Fl Guys - How Do You Avoid Being Gators Lunch?

[SFL BassHunter]

SFLBasshunter, great ideas thanks. Last week I was armed, this weekend I flew so no carry gun. I really like rocks in pocket and long stick idea, plus uber viligence of surroundings.

Being from VA I am comfortable around snakes as I have had to be careful around them for long time. It's just those d**n gators I wasn't used to

I have guide later today and looks like I have one in morning so I am really excited about the fishing. I wish I had my gear with me but oh well.

For the most part its just for the mental sense of security. The chances of actually needing to use it are slim to none. 

[hawgenvy]

I see alligators all the time and they don't seem to be the least bit interested in me. If one is in the water where I'm fishing I just keep an eye on it. If there is one on the bank and I am fishing from the bank I walk a wide arc to get around it. If that fellow sees me he'll usually jump in the water. Alligators will occasionally chase a hooked bass. Not a pleasant thought if you're out there with 80 lb braid. Once, pan fishing behind our house with my little daughter using night crawlers, a small (3 1/2 foot) gator was nosing my bobber. The next thing I knew he was firmly on the hook. I fought the little guy like a fish and had to get him to the shore before I had the leverage to snap the 6 lb line. My daughter thought he might try to eat her, so she climbed half way up a nearby tree and stayed till I convinced her it was safe to descend.

 

Unlike crocodiles, alligators do not seem to see people as something to eat. Back in the drought of 1989 the water was very low in the Everglades, and that forced all the gators to migrate to the rim canal. In the Loxahatchee Reserve at the Palm Beach/Broward County line, the gators were so thick in the rim canal that going down the canal in a boat was literally traversing an obstacle course. Just glancing ahead of the boat you could see several hundred alligators at a time, like dark logs in a river where they float lumber. It was spectacular, a sight I'll never forget. Unfortunately, the reptilian infestation resulted in the closing of the concession there, were you had until then been able to rent a little skiff with a 15 hp outboard and so easily head out into that wilderness without having to drag down your own boat. Sometimes I would rent a little skiff for an hour in the evening just to take in the beauty of the glades, without fishing. I'd go a little ways in, then turn off the motor and drift silently over the clear black water and through the lush green, and watch the many wading birds hunt and watch the mysterious alligators cruise along so slowly and quietly and gracefully, never making the slightest wake.

 

I want to mention also that years ago friends and I were canoeing along a swampy river in central Florida where the gators were so thick we had to push them out of the way with our oars. I wasn't scared then, but it's a little creepy thinking back on it now.

[F14A-B]

In 10 years, in & around Jax. fishing Oseola pits, wade fishing the St. John's & boating all over the central region, I've never been harassed by a gator..still, one can never be to careful in that environment. You gotta watch for snakes, scorpions, & such too. Man is still the one predator you always have to be concerned about IMO, no matter where you are..

[Chris at Tech]

I fish a good bit in Hilton Head SC where my folks are retired, and it's the first time I've fished in gator-infested waters.  The above info is good advice in that the ones who will bother you are the ones that get fed by humans.

 

WIth that said, I keep a few things in mind.  I purposely try to NOT be too stealthy when I'm walking around a pond.  By making a bit of noise, I give any gators the chance to get out of there before I arrive.  I also don't stand right at the water's edge when fishing, I stand a few feet back.  When I catch a fish, I try to get them in hand as quick as possible, and my personal preference is to flip them onto the bank with my rod.  When I'm unhooking, I take a few big steps back and I make sure I face the water while I'm dealing with the fish.

 

I've had a few run-ins with some small but obviously human-fed gators so I've had to keep my wits about me, but the simple steps above at least keep me comfortable and confident fishing in those areas.

[68camaro]

This thread brought out a lot of good ideas, thanks all.

I did get two half days on Lake Toho this weekend with guides. Caught a bunch of fish and saw some gators.

[atomicfriday]

Ditto to everything davecon has said. I've lived here my entire 26 years of existence and only the Yanks are scared of 'em . Go on a canoe float down the Peace River and you will see all the good ol' boys chest deep partying in black, gator water. I've done it once or twice myself. Really the only ones that ever pose a threat are mama's or ones that are used to being fed, otherwise they are looking for an easy snack.. we are another, very comparable sized predator.

