North Florida Frog Gigging: 4 Hr Trip $550, May thru Sept. [30% BOOKING DEPOSIT]

When I was around 10 years old, my brother, cousins, and I would don headlamps and arm ourselves with bee-bee guns, spotlights, and my uncle’s old rusty gigging spear and then head out to the swampy pond behind my grandfather’s house to hunt bullfrogs. We’d spend the entire night slogging through the muck and wading chest-deep into the green water trying to stick a spear into a croaking pair of glowing eyes. At sunrise, we’d hike back to my grandpa’s house, covered in mud and bug bites, to clean our catch of bullfrogs which grandpa would cook us for breakfast. He’d fry the legs in a massive cast iron pan and serve them to us with a side of biscuits and gravy which we would devour before passing out for the entire afternoon so we were well rested for another session of gigging that evening.

It was great fun and one of my absolute favorite childhood memories. But when I got older I learned that not everyone had a childhood like mine. Many folks have never experienced the pure unadulterated fun of gigging frogs and if you’re one of them I have to say you have no idea what you’re missing out on.

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A Frog Eating History

Long before we realized how slow and easy-to-catch chickens are, frogs were the go-to white meat for much of society. Historical records show that frogs were in almost everyone’s pantry as early as 100 AD. The peoples of ancient southern China listed raising frogs as livestock and Aztec scrolls have been found with hieroglyphics of people spearing and eating frog as well. During the 16^th century, monks had frogs officially deemed as fish so they could eat them on days when they weren’t allowed to eat red meat and religiously observant peasants quickly followed suit. This made frog legs a delicacy to be eaten only on special occasions. In the U.S States like Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama (and even Florida!), primetime frog season is looked forward to with the same anticipation as the opener of deer or duck season. Most states have open seasons for the hopping swamp chickens and very liberal limits (*in Florida there is no season and no bag or size limits). 

While there are over 100 different species of frogs in North America the small size of the animals means that there is only one species worth targeting when you’re in search of a meal—the bullfrog. These large amphibians are the largest true frog in North America, often attaining sizes from 6 inches to 8 inches long with some specimens weighing as much as a pound!

Bullfrogs inhabit warm water swamps, lakes, ponds, and rivers, usually spending most of their days down in the mud or hiding in thick weeds waiting for night to fall so that they can come out and feed. With the setting sun, bullfrogs begin to move around looking for insects and small crustaceans to eat and to find a mate. Their constant nocturnal surface activity and iconic booming croak make their locations a dead giveaway, making the night the perfect time to target bullfrogs with a gig.

Gigging frogs is very similar to bow fishing. It consists of going out into some froggy-looking water and listening for a croak or scanning the surface of the water with a spotlight until you spot the shining eyes of your quarry so you can make your approach. Once the bullfrog is fully in the light and you’re within spearing range, strike hard and fast. Aim for the back of the frog’s head with the gig, ideally sticking the gig right into the back of the neck. This will dispatch the frog quickly allowing you to lift it from the water and get it ready for the pan.

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The Other Other White Meat

Cleaning them is a pretty simple process. Simply cut off the back feet just above the joint with a sharp knife and then make a small cut across the back of the frog’s neck just behind its head. Using a pair of pliers, grip the skin of the frog at the base of the cut and then peel the skin down past the legs like you’re pulling off a pair of pants. Once this is done, take a pair of game shears and gut the frog and then trim off the front legs and head and you’re done.

There are a lot of ways to cook frog. The meat is light and very similar to a chicken wing with a slightly fishy edge. As such you can substitute frog into almost any of your favorite game bird or fish recipes. They can be grilled, baked, or roasted, but my favorite frog cooking method is to toss them in a bit of flour with a bit of salt and pepper and brown them in a pan with some hot oil.

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Feeling Froggy

Frog gigging will always hold a special place in my heart because of the significance it had over my life as a hunter. Bullfrogs were the first animals I went out and hunted and the first game meat that I brought home from the field and shared with my family. It introduced me an aspect of the outdoors that I hadn’t yet experienced and opened the door for me to the hunting world.

I can only hope that when I’m eventually too old to hunt anymore and spend most of my time sitting out on the porch listening to the night, I’ll hear the distant croak of a bullfrog and remember those long nights splashing around in the dark with my family, a flashlight, and a frog gig. 

*Florida Regulation on Frog Gigging: For bullfrogs there are no seasons, bag or size limits and a recreational license is not needed. To sell frogs or take frogs to sell, a commercial fish dealers license is required. Frogs may be taken in accordance with 68A-26.002, Florida Administrative Code (FAC), including use of gigs—provided gigs are not specifically prohibited in the area. Florida Bog frogs may not be possessed without a Scientific Collecting Permit.