anglers who believe they may have hooked a record fish must weigh the fish on an Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture certified scale, and the weight must be verified by a Wildlife Department employee.
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