A unique website dedicated to fishing information from Florida's Northern Big Bend. This includes the area from the Econfina River west to the Apalachicola River
Good friend of mine and his 15 year old son were shooting mullet in a creek behind Grassy, south of Keaton yesterday (7.5.12) when a 9 and 1/2 foot gator took a nip at his son. Thank god - someone was watching over him as he only received light scratches on his chest and back... pretty sure he walked on water back to the boat.
A quick call to FWC for permission - and the retrieval of a gun, and we have a new king of the swamp... friend said the water wasn't too stained - son said all the sudden felt a scratching on his back, he thought it was a shark grabbing at his bag of fish and threw an elbow. Be careful out there- think I may me done swimming those creeks for a while.
Looks like the gator is missin most of his teeth ta me! That's one lucky youngun right there!!
“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
Glad to hear nobody was hurt (except the gator), but when you play in their element you're flirting with disaster. I've seen gators cruising a half-mile offshore on the flats this time of year and it's unusual to NOT see one when you look down at the bottom on the deeper creek mouths on incoming tides. Gators are an equal-opportunity predator. They'll scarf down birds, redfish, turtles and even teenagers if given a chance.
Nice catch.....Glad it all worked out well. Can anyone comment on any laws or requirements of having a gun onboard the boat? I was recently checked by the Coast Guard while fishing out of Ft Morgan, Al and they stated that you needed a CCW. Sounded like a bit of a stretch to me. I had a friend that always carried a handgun onboard his boat. Hunters don't need one to have a gun in the boat so whats the deal?
I don't know when I'm gonna catch my next fish but I know when I do it's gonna be awesome!
neckmoe wrote:Nice catch.....Glad it all worked out well. Can anyone comment on any laws or requirements of having a gun onboard the boat? I was recently checked by the Coast Guard while fishing out of Ft Morgan, Al and they stated that you needed a CCW. Sounded like a bit of a stretch to me. I had a friend that always carried a handgun onboard his boat. Hunters don't need one to have a gun in the boat so whats the deal?
At least in FL waters, the state law says quite clearly you may open carry a handgun while hunting or fishing. If you have a CCW you can carry it concealed.
It's a good idea to have a copy of the law handy because it's not uncommon for various law enforcement agents to not actually know the laws they are supposed to be enforcing... Been there, done that.
I'm honestly surprised they let you shoot it, that makes way too much sense for FWC
FWC asked us if we had a firearm on board last time we were checked at St Marks. We said we did not. My brother asked him if it was legal and the guy said "Oh, yeah, it is legal, we just like to ask if there is one onboard when we first start talking". We were not alking specifics about handguns or shotguns, so don't quote me on this.
I gotta say that totally shocks me that he was allowed to harvest that alligator. Is he LEO?
Ducks, turkeys, flats fishing. Who has time for golf?
