Alligators and fish
Oct 5, 2021 14:37:54 #
Anybass
Loc: Pa.
While fishing in Fla. last Spring while on extended vacation, I met a fellow fisherman who introduced me to a number of community ponds, canals and a lake. All were in and around housing developments south of Sarasota. I was not giving much thought to any real action because I always preferred the quiet, out of the way ponds and lakes in Pa.
Well it was a real eye opener. Lot of hits and landings, including his 6lb8oz bass in a small canal. Like the song said, "I'm a believer".
But the most interesting were two occasions when fishing by myself. I liked to get low on the banks so as to keep my profile low to avoid spooking the bass. Jeff had told me in the past, to be careful doing that because of the gaters. I listened but went on. On one occasion I was fishing a small strip of water on Albee Farm Road in Venice. I had caught 2 small, tail walking bass and tossed them back. The 3rd one some how got gut hooked with my rubber worm. Trying to remove the hook without pulling out guts took time. When finally removed the hook, I simply placed it in the water in front of me and assumed it swam off. As I continued to fish, I noticed an alligator about 30 yards away, resting on the surface. Probably there not moving for about 5-10 min. As I looked down I saw movement at the water's edge in front of me. The bass caught earlier suddenly turned belly up and shook. As soon as it did, the alligator made a direct bee line toward the movement. I was about 4 feet from the bass and so mesmerized by what was taking place that I stayed in place. The gater came up next to the bass, head out of the water, looked at me, then glanced toward the bass, reached over, grabbed the fish tossing it in his mouth and then like a bomb, exploded back into the pond. That more than the approach scared the hell out of me. I have been around gaters before so was not too concerned by this one that was probably 6' long, mostly tail.
My next encounter reinforced the fact that these guys are extremely perceptive. I was fishing a lake Jeff mentioned one late afternoon, a mile or so from the above pond. It is a long winding lake and because of serious swamp, bushes and trees, you only have about 50 or 60 feet of open casting area. The second cast with the rubber worm yielded a 4 1/2 lb tailwalking bass. A while later landed a 3 pounder. As I continued to cast I spotted an alligator in the middle the lake about 50 yards out. For about the next half hour it simply maintained its position. I moved my casts to the left toward some weed beds and the wind caught my worm which went into the bushes close to the weeds. As I pulled hard to free the worm, the gater went full out toward the disturbance. Just as I was able to free the worm, this gigantic alligator I estimated to be 12 feet long, lunged full body out of the water to where the worm had been.
It came back out with a jaw full of weeds and then slowly backed out into the lake about 30 yards out and then rested there on the surface. I only wish I had been able to capture the unbelievable lunge. I continued fishing for a while longer when I noticed in the dim light, a muskrat swimming maybe 40 yards behind the alligator. It immediately turned in pursuit. Suddenly the muskrat quacked and the gater immediately stopped its attack. It knew this muskrat was a duck and was not going to waste energy going after something that can fly. Two great experiences that proved to me how instinctively intelligent these reptiles are and how potentially dangerous the larger ones could be. Won't be sitting on any banks next year.
Well it was a real eye opener. Lot of hits and landings, including his 6lb8oz bass in a small canal. Like the song said, "I'm a believer".
But the most interesting were two occasions when fishing by myself. I liked to get low on the banks so as to keep my profile low to avoid spooking the bass. Jeff had told me in the past, to be careful doing that because of the gaters. I listened but went on. On one occasion I was fishing a small strip of water on Albee Farm Road in Venice. I had caught 2 small, tail walking bass and tossed them back. The 3rd one some how got gut hooked with my rubber worm. Trying to remove the hook without pulling out guts took time. When finally removed the hook, I simply placed it in the water in front of me and assumed it swam off. As I continued to fish, I noticed an alligator about 30 yards away, resting on the surface. Probably there not moving for about 5-10 min. As I looked down I saw movement at the water's edge in front of me. The bass caught earlier suddenly turned belly up and shook. As soon as it did, the alligator made a direct bee line toward the movement. I was about 4 feet from the bass and so mesmerized by what was taking place that I stayed in place. The gater came up next to the bass, head out of the water, looked at me, then glanced toward the bass, reached over, grabbed the fish tossing it in his mouth and then like a bomb, exploded back into the pond. That more than the approach scared the hell out of me. I have been around gaters before so was not too concerned by this one that was probably 6' long, mostly tail.
