Decent day and a good gator story

[Koz]

My son and I are back in Bluffton SC this weekend to spend time with family. Looks like we might have to stay a while because Dad is back in the hospital (not the virus) and my stepmother needs help.

 

Anyway, the fishing was slow the first few days and I caught some one pounders and a catfish. I saw male bass guarding beds in a few lagoons and no females around. That was a bummer.

 

But tonight the weather was warm with bluebird skies but I needed to get out. I hit a few lagoons that I rarely fish and decided this was a top water night. I landed a decent mama with eggs that weighed in just under 5 pounds and she put up a good fight. That got the attention of a mid sized gator so I moved to some other lagoons. In a few hours I landed another three between 2 and 3 pounds on a Pop-R and buzz baits. I think the bass were out of practice because I had a ton of short strikes.

 

Anyway, a few days ago I was fishing a favorite spot and a couple of old timers showed up to fish there as well. All of a sudden one of the guys stumbles backwards up the bank and falls on his but, gets up and scrambled up the hill. He said there was a gator hiding parallel to the bank. That does happen especially when the bank is raised. I could not see the gator and went back to fishing a chatterbait.

 

As I’m reeling in the gator surfaces and crosses the path of my 30 pound braided line. It was a big gator, about 11 feet long and fairly stout. As he crosses my line I seem to snag on him. I yanked the line and the gator spun towards me about 30 feet out. Uh oh.

 

I give it another pull and that ticks him off and I could feel how powerful he was and immediately pushed the button on my baitcaster to open the spool in case he decides to take off. But instead he turns towards me and closes in by another 5 feet.

 

With the spook open I back up the bank to grab my knife (dummy me - it’s usually in my pocket). But before I cut it I try reeling in again and luckily retrieve my bait. I guess he just got tangled and not hooked. 

 

The dumb gator just sat there staring at me. I figured I had ticked him off enough and packed up and fished somewhere else. It’s gator mating season so the males are super aggressive. He chased me off again yesterday but today he was nowhere to be found.

 

I have learned to fish with them around, but it’s not worth trying to fish near them durimating season.

 

Anyway, it was a decent day on the banks today. Still hoping for a PB this time of year.

[Sam]

Gators are sneaky and they use stealth to their advantage.

 

Be careful as they can blend into their surroundings and remain stationary for hours.

 

I have had them stare at me while fishing back in Louisiana when a teenager. They just sat in the water about 50 to 60 feet away and watch us in the skiff. They never came closer or threatened us in any way. But it was still spooky. And remembering these types of encounters gives me chills.

 

Be safe and watch your step!!!!

 

 

[Koz]

1 hour ago, Sam said:

Gators are sneaky and they use stealth to their advantage.

 

Be careful as they can blend into their surroundings and remain stationary for hours.

 

I have had them stare at me while fishing back in Louisiana when a teenager. They just sat in the water about 50 to 60 feet away and watch us in the skiff. They never came closer or threatened us in any way. But it was still spooky. And remembering these types of encounters gives me chills.

 

Be safe and watch your step!!!!

 

 

I am at my dad’s in Sun City Hilton Head now. There have been 2 gator attacks on humans here in the past two years. I had one come out of the water and chase me and the fish on my line a few years ago. We’ve had some other eventful encounters over the years as well including being stalked.

 

I don’t know how it is where you live, but it’s tough to get a gator declared a nuisance and removed. Being aggressive isn’t enough. 

 

That being said, first rule of thumb is to keep scanning the water while fishing.

 

Somewhere in these forums I previously posted a guide on bank fishing with gators.

[Sam]

7 hours ago, Koz said:

I am at my dad’s in Sun City Hilton Head now. There have been 2 gator attacks on humans here in the past two years. I had one come out of the water and chase me and the fish on my line a few years ago. We’ve had some other eventful encounters over the years as well including being stalked.

 

I don’t know how it is where you live, but it’s tough to get a gator declared a nuisance and removed. Being aggressive isn’t enough. 

