Based on past experience, the worst seem to be of the orange and blue species



I've found the best line of defense is to file a complaint with the manager of Taco Bell. Generally, the offensive gator will be released from duty and will no longer be a nuisance.

I have thumped the bottom of my yak with a rubber mallet when drifting through the mangroves in soth Florida, but the smaller ones that were embedded in the mud did not move until I passed directly over them, then they scurried, kicked up mud and took off. Maybe they heard me but thought they were well hidden until I drifted over them. Scary thought considering how easy it would be for a big lizard to tip me over.

I wouldn't expect a gun to be much help, for the reasons stated above, and I don't make a habit of bringing one with me.

So, loud noise if they get close....or else a quick prayer and change of underwear! LOL! I'm with you on that!

Any comments on the use of an air horn for the human-fed nuisances?

Nothing like living on The Edge each time we go out. Extreme kayaking with Gators

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Well this thread is doing great for us Brits nerves, what have we gotten ourselves into

One other consideration regarding Florida alligators and the month of May:

With the warmer temps, the gators will be warming up and feeling amorous. It is their mating season after all. After practically hibernating during the cooler months (and it's been cooler than normal here), they will be more active and looking fill their bellies, as well as get their groove on.

If you consider the typical kayak is about the same length as a breeding female gator, maybe we should worry less about becoming lunch and more about becoming the object of a nearsighted male gator's affections???

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http://www.flGunSafety.com
http://www.A1Awealthmanagement.com
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Wilderness Systems Tarpon 130t

Not worried about them wanting to mate with me, more worried about them wanting to eat me

Hey JSuber!!!

Do you still have that video clip of you reeling a Skitterwalk back to your kayak, and medium sized gator chasing it right back toward you???
If so, please post it...it was pretty interesting..and funny too!!
Thx...JohnYaksJax

Gosh I forgot about mating season during the Classic. WOW don't be the guy paddling a green kayak, otherwise known as a gator party doll. Bad stuff could happen.

I live in the Osceola National Forest and often kayak Ocean Pond. There are plenty of large gators here. Knowledge about Gators is very important and cannot be overly stressed.

Every year, The U S Forest Service sends out pamplets with vital information about gators.

The reason thumping on the bottom of a Kayak is useful is because it alerts gators of others in the area.

Never, never surprise a gator. The Forest Service advises paddlers to wear small bells around your wrist while paddling. The tinkle tinkle will alert a gator of your approach and therefore you will not startle it.

Unknown by many is the fact that gators have a pretty good sense of smell. For that reason, the Forest Service advises that paddlers spray them selves with a water, skin so soft mixture. For some reason they find the odor offensive.

It is important to be able to recognize signs of the presence of gators. The Forest Service pamplet explains some distinctions between Gator dung and other animals such as deer, possum etc. First of all, Gator dung does not float. While on shore in the wild it is important to recognize gator dung. It is most often identified by small bells in it and it smells like skin so soft.

I remember this tip from fly fishing out in MT & WY They told us we could always know when there was bear in the area we were fishing.

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Before you learn this the hard way, "Gator Ditches" are called "Gator Ditches" for a very good reason. Several years ago, I took a short cut through a ditch and came upon a huge gator. Luckily he was facing away from me instead of toward me. This could have gotten really sticky had he been facing toward me because he definitely did not have room to turn around.

After they breed, usually the entire month of May is breeding season here and maybe a little thereafter, the big bulls are seldom aggressive but it does happen. When the little ones hatch and as the mommies are guarding their nests, stay out of the marshes. Even a 7 footer is a dangerous beast.

I've lived in the south all my life (68 years) and have had only a very few instances with gators where my heart flew up into my mouth.

There are places I will not go in my yak. Two places that come to mind are Orange lake and Lake Lochloosa due to the large number of large gators. I don't yak fish there at any season. I also do not fish in Gator infested areas at night.

This Gator is too big and too close.

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Capt. Ken

Is this the same as "gator holes"? I remember on more than one occasion pulling up to a riverbank, stepping just a few feet out into the water and sinking up to my chest.

How do you recognize/locate a gator ditch?

Gator ditches are usually narrow, only about a Gator wide.
They usually go back into the marsh to where females nest and back into isolated sloughs and holes. They are also Redfish highways.

Many of these ditches drain the marsh as the tide falls. The mouth of a Gator ditch is often a great place to fish just before low tide. Large fish have to move out first, followed by baitfish, and shrimp. The big fish drop off into main channels then turn around and face the mouth of the ditch where they somehow know all sorts of food will be washed to them. These places are often Flounder hot spots

Next time I'm out, I'll photograph some local Gator ditches and post the pics.

If you do decide to paddle or pole up a gator ditch, don't go into one if muddy water is pouring out. Muddy water is a sure sign a gator is in the ditch. (Or is it a big school of Redfish?)

A friend of a friend who operates a Gator breeding facility said that a firm bump with a hard object is sufficient to send a Gator on his way. He should know but danged if I want to test his method of Gator protection.

A couple more observations: There are some really big Gators in both fresh and salt water. I've seen more really big Gators in the Alabama River Delta than anywhere here in Florida. The biggest Gator I have ever seen in Florida was in a pond off Ft. Island Trail near Crystal River. It would not surprise me to see a SW Crocodile along the Gulf Coast, especially a little south of here. There is a huge one on display at the Homosassa Wildlife Park that was captured in Lake Tarpon only a short time after my son saw a Croc near our home in T. Springs.

Remember the Croc scene in "Crocodile Dundee?" I dang near flipped out of my seat when that beast jumped at the girl.

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Capt. Ken