I hate alligators

[Sharkbite]

Great so any of those ponds in the golf cousres and parks have bass?

[East COast Fish Whsiperer]

My parents retired down there and I visit a lot. The bass fishing is great, seems like almost every pond I hit I find nice sized bass. But it's true the gators are everywhere. You get used to them for sure, at least I did lol... but always keep my head on a swivel. Had a show down just back in September, hooked a nice 3 lber and saw this 8 foot gator steam towards me...  got the fish to shore seconds before the gator could have snapped him up. Was crazy (and got in on video lol). Was taking my pic with the fish and the gator was just staring at me... had to walk down the shore to safely release., which I find a soft belly toss is safest. No losing hands like that guy in Happy Gilmore for me! I keep and big knife on me too. 

 

The guy who said these golf pond gators have no fear is 100% right. These gators own the pond, you're second in command. 

 

That said if you're smart, and safe, you can even hook the 2-3 foot juveniles on fishing tackle... Now that's a fun fight!!!! 

 

If I can offer any advice for those who are fishing around gators for the first time, or until you feel comfortable. Be wary and beware. But dont be afraid. Just leave them alone and they will leave you alone. Keep your ears peeled for cute chirping sounds while walking the bank. Those are the babies, and mama is nearby and watching you like a hawk.  Stay away from those sounds. 

 

Also look at the bank, if there looks like depressed dirt... like someone slid a sled on the mud or grass, could be a gator entry exit point. Look for bubbles in the water... that move... imagine a steam locomotive underwater, and the steam coming up in a trail of bubbles as it travels... that's a gator letting air out as it swims. 

 

Gators are amazing creatures, beautiful in their ugliness, amazing in their raw power. And one of the few things that keep that d**n Burmese python problem in the everglades at bay!!! 

[GaryH]

For those who want to see alligators. Visit Lake Jesup in seminole county. It's a 16,000 acre lake with a gator population of 13,000 per the florida fish com.

I've never been threaten by them but I sure as heck respect there abilities. The wife and I were fishing for specks on Lake Monroe just slowly drifting early one morning, when we must have drifted right over a gator. We'll it evidently startled the gator and it came straight up out of the water not more than 2 feet from my bass boat. Talk about having the crap scared out of you. The wife in no uncertain terms said were leaving. I being Mr. macho said are you sure at the same time I was firing the motor up. You just need to respect that your not the baddest hombry on there playgound.

[Miabucman]

In my younger days, I would fish the Everglades a lot from shore and boat.  The number of alligators is astounding.  If done correctly, I think that assisting the population through hunting is ok.  Overpopulation can bring issues with other species populations.  I actually caught a smaller one on a topwater lure and had to exit the area quickly once momma came through the cattails at me.  

[tander]

My fishing hole, Ross Barnett Reservoir has plenty of gators. I made a deal with them, I won't bother them if they don't bother me.

[MGF]

Cool thread. I never had the chance to fish in Florida but my wife and I were avid cave divers at one time. We spent a fair amount of time in Florida sinks and springs and we were in the water with quite a few alligators. No real big ones and none ever bothered us but I recognize the possibility is there...I was hunted by a racoon once...honest! 

 

Some of the springs were we dived were in state parks and I think the park removes the large and/or troublesome animals.

[ajschn06]

If I ever fish in Florida I'm bringing a gun- if I see one moving toward me from any distance away he's getting a couple of pops.

[Born 2 fish]

I fish central Florida every winter and some of the ponds have gators. I keep my distance but I had one following me around the pond.

[Russ E]

I fish all 12 months. My one rule is It has to be above freezing for me to launch the boat.

in January here in Kansas days above freezing can get scarce. 

during cold spells I either fish the reservoir spillways or go hunting.

[Alex from GA]

I fish central FL all winter and see many alligators.  In the rivers, where I usually fish, they have always submerged when either I get too close to them or they to me.  I go out of my way to avoid the large, over 10'. models.

[N Florida Mike]

On 11/20/2020 at 4:11 PM, ajschn06 said:

If I ever fish in Florida I'm bringing a gun- if I see one moving toward me from any distance away he's getting a couple of pops.

You’ll likely get a visit from FWC if you do that.

[Catt]

They got 2 or 3 here in Louisiana ?

 

I love alligators, in sauce piquante, on the pit are my favorite!

[throttleplate]

came across this fella in Bangkok Thailand

[ajschn06]

6 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

You’ll likely get a visit from FWC if you do that.

Feels like a pretty easy self defense call imo

[TnRiver46]

On 11/30/2020 at 10:35 AM, throttleplate said:

came across this fella in Bangkok Thailand

Alligator is one of my favorite foods , had

some last weekend.  The tail is a little chewy but still good, the belly meat strips have always been my favorite 

[throttleplate]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Alligator is one of my favorite foods , had

some last weekend.  The tail is a little chewy but still good, the belly meat strips have always been my favorite 

I never tried the gator, i was more interested in eating the appetizers.

if its good enough for a fish to eat and we do eat fish why not give it a try?

[N Florida Mike]

Gator is excellent if cooked right.

[galyonj]

On 12/3/2020 at 7:39 AM, TnRiver46 said:

Alligator is one of my favorite foods , had

some last weekend.  The tail is a little chewy but still good, the belly meat strips have always been my favorite 

Last time I made jambalaya I used gator tail instead of chicken. I thought I'd overcooked it because of how chewy it got. I kinda want to try smoking it low and slow one day to see if the meat'll loosen up, because the flavor is pretty good.

[Msl819]

On 8/17/2009 at 9:39 AM, Chris at Tech said:

The wife and I took a trip to Hilton Head to visit my folks and do some fishing.

Just as we always do, we have a very good trip with a guide we've booked 6+ times now.  But I also wanted to do some bass fishing on the golf course ponds.

Got up nice and early and headed down to a sweet little spot I found last time I was here.  On the second cast, a bass inhales my spook but shakes off.  OK, they're here.  I get another HUGE blowup that missed the bait, but I also land one about 2 lbs.

Then, the uninvited guest arrives.  The pond I'm fishing is long and skinny, and I just happen to look down to the right and see a gator cruising in.  He stops about 40 yards from me, so I continue to fish.  My concern is that the weeds right at the waterline are not trimmed, so he'd be able to hide.

As he inches closer over the next few minutes, I decide to try a different spot on the same pond, just around the corner.  I hop in the car, park over there and hop out.  And then guess who cruises over to join me again?  I mean, this dude swam directly at me from my previous spot.

Looking at the size of this gator, I think it's the same one I found on this pond last time I was here.  He didn't take too kindly to me swatting mosquitoes off me, an actually came up out of the water at a friend and me.  That ended THAT fishing day, and he ended this one for me as well.

On a side note, apparently a 12-ft gator was spotted in the ocean off Hilton Head this weekend, and has so far eluded capture.  It was last spotted swimming 400 yards off the beach.  How'd you like to be out fishing for mackeral and see this beast cruise up beside your boat?  Hehe...

When they are close enough to hear them hissing they are too close.  I have had similar unwelcome run ins in my neck of the woods.  Snakes are just as bad and more prevalent!

[TnRiver46]

On 12/3/2020 at 11:32 AM, throttleplate said:

I never tried the gator, i was more interested in eating the appetizers.

if its good enough for a fish to eat and we do eat fish why not give it a try?