My next encounter reinforced the fact that these guys are extremely perceptive. I was fishing a lake Jeff mentioned one late afternoon, a mile or so from the above pond. It is a long winding lake and because of serious swamp, bushes and trees, you only have about 50 or 60 feet of open casting area. The second cast with the rubber worm yielded a 4 1/2 lb tailwalking bass. A while later landed a 3 pounder. As I continued to cast I spotted an alligator in the middle the lake about 50 yards out. For about the next half hour it simply maintained its position. I moved my casts to the left toward some weed beds and the wind caught my worm which went into the bushes close to the weeds. As I pulled hard to free the worm, the gater went full out toward the disturbance. Just as I was able to free the worm, this gigantic alligator I estimated to be 12 feet long, lunged full body out of the water to where the worm had been.
It came back out with a jaw full of weeds and then slowly backed out into the lake about 30 yards out and then rested there on the surface. I only wish I had been able to capture the unbelievable lunge. I continued fishing for a while longer when I noticed in the dim light, a muskrat swimming maybe 40 yards behind the alligator. It immediately turned in pursuit. Suddenly the muskrat quacked and the gater immediately stopped its attack. It knew this muskrat was a duck and was not going to waste energy going after something that can fly. Two great experiences that proved to me how instinctively intelligent these reptiles are and how potentially dangerous the larger ones could be. Won't be sitting on any banks next year.
Oct 5, 2021 14:43:08 #
Slimshady
Loc: Central Pennsylvania
Sounds to me like discretion would be in order there. If it’s big enough to chase me I think it’s time to leave
Oct 5, 2021 14:55:24 #
Anybass
Loc: Pa.
Next year will be viewed differently. That is why I do not intend to be on a lake in a canoe or kayak.
Oct 5, 2021 14:59:13 #
greenfrog
Loc: Central NJ
Saw this the other day about a little boy, bass and a alligator.
Alligator rushes out of water, steals Florida boy's fish in viral video
Alligator rushes out of water, steals Florida boy's fish in viral video
Oct 5, 2021 14:59:16 #
Oct 5, 2021 15:07:52 #
Anybass wrote:
Next year will be viewed differently. That is why I do not intend to be on a lake in a canoe or kayak.
You're a veteran now so come on back, some big Bass down here
Oct 5, 2021 15:56:58 #
greenfrog wrote:
Saw this the other day about a little boy, bass and a alligator.
Alligator rushes out of water, steals Florida boy's fish in viral video
Alligator rushes out of water, steals Florida boy's fish in viral video
Could have been that boys foot very easily. Wonder if he pulled the rod right out of his hands?
Oct 5, 2021 16:09:13 #
greenfrog
Loc: Central NJ
plumbob wrote:
Could have been that boys foot very easily. Wonder if he pulled the rod right out of his hands?
No. The kid did the smart thing. Dropped the pole down and ran.
Oct 5, 2021 16:13:10 #
greenfrog wrote:
No. The kid did the smart thing. Dropped the pole down and ran.
Yep smart kid.
Oct 5, 2021 16:14:46 #
My lives in FL and that is the one thing that really surprise is that every little mud hole has gators in it.
Oct 5, 2021 17:08:26 #
ranger632 wrote:
My lives in FL and that is the one thing that really surprise is that every little mud hole has gators in it.
They are all over the southeast now
Oct 5, 2021 17:25:41 #
Sinker Rig wrote:
They are all over the southeast now
Yep had a few in our area of NC just last year. Not many put they were there.
Oct 5, 2021 18:10:50 #
Anybass wrote:
Next year will be viewed differently. That is why I do not intend to be on a lake in a canoe or kayak.
Good story AB
Oct 5, 2021 18:11:52 #
greenfrog wrote:
Saw this the other day about a little boy, bass and a alligator.
Alligator rushes out of water, steals Florida boy's fish in viral video
Alligator rushes out of water, steals Florida boy's fish in viral video
Smart boy.
Oct 5, 2021 20:12:10 #
Chuck56
Loc: Texas
Sinker Rig wrote:
They are all over the southeast now
Yep. I’ve seen a few dinosaur sized gators at Toledo bend....
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