GatorBK

A 2000 GMC sonoma . It is quiet good on gas and helps me get the job done Some days I wish I had a bigger truck

Look on google earth and most of Cocoa is lakes/ponds with houses built on the dry spots. All the ponds and lakes interconnect with culverts and canals . Its h*ll trying to get gators sometimes . Especially on the golf courses and developments because they can switch to a new pond every day. I just try to match the pond to the weather . I fish shallower ponds this time of year because they warm faster. Then later in the summer fish the deeper lakes.

Here is a better picture of Fox lake I took this morning while checking baits. A hawk flew up and landed on the sign beside me. To the left and at the back in this picture are acres of lillypads full of bass and around the bend is a canal which connects to South Lake. There are also nice Crappie in there too. I saw some spawning activity going on there too

Well the main reason for emptying my bowels is if the paramedics or search crew ever fish me out of a lake I dont wanna have my drawers full LOL.

Gator because I catch them and the BK are my initials. The BK could also mean the King lol and a few of my women friends have referred to BK as being Home Of the Whopper ;D

I went to Fox lake this morning you can see some of the lake in the background in this picture. It full of lillypads grass and trees . Bass were hitting everywhere but I was busy working . There is a boat ramp at the park you can launch a boat. I dont recommend swimming there though . I saw a guy water skiing right at the park where I caught this guy this morning

I usually eat a bite before I go but I didnt this morning. I do always make sure I empty my bladder before catching them though ;D

Its just a job and an adventure. here is what I did this morning before the rain hit . I took the 10 ft gheenoe and got a nine foot gator he took the me and the little boat for a ride ;D

Yep thats true it will cut fishing line quick too

In the second link a few posts up it explains . Basicially we get to sell the hide and meat. The FWC doesnt pay us . Well neither is much good on this gator his skin was rubbed raw in places from living in the culvert. Look at his elbows in the picture above Also he was in a pond treated with a dye that keeps the water blue looking. The inside of his mouth was blue green instead or white so its probably in his meat . the meat will be discarded. we might have made 60 dollars apeice on him :'( But the people were happy it was gone . And it will be an experience I will never forget

LoL Muddyman ;D Your welcome Bassdocktor gators are interesting and intelligent critters, more than most people think. They can recognize vehicles and hide when they see the same truck that hunts them. Other people can be parked fishing with the gators right there . I pull up they might go underwater for up to 2 hours. Or go hide in a pipe like this one did. they have the eyesight of an owl a sense of smell better than a dog, .And can hear really good and feel vibrations through their body. its next to impossible to sneak up on a gator, even when they are asleep (unless they have been fed). Normally I dont go in a pipe but, It was just a gator that needed to be killed . he grabbed a womans dog about a year ago out of the pond. Its been an on going problem for over a year. We finially figured out his hiding spot . He had about a 1 mile of underground pipe to travel. he could go from the pond to the Indian river. which is 1/2 miles from each other. Gators can live in brackish water but have to go to fresh to clean salt outta their system. So whenever he wanted he just showed up in the pond . When we tried to catch him there he would leave for a week of more. He wouldnt take a bait he was a smart gator. It was pretty intense you cannot imagine the noises gators make when they are mad. Especially in a pipe. Next time I try it I will make a shield the size of the pipe with a hole to see and one to shoot out of If I need to. Here is a pic of him with the culvert slime washed off

It was a long day my hands knees and elbows are raw from crawling in that cement pipe yesterday. Bassindocktor here are some links that better describe the program There have been revisions since this was printed but this is the basics of it http://myfwc.com/GATORS/nuisance.htm http://myfwc.com/GATORS/research/Articles/nuisance-csg2000.pdf

