Alligators and Small Boats

[Justbass11]

I lived in Naples, FL for over 45 years, Naples is just on the edge of the Everglades. I have fished with gators in the water and never had a problem with them. Buddy of mine and I fished along Alligator Ally (I forgot the mile marker and before the fence went up) in a 12 foot Jon boat and we saw around 10 gators and not one bothered us. 

 The old adage if you leave them alone they’ll leave you alone, it’s pretty spot on. Enjoy your fishing 

[slonezp]

Reminds me of this only not as annoying...

 

Sorry....My balls shrivel up when bears or gators are involved. 

[Alpster]

Surveyed a huge cypress swamp (27 square miles) in south Louisiana back in the early 80s. Most days in knee deep mud and chest deep water. Saw many gators every day but never had one come toward us. We paid them no mind and never had a problem. Now in more populated areas where suburbs have encroached on their habitat, I imagine they are more of a problem.

[Fishingmickey]

On 8/22/2021 at 1:26 AM, throttleplate said:

gators also dont make good pets.

Seriously photo shopped/faked. Could have done a better job with the ketchup.

 

[TOXIC]

On 8/22/2021 at 4:18 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.

After I moved to Florida and was still in my learning process about gators, I discovered 2 things.  When laying on the bank, to the uneducated eye, they look like great fish holding logs.  One cast later you discover that you can in fact jump out of your skin.  Second, if you mess around and let a gator chase your buzz bait enough, eventually they will come right in the boat via the splashwell to get it.  

On 8/22/2021 at 4:18 AM, Catt said:Louisiana. Never had a gator bother me even bank fishing. Never heard of a gator attacking a boat.

 

[throttleplate]

14 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

Seriously photo shopped/faked. Could have done a better job with the ketchup.

 

Well its not photo shopped, its rickey and myself. Yes it is ketchup and rickey likes eating hotdogs with ketchup and saurerkraut.

 

Heres a pic of rickeys sibling. ?

 

[wazup]

I moved to Florida last year and love fishing here.  

I've seen many gators in the lakes I fish and find them to not be so aggressive towards humans.   I fish from the banks and sucked right now but don't getting a small 10' jon boat.

When I see a big gator kind of swim more towards me I'll get out of dodge but for the most part they don't seem interested.  

I did have a gator swim after my top water lure one.  The other day I was fishing and there was a baby gator right near me in the water just waiting. Lol

Overall it seems like it you leave the gators alone they will leave you alone.   Lots of good tips here.

Thanks for this website.

Happy fishing everyone!!

 

 

 

[wazup]

Sorry about a few typos from my previous post.   LOL

 

I am getting a small 10' jon boat soon so I can get out on the lakes here and catch some bigger fish!!

 

Love Florida and all the fishing opportunities.   Moved here last year from Philadelphia.

[volzfan59]

They say that there are gators in a couple of the small lakes that I frequent. I've never seen any, but I'm not really concerned, but I do try to keep an eye out for them. My aluminum boat is 16' X 50".

[airshot]

Might have been foolish enough to try in my younger days, but I have gotten smarter as I have gotten older!!  I enjoy watching the swamp people tv show and have been on swamp tours in Lousiana, great experience, but in a much larger boat !!  Today I know to watch it in tv not actually go out in a small boat, some experiences are better viewed than actually participate in !!

[Zcoker]

I fish the everglades at night, deep in the everglades in a 11 foot kayak. Rarely do I have problems with the alligators. As far as I'm concerned, they are much easier to see at night because their eyes glow red. Simply shine a light to see where they are all hanging out. Most of the time, they're just floating around, chilling out. They're a good indicator on where the fish are at.....find the gators to find the fish! Is my motto. Only once have I been slammed by one. Probably because I went directly over it and because of the shallow water it didn't have much room to get clear. This all happens in complete blackness; feels like I hit a reef lol. Most of the time, however, they just shy away or remain curious with no ill intent.

Always be mindful of handling fish in the water, day or night. I've seen many a fisherman mess around with fish over the side of a kayak, reviving or whatever. Gators are always there, day or night, watching and waiting....the are very patient! 

 

[Zcoker]

Sometimes gators are a bycatch when bass fishing. Most of the big ones just break off but with the smaller ones can usually get the lure back lol 

 

[InfantryMP]

SE GA here. I have had more encounters bank fishing with gators than boating. It seems like to me even in a small boat, they spook off, or stay away all together. It may be a size thing.

 

I have literally had two gators patiently staring at me for hours while I was bank fishing for catfish. My buddy did not help any by throwing marshmallows at them. Gators love them things.

[Zcoker]

On 4/26/2023 at 10:19 AM, InfantryMP said:

My buddy did not help any by throwing marshmallows at them. Gators love them things.

 

Lol next time try a boon box! I recall sitting on a spillway years ago with a boon box  and when I maxed out the volume, the place I was at became swarmed with gators. Don't' recall the beat or tempo but those gators sure were attracted to the loud music!