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Invasive fish and alligator being caught and seen where they're not supposed to be
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Apr 16, 2024 06:56:47   #
Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC
 
When we first bought lake house in North Texas one of the first things I did was build a nice big Pier with a large fishing deck, in a cove there was an absolutely perfect habitat for attracting fish and feeding fish that was Chased Chad and spawning fish utilizing the thick cattails and potatoes vines to do their business. Lake Arrowhead, where I lived and fished for 25 years. Wichita falls is about as Northern and you can get other than Amarillo that extends about 400 MI north of us. but I remember in the 70s a guy running a trotline over at Shoshone Park which is the river that connected Lake Kickapoo and Lake Arrowhead together for the city of Wichita falls watershed. This man running trotline across that River caught a 3-ft long alligator 🐊 but he killed and collected it, called the game warden and it made the newspaper. While living on the lake I spent a lot of time on my fishing dock catching crappie and catfish and striped bass. One morning about noon I was fishing with minnows when about a foot and a half long alligator I initially thought was a gar, then I seen the head and realize it was about a foot and a half long alligator it had a hold of my hook but when it saw me it spit the hook and got away. People say these invasive fish and alligator can't survive in climate outside of their normal element is not true, for an alligator that was caught in the 1970s to reach 3 ft long and 100 lb and the one I almost caught is proof these creatures can adapt in the southern states with temperatures that are warm. Now you hear everyday they're finding new invasive species are a threat to our native species because they eat our native species roe and young hatchlings and smaller species of fish.

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Apr 16, 2024 07:09:43   #
Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York
 
Passingbye wrote:
When we first bought lake house in North Texas one of the first things I did was build a nice big Pier with a large fishing deck, in a cove there was absolutely perfect habitat for attracting finding and feeding fish that was Chase Chad and spawning fish utilizing the thick cattails and potatoes fine to do their business. Lake Arrowhead, where I lived and fished for 25 years. Wichita falls is about as Northern and you can get other than Amarillo with extends through 400 MI north of us but I remember in the 70s a guy running a trotline over and Shoshone Park which is the river that connected Lake Kickapoo and Lake Arrowhead together for the city of Wichita falls watershed. This man running trotline across that River caught a 3-ft long alligator 🐊 but she killed and collected and called the game warden and it made the newspaper. While living on the lake I spent a lot of time on my fishing dock catching crappie and catfish and striped bass. One morning about noon I was fishing in a minute went about a foot and a half long alligator without initially thought was a gar, then I seen the head and realize it was about a foot and a half long alligator it had a hold of my hook but when it saw me it spit the hook and got away. People say these invasive fish and alligator can't survive in climate outside of their normal element is not true, for an alligator that was caught in the 1970s to reach 3 ft long and 100 lb and the one I almost caught is proof these creatures can adapt in the southern states for temperatures are warm. Now you hear everyday they're fighting new invasive species are a threat to our native species because they eat our native species roe end of are there young hatchlings and smaller species of fish.
When we first bought lake house in North Texas one... (show quote)


There are still rumors of giant alligators in the New York sewers and every year they find a 5-6 foot gator in or around NYC.

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Apr 16, 2024 07:35:28   #
Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC
 
I know without a doubt our climate is warming up here in NC.as I remember being in Texas, we might not top out in the 105-110Β° temperature as Texas Oklahoma other Southern states do but we absolutely had no winter and we already have alligators 100 miles from the beaches of North Carolina. Don't want to say the python and other invasive fish like the snakehead will eventually find its way into watersheds and reservoirs.

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Apr 16, 2024 08:52:56   #
Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa
 
Passingbye wrote:
I know without a doubt our climate is warming up here in NC.as I remember being in Texas, we might not top out in the 105-110Β° temperature as Texas Oklahoma other Southern states do but we absolutely had no winter and we already have alligators 100 miles from the beaches of North Carolina. Don't want to say the python and other invasive fish like the snakehead will eventually find its way into watersheds and reservoirs.


PB around PA n MD people are spreading the snakeheads n flathead cats .
They've become popular species.

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Apr 16, 2024 11:37:06   #
Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas
 
I don't know what you can do about invasive species, they seem to be able to handle all efforts to staunch their invasion. But look at the benefit! The alligators would make an excellent source for cowboy boots. While I was working, one day I was going home and entered the elevator with another broker, and noticed he had on a pair of alligator boots. I complimented him on his boots. He said he had personally killed th 'gator and had the skin turned into boots. They were square toed, and not the style I prefer, but were for him, I am sure. Just Sayin...RJS

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Apr 16, 2024 11:49:07   #
Foodfisher Loc: SO. Cal coast
 
Robert J Samples wrote:
I don't know what you can do about invasive species, they seem to be able to handle all efforts to staunch their invasion. But look at the benefit! The alligators would make an excellent source for cowboy boots. While I was working, one day I was going home and entered the elevator with another broker, and noticed he had on a pair of alligator boots. I complimented him on his boots. He said he had personally killed th 'gator and had the skin turned into boots. They were square toed, and not the style I prefer, but were for him, I am sure. Just Sayin...RJS
I don't know what you can do about invasive specie... (show quote)


Gators beware but with square toes, the roaches are safe.

