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Greetings

I was wading the point at St. Marks on Good Friday about an hour before dusk, when I saw a rather large gator between me and land. I thought I was going to have to pay the toll with my only catch (Spanish Mac) to ford. My brother encountered a similar situation about 3 weeks prior, except he/she followed him around. Observations, opinions and matters of the heart.

They are pets of Gary Droze.
Please do not feed them.

Observation: kinda curious as to what changed in the scenario that allowed you to make it back and write this thread.

Opinion: Glad it was you and not me....

Matters of the heart: Really......"matters of the heart". Just kidding, glad you made it back to tell the tale. I would love to hear more about the encounter for both you and your brother. I don't know how late it was, but dusk is when they get pretty active. That just goes to show, if he/she was targeting you, there would have been a different outcome.

Have had a few come up on me as i have waded for years out around the lighthouse. Just dont panic and be aware of your surroundings. Try not to wade past 6 if can prevent it as they are more active in the evening hours as Sea Scoop has mentioned. I was out there wednesday and had a 200lb bull shark explode on a school of mullet 20 ft in front of me (luckily i was on the oyster bar in 6" of water so i was out of harms way.) Also saw a big bull shark about 50 yards away go arieal on a floating garbage bag. The dam things are everywhere. Its a jungle out there. Be aware of your surroundings when your down there wading, dont go deeper that 2 ft if you can help it and dont wade late into the evening cause thats when the big creatures of st marks come out and play. Good luck with it!!!

I stood on a rock spread my arms out to look larger and asked the good LORD to send him off. The Mac..? She is in the freezer. I used to wade waist deep all the time out there, all hours not no more. Especially when you have a stringer of fish. I have spent many hours in the wild, that was in the top five. Itruly enjoyed the experience though and hope your neck of the woods doesn't end up like mine (Central Florida).

Wade fishing an't for sissies!!! Be tough. Stay still and they wont bother you. Watch Swamp People on TV and get some pointers on dealing with those ditch lizards. If you put fish on a stringer, make sure it is a good ten feet from you and can easly come off you in the event a hungry shark wants your catch. I purchased one of those large bait rings that float on top with a large mess net underneath. I drop my catch in there and they will typically swim freely in the mess until you get back to shore. I also give it a large lead. Since going to that system, I have never had a problem with prey eating my catch. Maybe its just a matter of time, but wade fishing an't for sissies!

Roger that!

Reel Addiction wrote:Wade fishing an't for sissies!!!

Maybe it's not but I spent an awful lot of money for a boat and dang if I'm gonna walk around when I can either float around or cast to it.

cincy wrote:I stood on a rock spread my arms out to look larger and asked the good LORD to send him off.

As this happened on Good Friday, it might be a sign.... Being on a rock in a perilous situation, the spreading of the arms, and asking the Lord for help, all sounds familiar for a Good Friday. I'm glad the Lord let things turn out the way they did, then and now.....

My brother-in-law was down for the weekend from Washington State and ventured out to the Light House on Saturday. He said that he found about an 8 by 3ft rock pile under the surface that he kept casting to, but couldn't get a fish off of it. Then that rock pile floated to the surface.

No gators in Washington State. No more more brother-in-law visits to the Light House. I laaauughed!
Sounds to me like your pet gator is planning on sticking around for a while.

RC, you make a good point and I certainly would have the same attitude but for paying for three kids to attend college. All that is left is a gheenee, a trolling motor and a pair of wading boots. One day I may grow up and get a big boy boat but that day is still far off. With that said, I have a fishing addiction so that means sucking it up and becoming one with the sea. As I have always told my kids, fishing ain't for sissies.