 

That being said, first rule of thumb is to keep scanning the water while fishing.

 

Somewhere in these forums I previously posted a guide on bank fishing with gators.

Koz, game wardens will usually leave alligators alone if they are in their territorial waters even if the locals ask for the gator to be removed.

 

I was told a gator can run up to 30 MPH on land but I have not confirmed this. Maybe you or others on the Forum have correct information on gator land speeds.

 

Gators are very inquisitive animals. Although they sit in one place for long periods of time they will investigate commotion in the water or along the bank and as you know, they will lie in wait for a deer, cow, dog, cat, fox, raccoon, etc. and attack when they get the opportunity.

 

I watch Swamp People and their alligator hunting, which gets boring after doing the same thing for the 100th time but being from Louisiana and having Cajun friends (no, they don't hunt alligators unless they move close to their homes or favorite fishing waters and then they use a .22 to take them out) I enjoy seeing the beautiful marsh and bayous that are loaded with bass and other species.

 

And don't feed the gators. If you do they will follow you around all day. They love large white marshmallows, too. And chicken. They really like chicken parts. I think chicken tastes like people. ? 

[DanielG]

41 minutes ago, Sam said:

I was told a gator can run up to 30 MPH on land but I have not confirmed this. Maybe you or others on the Forum have correct information on gator land speeds.

 

Since humans run about 5-6 mph I'd imagine not many people can confirm this either! 

[N Florida Mike]

58 minutes ago, Sam said:

I watch Swamp People

I love that show. I do sometimes get a little bored with it . I like it best when they mix it up with family and friends gathering together and do other stuff, like froggin, crawfishing, etc.

My favorites are the Landry’s and Edwards families. They seem the most authentic, and especially willie Edwards. He catches the most big Gators by himself .

The show has similarities to some of my friends where and when I was growing up. One of them killed a 14 ft Gator and the other a 11.5. within a half mile of each other on a creek off the St Johns. Both of them were pre- teens at the time. I could tell you some stories about those two... real Florida crackers.

[N Florida Mike]

As far as Gator speed is concerned, I totally believe they can run 30 mph. But it is for a short distance only. I’ve never seen or heard of a Gator giving chase to run down its prey , except short distances . It’s just a short, quick burst and they either catch it or miss. But they don’t keep running after something.

I spooked a 10+ footer on the bank once ( I was in a boat) When it saw me it stiffened, then ran ( very quickly) down the bank, into the water, went under my boat, and through a pad field, pulling down the tops as he went.

I believe that one ran that fast for the short distance he ran...

 

[BASS302]

16 hours ago, Koz said:

Still hoping for a PB this time of year.

Personal Best Gator?   LOL

[MGF]

I never fished around gators. My only gator stories are from my Florida cave diving days. It wasn't unusual to have them hanging out around the springs and sinks. Never seen any real big ones and it never got dangerous...though I have friends who had more interesting stories.

[schplurg]

Gators shmators! Try fishing off the Delta banks near Stockton, CA - it's crackhead central.

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, schplurg said:

Gators shmators! Try fishing off the Delta banks near Stockton, CA - it's crackhead central.

Those are far more dangerous !!!

[Guitarfish]

I was walking the street behind us and found 3 syringes.  Kind  of unnerving knowing they are that close to home.

 

Burglaries and car break ins usually follow.

[SCHUNTER]

Koz, I got this area in the SC alligator lottery for a tag.  What was the general area you saw this gator in?

[Koz]

On 8/24/2020 at 11:34 PM, SCHUNTER said:

Koz, I got this area in the SC alligator lottery for a tag.  What was the general area you saw this gator in?

That was in Sun City Hilton Head. It's a private, gated community.

[Alex from GA]

I think it was January I was throwing a buzzbait in the river and a gator I didn't see inhaled it.  I was bringing it in and it wasn't hooked and I got the bait back.  The blade has a tooth mark.  Probably 7'.  Saw a couple of big ones that I detour around.