Alligators and Small Boats

[Sipfishing]

Hi all,

 

I have a small boat (10ft) and I fish on lakes that have plenty of alligators. I’ve never had a bad experience with any (and I’ve seen some longer than my boat), but I wanted to see if this is always the case. I’ve heard the typical stuff about them being naturally fearful of humans and only being aggressive if they are mating/protecting babies or if somebody has fed them, so would most folks say this is true? My boat sits pretty low to the surface, almost like a kayak, so it’s always a worry in the back of my mind that one might ambush underneath the surface and come lunging out of nowhere. I don’t know if that should be a concern or not with alligators but any insight on their behavior towards humans and small boats would be appreciated.

[GaryH]

Look up alligator attacks kayak. It’s rare but not as uncommon as you may think.

[David 7]

Funny story, last week I saw two big clumps of grass surface and the way it was shaped it looked like a small alligator. I was in my kayak and was very startled.

 

Here’s the thing though… I’m in New York.

[Alex from GA]

I'm around them when I'm in FL and haven't had any problem.  When they see you they either go down or swim away.  I did have to nudge one with my paddle one time in my kayak.

[Koz]

4 hours ago, Alex from GA said:

I'm around them when I'm in FL and haven't had any problem.  When they see you they either go down or swim away.  I did have to nudge one with my paddle one time in my kayak.

I think the only hard and fast rule when fishing with alligators is to use an abundance of caution. I've have alligators come out of the water and chase me around the bank, slam into concrete fishing pads, stealthily stalk me along the bank, camp out 30 feet in front of me while I fish, attack my lures, and I've had them swim away when they see me.

 

Mating season or not, protecting babies or not, some are just territorial. That being said, I had no problem fishing in jon boats in alligator waters, but with my experiences I was not brave enough to get in a kayak in those same waters.

 

Keep your head on a swivel at all times. They might not even be stalking you, but waiting for an opportunity to grab what you catch. That can make for a really bad day in a craft low to the water.

[Sipfishing]

10 hours ago, GaryH said:

Look up alligator attacks kayak. It’s rare but not as uncommon as you may think.

I’ve seen three videos that went viral. One was of a guy that was flipped out his kayak when a gator slammed into it. The gator didn’t look very big and the way it came flying at the kayak with its mouth open looked like a defensive attack I think it was a mama gator. The second one was a guy that was kayaking with a small dog and the gator attacked. I’m pretty positive the gator was going for the dog. The last one I saw was a gator that kept approaching a kayaker. Every time the kayaker would back up the gator would move in again. That was the only video I was unsure about. I couldn’t tell if the gator was acting territorial or if somebody had been feeding it. From everything I’ve read online unprovoked attacks usually happen when pets are involved, a small child, or if someone is swimming since the splashing triggers predatory instincts. I just wanted to see what people’s experiences have been with them while fishing in small boats, kayaks, etc... since they are wild animals 

[Sipfishing]

1 hour ago, Koz said:

I think the only hard and fast rule when fishing with alligators is to use an abundance of caution. I've have alligators come out of the water and chase me around the bank, slam into concrete fishing pads, stealthily stalk me along the bank, camp out 30 feet in front of me while I fish, attack my lures, and I've had them swim away when they see me.

 

Mating season or not, protecting babies or not, some are just territorial. That being said, I had no problem fishing in jon boats in alligator waters, but with my experiences I was not brave enough to get in a kayak in those same waters.

 

Keep your head on a swivel at all times. They might not even be stalking you, but waiting for an opportunity to grab what you catch. That can make for a really bad day in a craft low to the water.

