Gators? Stories?

[Daddy Dave]

Well, we got on Lake Kissimmee on Wed. night finally. Missed opening night to support our folks up in Sumter - but, that was worthwhile.

Bugs were thickest I've ever seen. Sent an auto powered boat travelling with us back to the dock with a completely clogged radiator. All the critters were out and about. Saw dozens of coons and deer, bobcats, otters and gators galore.

Stuck a real nice one close to the Bus that got under a tussett and pulled the dart free & got us stuck in the process. No fun getting out of the boat to stomp down weeds so we could move and spin - where's the big mad one with a hole in his back???

Stuck one about 8'6" in North Cove and he jumped clear of the water twice, pulling free in the process. Client got a 7' eater @ about 1 am. At 4:00 am, we ran up on another good one and got him darted. Off to the races - great economy for about a half mile as we were towed toward the Ridge. Then the battle began, he stopped to fight and the fun was on.

Thanks to Cajun reworking my bang stick, we won. At the processors in Plant City, he taped out at 9' 10". Not too bad for a client's first efforts.

If I knew how, I'd post a pic.

 

[Capt Jeff]

What kind of tips are you using that they are pulling free?

 

[Daddy Dave]

I don't believe it would have mattered which tip was on the hand line. The first gator was a horse and we hit him close to a tussett. He dove under and I tied the line off on the cage because there was no hope of getting the float if it went under the tussett. I believe it tore out under the shear force of the gator against the airboat stuck in the gunk.

The next one was similar, he threw the dart pole and hade a hit. The float lodged in the rear corner of the boat between the walk board and the cage - then, the gator went wild and jumped clear of the water twice. He was gone - simple as that. Too much force against too much weight going the other way.

 

[Olf Art]

Dave, sounds to me like you enjoyed a shot at a couple of real nice ones. The good news is that they're still out there to get.

That's why they still call it hunting instead of catching.

ken