4-8 Ochlocknee near the lake

[Swampbugs]

Put in at 90 and went down the river yesterday. The bream were bitin real good from about noon till 3, although it was high and muddy so I really wasn't expecting em too. Caught about 40 but only half or so were keepers. The bigger story was how many freakin gators were out and about. They were everywhere! Saw at least 15. A 5 foot one came right up under the boat (to my surprise) and stuck his head completeley out of the water just lookin up at me like he was trying to figure out what the hell I was doing. After a few hours in the sloughs down by the lake I decided to go up above 90 because the sheer number of big gators in such close quarters (in a ghenoe) was unnerving. Turned out the river up there was real swift from all the rain so I pulled off in a little cut to fish out of the current. Long story short, I wasn't getting any bites and was just sitting there casting at the bank about 10 feet away when I heard a deer running through the woods close by. I was standing up trying to see if I could see him when I got a big surprise. It wasn't a deer. About a 9ft fat sow gator came flying over the edge of the bank right at me. I don't know who it scared worse. She made a huge comotion when she hit the water then rocked my boat when she went under it. It wouldn't have been bad, but it was only about 3 foot deep there so I was honestly worried that she was gonna flip me. Anyway, as usual, good times on the river.

[tin can]

The river has always been full of gators. Ysed to be sone sure nuff bigguns up there.

Glad you escaped without harm.

[RiverRunner]

WOW....

[bman]

That would make me tense up a little

[boggob]

I have a Gheenoe as well. That reminds me of two instances on Talquin when I was fishing with my lady. Once we were easing up the cove into, I think its, Freeman Creek. Too busy fishing to notice, we got within 15 feet of a gator sitting on the bank that was as big as the boat. About the same time, it saw us and darted for the water. Needless to say, with the woman in the boat, we didn't ease out of there. That was the largest gator we have ever seen in the wild.

The other time, we were up in Oklawaha Creek and fishing our way out. There was another gator on the bank that was about as big as the one I just mentioned. The quarters at this particular spot were closer.

The only time I was ever really scared by a gator was when I was in a Kayak in the Wakulla. I paddled off into one of the side areas where its shallow and was enjoying the peace. There was small log blocking the way and I thought, no biggie, I'll just gain some speed and the kayak will go right over it. It did but just on the other side of the log was a gator laying on the bottom in only a couple feet of water. I was right on top of it! I woke him up with the paddle and he scooted off, as did I in the other direction.

[GoneFishin]

Well i guess Im really gunna be seein em cause Im headed out 2nite right at the mouth for some giggn!! cant wait!! first time back out since last year-- I'm sure we will see all we want to see in the gator category by midnight.

[Swampbugs]

Here are some candid shots of the boys....

[GoneFishin]

OO yea...I'll say the zar-spook will be a tag along tonight on a big rod....haha...yes indeed

[Swampbugs]

Yeah, those are all different gators too. And that was only the 4 I got pics of. Saw at least 8-10 more.

Had a guy tell me yesterday at the bait shop that he stayed out late bass fishing around coe and had one crawl halfway in the back of the boat trying to get at his fish. He was in the front and hit him with a paddle. You can never tell how true bait and tackle shop stories are but I'd be carefull nonetheless.

Last summer I set a trot line up around coe and came to check it about midnight. Looked like a gator buffet. They were lined up. About half of the fish were just heads on a hook and one little gator was actually hooked. Learned my lesson, there. Stay with it or don't set it, I guess.

[GoneFishin]

I have seen that out there many times w/ the trot lines....FWC really needs to let us take some of them things out...I know I would gladly....You ever run any lines up the river farther say, like north of old bainbridge?

[Swampbugs]

Never up that far, but I've run them just above and below Hwy 90. with some success.