I try to watch like a hawk when I’m out there. I’ve only been fishing from a boat for little over a year. I haven’t had any negative experiences with any and I’ve been as close as 20ft from one that was longer than my boat. I was behind a few cypress trees and a mat of floating water hyacinth when we kind of ran into each other while we both were on the move. I stopped moving when I saw him and he stopped swimming once when he saw me and he lowered his back under the surface when I stood up to get a better look at him. He just sat there with just his head above the surface while I stood and watched him and he swam off once I sat back down and turned my back. When I was bank fishing I’ve had some big ones swim close to me and just sit and wait until I caught a fish and then try to steal it before I reeled it in. They were never too close to the point where I felt uncomfortable and I knew they weren’t there for me just the fish. I’ve never had one that I thought was actively stalking me to make me a meal. I’ve even had a 10 footer come out of nowhere and eat my bobber while bream fishing. I had to eventually move because he just wouldn’t leave the bobbers alone (I previously thought only the small ones liked bobbers). I’ve also noticed that they are a lot more timid on lakes that don’t receive a lot of human traffic. 

[throttleplate]

gators also dont make good pets.

[Catt]

I'm 69 years old & live in southwest Louisiana. Never had a gator bother me even bank fishing. Never heard of a gator attacking a boat.

 

Now they will chase a topwater lure all the way back to boat & they may even hang around awhile.

[NoShoes]

I’ve seen them

hit kayaks. There was a guy in South Carolina kayak fishing a creek last year and a gator charged the kayak from the bank and leveled his Behind. I’ll try to find the video. 

[Captain Phil]

I'm 74 and have lived, camped and fished in Florida all my life.  Alligators are reptiles.  They don't think, they react.  The problem with alligators is they grow big enough to be dangerous.  There was a time when human alligator contact was rare and you had to go out into the Everglades to see one.  Increased human development makes this contact more frequent.  Where I live, 8 foot plus alligators often sit on my boat dock.  They eventually lose their natural fear of humans. When this happens, they become a nuisance and the State removes them. 

 

Every year in Florida there are about 7-10 serious alligator attacks.  Since I have lived here, 25 people have died.  Alligators are not aggressive. If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone.  Fishing in a 10 foot boat shouldn't be a problem, but you should be aware of a few things.  Never take a small dog or child with you.  Alligators are notorious for snatching dogs from Jon boats.  Numerous dogs have been lost this way.  The same goes for low shorelines.  A few years ago a small boy was killed by an alligator as he walked along a lake at Disney World.  I have seen large alligators challenge small boats.  This usually happens during low water when alligators are trapped in canals.  Never swim around large alligators. 

 

The chances you will have an encounter with an alligator are rare.  Give them a wide berth and you will be fine.  Keep your eyes open and use common sense.   You don't want to get into a wrestling match with a 10' lizard with big teeth.

[Koz]

9 hours ago, Sipfishing said:

I stopped moving when I saw him and he stopped swimming once when he saw me and he lowered his back under the surface ...

It's when they raise up that you need to start to worry. A couple of years ago I posted some tips on fishing with alligators:

 

 

[Sipfishing]

3 hours ago, Koz said:

It's when they raise up that you need to start to worry. A couple of years ago I posted some tips on fishing with alligators:

 

 

Just read it and I saw where you talked about them raising their back and sitting off shore to let you know they don’t want you there. Back in June I think that might have happened to me. I entered a cove and there was a big gator, maybe 11-12ft, facing the bank when I entered. I watched him as I rode past and after I was maybe 50 yards away from him I turned around and noticed he was now sitting in the middle of the cove. He body was angled slightly towards the exit/mouth of the cove. I started taking pics etc and as I moved closer he raised his back out of the water and lowered it once I backed off. He swam off pretty fast once a pontoon boat came zooming in the cove. He didn’t seem afraid of me and I don’t know if he would have left if I continued to get closer or if he would have took it as a challenge and responded. I have a short vid but it’s not letting me post.

[DINK WHISPERER]

The gators here on Istokpoga and Okeechobee must not have gotten the memo that they're supposed to be naturally fearful of humans! I've had monsters following me around nonstop. Even had one try to literally come in the boat before(only on one occasion). Maybe people feed them or something I don't know?

[Way2slow]

The only issue I've had is not seeing one laying on the bank until almost beside them.  If they get spooking and come charging into the water, you better hang on because they will dang near swamp a small boat.  

