Pumpkinhead

Thanks Aaron! I can assure you I will never ever be a dingus around a gator. I won’t mess with one, aggravate one or do anything to close our distance… My biggest fear comes from rolling up on one that I didn’t see or one coming up near me underneath my kayak just being in the wrong place at the wrong time so to speak…

Thanks everyone! Went back last night… Only landed a couple small largemouth lost a couple on decent bites… I’m actually a snake guy having owned snakes my whole life and having handled many steaks before I actually own a snake hook. I have been bitten probably close to 50 or 60 times but never buy something venomous so I try to be very cognizant of snakes… I’ve ran across two big rattlesnakes at Okeeheelee Park near West Palm and I just let them be on their way

Rattlesnake S. Florida

I’m in south Florida near west Palm beach and I often take my mtb bike, tackle backpack and rods to find new fishing hole - saw two really decent sized rattlesnake a few weeks back maybe close to 4-5’ and thick. I’m trying to watch for gators and these bad boys casually stroll on by….

Hey gang - new to the forum but glad to be here. I’m in South Florida west of west palm beach…tons of canals and lakes etc. I’m new to FL having been here a couple years (moved from GA) and just started bass fishing last year. I have to remind myself that all bodies of water can and might have a gator or two in it but I find myself standing close to waters edge from time to time. I’m a big guy but sure that matters if the gator is decent sized right? I found a secluded pond on an old golf course that’s a good sized that likely doesn’t get fished much - been there twice and pulled a few bass and a snakehead out of it. It has a ton of cover and structure on one side that is really hard to get to the edge to cast because of the growth and bushes near the edge…..the other side is wide open with not much structure. The other thing I noticed is a decent sized gator - probably 7-8’ always cruising around. I’ve never seen it near the edge but some times I don’t see it all but I’m sure it’s there. How cognizant do I need to be when at the edge of the water knowing this big reptile is in there? The other question is, should I keep working to find a decent casting spot on the other side with all the growth at the waters edge? Here’s a couple pics looking over from the clear side, to the side with all the structure and cover. PH