Alligator Alley MM 41

[geo g]

Saturday 3/20/19

First Light-11:00

Mostly cloudy

Light wind

85*

W/T 74*

 

Went out solo and ran to the weir on the north side.  Threw a skip shad into the pads and there was a huge explosion.  I set the hook, and it started swimming out into deeper water.  I then realized it wasn't a bass but an 8 foot gator.  He let me pull him around a little and then realized he was hooked and took off like a bat out of hell.  He pulled the boat about 20 feet and the line broke, thank God.  I would have cut it anyway.  He is now wearing a skip shad like a nose ring.  Started throwing a fluke and caught a few small ones.  Electronics said there were fish deep holding around scattered weed clumps.  I fished slow along the bottom and picked up some bigger fish.   Lots of boat action out there.  I think some of the Okeechobee guys are staying closer to home.

 

I finished with 20 bass, biggest 18" and 17.5", a bunch of dinks, a bunch of Oscars, and a huge mudfish.  Fun morning with lots of action for such a short trip.

 

[RobbyZ5001]

9 hours ago, geo g said:

Saturday 3/20/19

First Light-11:00

Mostly cloudy

Light wind

85*

W/T 74*

 

Went out solo and ran to the weir on the north side.  Threw a skip shad into the pads and there was a huge explosion.  I set the hook, and it started swimming out into deeper water.  I then realized it wasn't a bass but an 8 foot gator.  He let me pull him around a little and then realized he was hooked and took off like a bat out of hell.  He pulled the boat about 20 feet and the line broke, thank God.  I would have cut it anyway.  He is now wearing a skip shad like a nose ring.  Started throwing a fluke and caught a few small ones.  Electronics said there were fish deep holding around scattered weed clumps.  I fished slow along the bottom and picked up some bigger fish.   Lots of boat action out there.  I think some of the Okeechobee guys are staying closer to home.

 

I finished with 20 bass, biggest 18" and 17.5", a bunch of dinks, a bunch of Oscars, and a huge mudfish.  Fun morning with lots of action for such a short trip.

 

 

Good report. Okeechobee didn't treat many people nicely in the last BFL. Water is getting lower, little front came through. Fished it for a few days had a handful around 4-4.5 but otherwise slow. 

[geo g]

Everyone tells me dangerous running in some areas.

[gnappi]

It's funny, last summer was the first time I hooked gators, and three at that! All were small around 3' or so and they got themselves off of the hook.

[geo g]

It does happen from time to time, especially if your throwing back in the pad fields.  It has happened to me a few times, never intentional.