I spent from 12 yesterday till 6 crawling in 3 foot and smaller cement culverts trying to push a 10 plus ft gator with PVC pipe . My cousin Frank was waiting at an open manhole lid. The gator wouldnt budge so I improvised. I taped a treble hook and 400 feet of rope to the end of the PVC and hooked the gator. It was near impossible to move him. It was too small of a culvert to use a bangstick . I was eye level with him all I had was a 22 magnum revolver no way to really shoot . Man that gator was ticked he straightned out my hook and got off. It was getting late so I tried to prod him again. He still wouldnt budge so we were packing up to leave and took a break and were kinda broken hearted . I had crawld over 400 feet back in a pipe 3 times yesterday . All I had gotten out of it was a rush hearing him growl and snap and seeing those glowing eyes. Well I said to Frank Im gonna pop that manhole lid one more time . I did and there he was his big old head laying there hissing . I blasted him with a 44 mag and finished him. It was a wicked sound through those pipes and it was a wicked impact with his head on cement shooting him. Always wear glasses when using a bangstick the gators skull or bullet casing will go off like shrapnel. I felt peices of something hitting me. Here is one pic my batteries died but my cousin Frank has a few more pics. Look at the gators elbows from living in that culvert. My elbows and knees about match his after today

I sell the hide and meat Its processed at an approved facility.

I use an aluminum john boat sometimes . If you attach a peice of carpet across the bow of the boat to keep waves from slapping the bow it makes a world of difference. I got a little 10 ft gheenoe I can sneak up on fish in just a couple feet of water and I can get within 10 feet of them before they spook. I have to sneak up on gators which is much harder than sneaking up on fish . The gheenoe makes all the difference in the world here is a picture of a gheenoe and a link http://www.gheenoe.net/

I can find out for sure about the no motor zone .But being George is a guide he should know. Its not in my 4 inch thick book of regulations on harvesting gators. I do agree with Avid those guys are underpaid. They do try but the judicial system makes it tough on the LE officers . I am not an officer or warden just an agent the FWC pays me nothing to catch nuisance gators . I get to sell the meat and hide for my income after I pay to have it processed at a USDA approved facility ,then I have to pay self employment taxes on that. I have to furnish all my equiptmnet hooks, lines , bait, Fishing gear ,bangstick, boats, truck ,gas, I even have to buy my gator licence ,etc etc . And had to sign a waiver incase I lose an arm or leg so I am on my own. I actually loose money at times catching gators. I had to pay 125 $ just to get the FWC decals they require on my truck. I do it as a public service because I like it and its challenging they are smart critters If you dont think they are dangerous check this out Its Graphic http://www.cdnn.info/news/safety/s070917.html Sorry to get off topic I hope you do well fishing there 1sjay

Just north or Cocoa in Titusville there are 2 good bass lakes South Lake and Fox lake . I was on Fox lake today and saw some bass hitting topwater .

Dont quote me on this but I beleive you can run just a trolling motor in some no motor zones

Here are the negative affects of using too heavy of line . I put 200 lb braid on a rod rated for 50 lb test an 8 ft gator snapped my rod and permenantly bent it near the handle. I almost got shrapnel in my face when the rod splintered When going the opposite with too light of line on a heavy action rod I tend to break my line on the hookset

I dont weigh them but I guess that little guy weighed about 60 lbs This is my PB on rod and reel . It was sore for 3 days after fighting it in. It was over 10 feet and over 400 lbs and I was using an average 8 ft surfrod to haul it in . The rod is in the picture in my truck. Its an adrenaline rush like no other when a big boy like that powers up . I have had them pull me towards the water a few times

A gheenoe is your answer http://www.gheenoe.net/ Here is my oneor two man gator hunting rig.Its a custom made 10 ft gheenoe and a gator I got this morning They are great and you dont need a trailer . They fit right in a truck or on a car . A motor can be mounted on them , mine only weighs 70 lbs. I can stand up in it easily and sight fish and cast . They are much more stablethan a canoe and easier to manuever and quieter than a john boat

Wow glad yall missed that. I had a big tree in my front yard that fell on the house when I was gone to a friends one day. Nothing like that tornado , but it was wild pulling in the driveway seeing a tree on your house.

I havent been since my fiancee outfished me ;D I might try again soon here is a Sebastian inlet 29 inch keeper snook

What surfer said is good . I usually bass fish small retention ponds while I am waiting on gators to come out. Its a good time of year here the bass are starting to spawn

Here is my other rig its a custom made 10 ft gheenoe and a gator I got this am