[John G]

I fish a good bit in Hilton Head SC where my folks are retired, and it's the first time I've fished in gator-infested waters. The above info is good advice in that the ones who will bother you are the ones that get fed by humans.

WIth that said, I keep a few things in mind. I purposely try to NOT be too stealthy when I'm walking around a pond. By making a bit of noise, I give any gators the chance to get out of there before I arrive. I also don't stand right at the water's edge when fishing, I stand a few feet back. When I catch a fish, I try to get them in hand as quick as possible, and my personal preference is to flip them onto the bank with my rod. When I'm unhooking, I take a few big steps back and I make sure I face the water while I'm dealing with the fish.

I've had a few run-ins with some small but obviously human-fed gators so I've had to keep my wits about me, but the simple steps above at least keep me comfortable and confident fishing in those areas.

What Chris said.

I am a Fl Native and I have a tremendous amount of respect for large gators. If you are standing to close to the water, they do have the power to pull you in and there ain't a d**n thing that you can do about it. If you are in a kayak, canoe, Gheenoe or any of the other small craft out there, if they wanted to, they could get you out of it and there ain't a d**n thing that you could do about it.

Go ahead, sit on a boat dock with your legs dangling down. The odds are nothing will happen but there is a chance that you will lose a leg or two.

For the guy that said gators are more scared of us than we are of them, ask James Okkerse what he thinks about that. Well, you can't ask him because he is the latest person in Fl to be killed by a gator.

[Justbass11]

In all my years of fishing golf course lakes,  I can say I never had a problem with gators coming to eat me. I see them in the water and even have caught a few but they just flew off the hook after a few minutes. If they were big ones (10 foot or bigger) I would leave and go somewhere else to fish. But like so many that have posted on here its all about respect and for the most part they will leave you alone if you leave them alone. Hopes this helps and happy fishing in Florida

[jonnysmith]

many times while fishing from shore ive had to throw a rock at them,,it just scares them for a while and they pop up some where else to watch you..ive fished some remote canals/lakes where its a gator infestation.im talking 8,10,12 gators all  infront of you>watching you..its scary just to think if i trip and fall in..

[Montanaro]

Only person to be killed by a gator in decades was this last summer.

And he was drunk and was witnessed harassing the gator and telling people he was gonna jump in and wrestle it....

I think youll be alright

[geo g]

They can fix all kinds of conditions, but stupid is forever!

[BareHook]

22 year old man killed by 11 foot gator in Brevard county FL. Sounds like he was planning burglary in a neighborhood and was hiding in the tall grass on the lake when the gator took him.

 

The article is in TCPALM.com

 

Ken

[A.Do?]

22 year old man killed by 11 foot gator in Brevard county FL. Sounds like he was planning burglary in a neighborhood and was hiding in the tall grass on the lake when the gator took him.

 

The article is in TCPALM.com

 

Ken

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/12/08/alligator-kills-florida-burglary-suspect-hiding-cops/76966512/

 

pretty crazy.

[mplspug]

Yes, when playing hide and seek, it is generally a no-no to hide near or in the waters edge.

 

 

 

Police searching the area reported hearing "yelling" but could not determine the source that night, Goodyear said. Ten days later, Riggins' body was found in the lake.

[geo g]

If everything said is true, it sounds like a happy ending!

[Sam]

While growing up in south Louisiana we knew that if we fed anything to a gator the animal would follow us all day.

 

If a gator started to follow us for no specific reason, we knew he had been fed by others.

 

If a gator just made the warning sound or positioned himself away from us then we knew he was not fed and he would not approach us.

 

Only problem was that me and my cousins knew this but we always wondered if the alligators knew it.

 

Very powerful animals, always looking for something to eat.

 

Personally, I was more worried about the water moccasins than the alligators.

[John G]

Only person to be killed by a gator in decades was this last summer.

And he was drunk and was witnessed harassing the gator and telling people he was gonna jump in and wrestle it....

I think youll be alright

Do some research because there have been 3 people killed so far in 2015.

[Montanaro]

Dont care enough. Just going by what the news said back in the summer, no need to be rude.