Now, 15 years back,, a customer of mine was fishing in a small channel off the main river with his 10 year old grandson.  About an 8' gator came over the side of the boat and grabbed his grandson by upper arm and shoulder and tried to pull him out of the boat.  After a serious struggle, he finally got his grandson free but had to rush him to the emergency room where it had done some serious damage to his arm.   The next day, he went back to that spot with some game wardens.  The gator was still hanging around in that channel and the wardens killed it.  That's the only incident I've heard of around here where one caused a problem. 

 

By the way Throttleplate, ketchup doesn't even look like blood.   

[slonezp]

I've only fished around gators twice in my life. The first time was on Santee Cooper and the 2nd was on Lake Toho. On Toho, I was more upset with the tour boats a bit ticked off with me for fishing where they're trying to show off the gators. On Santee Cooper it was my first ever run in with gators. It was early spring and they were sunning themselves on the shore. A huge gator got spooked as we trolled by it. It jumped in the water and caused my 17' boat to rock like a wake boat just went by. 

[GreenPig]

I've fished day & night around them in jons here in Ga. all my life and never had a problem. With that said it's a wild animal so I do carry gator repellant. 

[Bluebasser86]

Gators and small boats? Sounds like they'd go together like lamb and tuna fish!

[bulldog1935]

I know some people who won't use a stringer for fear of gators.  

 

We were wade-fishing Cavasso Creek one day, and met the Game Warden on our way out.  

He was releasing a 10' gator from Goose Island SP, and said they release all gators snared at the state park right there where we were fishing.  

Sharks in the surf will come after your stringer - that can be annoying.  

[Smalls]

On 8/22/2021 at 12:26 AM, throttleplate said:

gators also dont make good pets.

 

Buddy of mine in high school had one. He used to take it for walks around the neighborhood to freak the neighbors out. 

[Crankin4Bass]

On 8/21/2021 at 4:48 PM, David 7 said:

Funny story, last week I saw two big clumps of grass surface and the way it was shaped it looked like a small alligator. I was in my kayak and was very startled.

 

Here’s the thing though… I’m in New York.

They might be coming up here too...

 

https://www.newsweek.com/alligator-spotted-massachusetts-connecticut-river-1620562

[Biglittle8]

My experience has been, their personalities differ, some will scatter the second they hear or see you, some will come swimming full speed when they see you to participate in your fishing adventure. I know one thing, after awhile they lose their fear of humans. I've had them follow behind my boat, swim at me full speed when I catch a fish, even have their lunch in front of me.

[Stratocat_Joe]

I just watched "What's Happening,  Roland" on YouTube and he was out in the Everglades in his canoe.  He actually got out to wade fish and draped a length of rope over his shoulder so the canoe wouldn't drift away in case he saw an alligator and had to jump back in!  I hope I feel like I can move that fast when I'm 81 years old!  I've seen some old video footage of him wade fishing years ago at Santee Cooper, too...and there's no shortage of alligators there, either!

[river-rat]

On 8/22/2021 at 3:18 AM, Catt said:

I'm 69 years old & live in southwest Louisiana. Never had a gator bother me even bank fishing. Never heard of a gator attacking a boat.

 

Now they will chase a topwater lure all the way back to boat & they may even hang around awhile.

 

 

I am also 69 and live in south Louisiana. I have been around alligators all my life and have never had a problem. But at the same time I should mention that I have a healthy respect for them also. Just pay attention and don't try to crowd one, especially a large gator.

 

They will usually try to stay as far away from you as possible. If a gator doesn't move out of the way it's usually because it's guarding a nest nearby.

 

 

[slonezp]

On 9/7/2021 at 11:48 AM, Stratocat_Joe said:

I just watched "What's Happening,  Roland" on YouTube and he was out in the Everglades in his canoe.  He actually got out to wade fish and draped a length of rope over his shoulder so the canoe wouldn't drift away in case he saw an alligator and had to jump back in!  I hope I feel like I can move that fast when I'm 81 years old!  I've seen some old video footage of him wade fishing years ago at Santee Cooper, too...and there's no shortage of alligators there, either!

I'm from Chicago. First time I ever fished with gators was at Santee Cooper. Freaked the hell out of me.