First encounter with a gator

[Buckeye Ron]

Some of you might remember that I just recently moved to SW Florida from Ohio. While I've not been able to do much fishing yet I did manage to fish a local pond yesterday in the community where I live. Walking around the pond I saw my very first gator sunning on the concrete spillway. While not a monster it did get my attention,and I couldn't help but think there had to be it's momma somewhere close by. It showed no fear of me at all. I did manage to catch a couple of bass and lost what felt like a good one,all on a pb@j craw.

 

[TnRiver46]

From my experience they won't mess with you......... until you try to get your hook back from them..........

[Buckeye Ron]

7 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

From my experience they won't mess with you......... until you try to get your hook back from them..........

No worries about that! 

[BassinLou]

It won't be your last experience, 2 things to always keep in mind. Respect them and they will not bother you 95% of the time, and what ever you do, NEVER EVER feed them. 

[riverbasser]

Growing up in Florida I was never really afraid. I've fed many a gators. Had one trained on dog food until i picked him up one day(3 footer). He would still eat but never came close to me again. I would only be afraid of a gator if I came up on a fresh nest with a big mamma around.

Moccasins are what you need to really be watching out for

[Buckeye Ron]

3 hours ago, BassinLou said:

It won't be your last experience, 2 things to always keep in mind. Respect them and they will not bother you 95% of the time, and what ever you do, NEVER EVER feed them. 

To be sure,I respect the heck out of gators. And any other critter that can eat me. And I would never feed one of them.

[BassinLou]

Just now, Buckeye Ron said:

To be sure,I respect the heck out of gators. And any other critter that can eat me. And I would never feed one of them.

Good to hear, have fun and be safe. 

[Buckeye Ron]

3 hours ago, riverbasser said:

Growing up in Florida I was never really afraid. I've fed many a gators. Had one trained on dog food until i picked him up one day(3 footer). He would still eat but never came close to me again. I would only be afraid of a gator if I came up on a fresh nest with a big mamma around.

Moccasins are what you need to really be watching out for

That's why I look before I put my foot down when I'm walking around ponds and rivers. Never know when a snake will appear.  

[geo g]

We often see a hundred of them in the wild, on Alligator Alley during the dry season.  They are there because the swamp is drying up, and they come in all sizes up to ten feet.  Fishing is like herding cattle with the boat pushing at least ten of them ahead of the boat.  They usually stay about 20 yards ahead of the boat in the canal..  95% of the time your not going to have a problem.  The last few years a few have become more territorial and have put on some displays.  I've had them hit the trolling motor with their nose, and tail slap the side of the boat.  But this is rare even in the confines of the canal.   Never, ever,  feed a gator, they will learn that two legged creatures mean an easy meal.  FWO have removed several from ramp areas that were causing problems because tourists were feeding the lizards so they could get a closer picture at the ramps..  We don't need a 800 pound dinosaur that can vault 6 feet out of the water, with no fear of people.  Its not their fault, its just people without common sense.

 

Its also a healthy state fine for feeding gators in the wild, for this very reason!

[Buckeye Ron]

I'm with you geo g. Years ago I was in the Ding Darling preserve on Sanibel and came upon a 4ft. gator that showed no fear of us. The park ranger told us that this gator had been fed by humans and therefore would have to be removed from the preserve.

People that feed wild animals have no idea what they're doing and probably don't care.

[soflabasser]

Get used to seeing alligators down here, they are all over the place,even in home owner association ponds.The one you saw was small one,you can tell by its juvenile coloration. The big ones(+12 feet) are truly an impressive animal,and they have no fear of bank fishermen. Always pay attention to your surroundings and be careful when landing a bass,alligators are master ambush predators and can be right in front of you without you knowing(they like to crawl the bottom of a lake and position themselves in front of the shoreline where a bank fishermen is reeling in a bass).Mating season is even worse,avoid nesting alligators the mama alligators will chase you if you get to close to her nest.

[wdp]

I used to fish a couple lakes in a wildlife refuge that were full of gators, many in the 6-8' range. Did have a big 12 footer I'd see almost every time I'd fish this one area.

It would make me nervous at 1st, but I got used to it. The worst was when I'd ease into a spot very quite like around all the lily pads & grass. Sometimes I'd spook one that would thrash & swim away. That'll make your heart skip a beat! Did I mention I was fishing in a little 12 ft jon boat? ?

Got a bunch of gator pics. I'll try to post a few if I can dig some up. 

[BassObsessed]

This was a couple years ago fishing at a wildlife refuge south of Orlando while on vacation. She was eying me up across about a 75ft canal.

 

[wdp]

11 hours ago, BassObsessed said:

This was a couple years ago fishing at a wildlife refuge south of Orlando while on vacation. She was eying me up across about a 75ft canal.

 

Dang! That kinda looks like an aggressive posture. ?

Here's a few pics from the wildlife refuge I fished a lot back when I lived in Starkville, MS. The 2 largest lakes had very healthy gator populations.

The last pic is the big girl I would see on a reg basis when I got in this one area. I'd just look over & would always see her swimming & keeping pace with me about 20 yards or so away. She was about the length of my 12 ft jon boat.

 

[Buckeye Ron]

Dang!! Those are too big to be walking around the bank fishing as far as I'm concerned. If I ever see one eyeballing me like the one in Bassobsessed's pic you can be sure I will keep one eye on him. I don't normally fear critters but I sure do respect them!

[crypt]

always walk the bank looking ahead………..always, they are the sneakiest boogers out there. not as bad as snakes though…….just saying.

[wytstang]

On 12/14/2016 at 9:31 AM, BassObsessed said:

This was a couple years ago fishing at a wildlife refuge south of Orlando while on vacation. She was eying me up across about a 75ft canal.

 

When they look at you like that it's time to move on ASAP as you have your hand on your gun.

[BassObsessed]

My wife was sitting in the car for a few minutes while I was fishing and when she saw that gator she said give me the car keys. I said thanks alot lol.

[hawgenvy]

Last month I was fishing the bank one evening at a little golf course pond. I looked down and this little puppy was right there, just three feet from my feet. I think he may have been attracted to the lure I had just retrieved. He stayed perfectly still while I got my phone out for a photo. Here in Florida, I'm sometimes hesitant to reach below the surface for a stuck lure, or a golf ball.

[wdp]

2 hours ago, hawgenvy said:

Last month I was fishing the bank one evening at a little golf course pond. I looked down and this little puppy was right there, just three feet from my feet. I think he may have been attracted to the lure I had just retrieved. He stayed perfectly still while I got my phone out for a photo. Here in Florida, I'm sometimes hesitant to reach below the surface for a stuck lure, or a golf ball.

 

???????

[Ohio Archer]

Just roll them over on their back and rub their belly. They like that and it makes them sleepy. 

[SFL BassHunter]

Gotta be careful with them little ones. Momma gator usually isn't too far from them.

[Wayne P.]

They are attracted to plastic worms:

 

[Gundog]

On 12/24/2016 at 11:01 AM, Ohio Archer said:

Just roll them over on their back and rub their belly. They like that and it makes them sleepy. 

My last girlfriend use to do the same thing to me and yea it made me sleepy too. 

[soflabasser]

It never gets old for me seeing alligators when I am bass fishing.This weekend I had a +10 footer get less than 15 feet away from me,so I stopped fishing for a while and just admired the sheer size and beauty of this alligator.Such a impressive animal,I highly recommend anyone who have not seen a alligator to make a trip down here and see them with your own eyes.