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Apr 16, 2024 11:54:27   #
OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin
 
Unfortunately, people who catch or buy baby alligators as pets find out how expensive they are to feed after while. They then release them to fend for themselves. They can adapt for a while, but will not survive the cold in the northern climates.
A duck hunter shot a 6 footer not too far from here about 30 years ago as he was jump shooting ducks in the Milwaukee River. Probably a former pet which was released by an unhappy former owner.

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Apr 16, 2024 13:10:18   #
CoDen Loc: Little R, SC
 
OJdidit wrote:
Unfortunately, people who catch or buy baby alligators as pets find out how expensive they are to feed after while. They then release them to fend for themselves. They can adapt for a while, but will not survive the cold in the northern climates.
A duck hunter shot a 6 footer not too far from here about 30 years ago as he was jump shooting ducks in the Milwaukee River. Probably a former pet which was released by an unhappy former owner.


Thi was in Tn I hope I transferred this right lol 🌴😎🌴

https://www.wate.com/news/union-county-news/twra-alligator-caught-by-angler-in-norris-lake/

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Apr 16, 2024 17:37:53   #
RIVERBOTTOM Loc: south east texas
 
years ago i caught a 9 inch gator on a fly rod in village creek in south east Texas,

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Apr 16, 2024 22:34:52   #
CoDen Loc: Little R, SC
 
RIVERBOTTOM wrote:
years ago i caught a 9 inch gator on a fly rod in village creek in south east Texas,


That must have been fun. What were you using? Something you don’t forget. Wow. Thanks for sharing 🌴😎🌴

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Apr 16, 2024 22:48:38   #
fridge Loc: Alger, Michigan
 
As for an invasive species there is an article about an alligator that was seen crossing M23 north of Ann Arbor this past February, yes, February. Give me a moment or 2 and I will see if I can find the article.

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Apr 16, 2024 23:20:16   #
fridge Loc: Alger, Michigan
 
fridge wrote:
As for an invasive species there is an article about an alligator that was seen crossing M23 north of Ann Arbor this past February, yes, February. Give me a moment or 2 and I will see if I can find the article.


THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, "Ypsilanti woman, I almost hit alligator on US23," by Neal Rubin, February 22, 2024.

I can't copy the article to this thread tonight because I am using my phone. I will try tomorrow if I remember to do it. The opinion or conclusion was that it was an escapee or some strange person released it. It was moving from a swamp on one side of the road to a swamp on the other side.

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Apr 17, 2024 01:00:06   #
Commander Bell Loc: Lafayette Indiana
 
Passingbye wrote:
When we first bought lake house in North Texas one of the first things I did was build a nice big Pier with a large fishing deck, in a cove there was an absolutely perfect habitat for attracting fish and feeding fish that was Chased Chad and spawning fish utilizing the thick cattails and potatoes vines to do their business. Lake Arrowhead, where I lived and fished for 25 years. Wichita falls is about as Northern and you can get other than Amarillo that extends about 400 MI north of us. but I remember in the 70s a guy running a trotline over at Shoshone Park which is the river that connected Lake Kickapoo and Lake Arrowhead together for the city of Wichita falls watershed. This man running trotline across that River caught a 3-ft long alligator 🐊 but he killed and collected it, called the game warden and it made the newspaper. While living on the lake I spent a lot of time on my fishing dock catching crappie and catfish and striped bass. One morning about noon I was fishing with minnows when about a foot and a half long alligator I initially thought was a gar, then I seen the head and realize it was about a foot and a half long alligator it had a hold of my hook but when it saw me it spit the hook and got away. People say these invasive fish and alligator can't survive in climate outside of their normal element is not true, for an alligator that was caught in the 1970s to reach 3 ft long and 100 lb and the one I almost caught is proof these creatures can adapt in the southern states with temperatures that are warm. Now you hear everyday they're finding new invasive species are a threat to our native species because they eat our native species roe and young hatchlings and smaller species of fish.
When we first bought lake house in North Texas one... (show quote)


I just looked it up and indeed NC is the farthest Northern State with a established American Alligator population.
Years ago someone released a 3 foot American Alligator near my home town of Lafayette indiana.
It was captured and placed in a wildlife sanctuary
I don't know what became of it.
It was called Al by us locals

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Apr 17, 2024 01:49:36   #
CoDen Loc: Little R, SC
 
Interesting articles on the Alligators. I live in Sc and have seen a few or more. I remember my son and I (at the time he was 12) was fishing Lake Marion and a gator not far from us just Sunning. He never bother us. We just kid about him maybe hungry lol. My son just turned 35 yesterday, and we still talk about it. At the time my son never saw a gator till then. Now he lives in Tennessee. 🌴😎🌴

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Apr 17, 2024 05:54:05   #
Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC
 
I camped on Toledo bend reservoir that borders East Texas and Louisiana. my older brother and I took our younger brother Kerry with us, who was 9 years old with at the time. We were fishing and catching some nice size bluegill and crappie were biting real good, cleaned them and bag them to cook with our breakfast the next morning. so we pitched our tent and stayed there a couple of nights. I told my brother there could be a few alligators here as a precautionary measure for him not to be trying to wade out in murky water. Everything fish that rolled flopped and jumped in the water, Kerry would yell, alligator!!! 🀣 I told him probably not it was most likely it catfish grabbing something off the top of water the sunning in his belly. The one thing we did have to look out for was black bear, we had everything put up in a solid metal Coleman ice chest like it was paper. 🐻

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