[mplspug]

Matthew Riggins, 22, male on or about November 13, 2015 A police dive team found the victim's body in a pond in Palm Bay's Barefoot Bay community in Brevard County, Florida ten days after he was reported missing. Riggins, who had been burglarizing homes in the area, was attacked and partially eaten by an 11-foot alligator.^[1][2]

 

James Okkerse, 62, male October 19, 2015 Killed while swimming/snorkeling by a 12-foot alligator at Blue Spring State Park near Orange City, Florida. The final cause of death was determined by the Volusia Countymedical examiner's office in consultation with a forensic odontologist from a neighboring county who specializes in animal bites.^[3][4][5]

 

Tommie Woodward, 28, male July 3, 2015 Suffered severe trauma to a limb when he was attacked and killed in the early morning at a Southeast Texas marina. Woodward ignored warnings not to swim in the water because of the danger of alligators; his last known words were "[f**k] the alligators"

 

2 in Florida and I would say only 1 was not preventable or at least not due to someone ignoring warning or not being attentive. 

What will likely kill you? 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/06/16/chart-the-animals-that-are-most-likely-to-kill-you-this-summer/

Be smart and aware and you should be fine.  I'd be more concerned with the drivers in cars on your way to the body of water.  

[soflabasser]

I agree with you that unsafe drivers are much more dangerous than Alligators can ever be.

Edited December 10, 2015 by soflabasser

[flffemt86]

On 11/2/2015 at 1:43 PM, 68camaro said:

Actually this is serious question.

 

I live in VA but was visiting a resort in central FL over weekend, they had a few ponds with manicured banks, but also had a couple secluded ponds with tall and matted grass around them. At the secluded pods I was afraid to get too close to waters edge because of alligator risk, so I cast from about 15' from water. I was with 12 yo daughter also who I had stay near jeep.

 

Because of concerns I didn't stay long at all. When shore fishing ponds in Florida, how do you avoid 'gators?  

 

If you can stop laughing long enough tho answer I'd appreciate it:)

I'd worry more about the water mocassins than the gators.

[Florida Cracker2]

Well, being a native and dealing with gators most of my life...they attack things low to the ground like crouching landscapers, dogs, and swimmers swimming alone. If your in a remote location and standing upright, they will stay away from you. If you are in an area where cattle are...they will come right up to you and not be afraid. Golf courses are the most dangerous places.... where they are used to people and will take any easy meal they can get. My father...who is in his 70's and his high school buddy have a nuisance-gator license and remove them from residences 2 to 3 times a week here in SW Florida. When used to people, gators get brave and are quite dangerous.

[DogBone_384]

On November 7, 2015 at 9:30 PM, 68camaro said:

I am back in Orlando this weekend and I hired a guide for tomorrow afternoon on Lake Toho. i plan to buy a small travel setup tomorrow and hit some small ponds in morning. I'll be more comfortable fishing with info given here.

Sunday I may do a guided trip on lake Okeechobee if I can get back to Orlando in time.

Just got back from Orlando. Weather & time prevented me from fishing this time. I use a Diawa Ardito 7' M/F as my travel rod with a T3 Ballistic. It's a 3 piece that feels/fishes like a 1 piece. Diawa also makes it in a MH.

My .02 - best of luck in FL.

[N Florida Mike]

Ive fished around them all my life.Had a 10-12 foot bull go under my boat one time.I wouldnt be slightly "skeered" in a boat.I have wade fished the st johns river many times and seen plenty of 9-10 footers.There was one out there they called"ol tail light" and he was supposedly upwards of 15 ft.I only had one problem once with two 9 footers.I was wade fishing near Colee cove on the river and it was starting to get dark and a 9 footer came out in front of me.So I think its about time to go back any way.So as I turn around to go back another one had come out behind me.I couldnt go straight into the bank because of  an extremely thick cattail bed.So I decided to fish a little more and wait out the gators.But they wouldnt leave.It was nearly pitch black out there now and I did not want to have to wade back through the swamp to get out due to all the moccasins and whatnot in there in the dark.So I Prayed and started walking as quiet as possible toward the gator in my way.When I got about halfway he sank!So when I got to about whete he had been I was sweatin bullets and praying out loud.But I never stepped on him and made it through the swamp and made it back to the truck ok.The main thing is dont splash  the water,dont have a dog with you and watch for snakes and you should be fine

[Fentawn]

Saw this buddy earlier today while fishing.

My rule, give them their space and do not bother them. 

Don't forget about cottonmouths also, especially with all the tall grass.