On 10/11/2020 at 2:29 PM, TOXIC said:

When I lived in Jacksonville on the St Johns River in Mandarin, we had a pond on the property that gators would move into.  I think it was because there were also Nutria in the pond as well.  Occasionally small gators would get into the pool.  The big boys lived out in the river.  Had a friend catch a 13 foot gator out of Cresent lake.  Lots of good eating.  

I grew up near Mandarin. I could write a book ( and may ) on all my gator experiences in the area. Grew up fishing Julington creek , the river, and small lake I live on.

A friend killed a 11 1/2 footer near clark’s fish camp when we were 12 years old.

 

6 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I grew up near Mandarin. I could write a book ( and may ) on all my gator experiences in the area. Grew up fishing Julington creek , the river, and small lake I live on.

A friend killed a 11 1/2 footer near clark’s fish camp when we were 12 years old.

 

My grand parents have a place on doctors lake in Fleming. Never have bass fished it though ?

12 hours ago, NoShoes said:

My grand parents have a place on doctors lake in Fleming. Never have bass fished it though ?

I won a tournament in Drs lake- the only time I ever fished it.?

4 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I won a tournament in Drs lake- the only time I ever fished it.?

Is fishing decent that far up the river?  I live near Savannah now but am always down to “visit” the grand parents. 

 

Just to throw my 2 cents in ... the state of Mississippi does not take a back seat to no one when it comes to alligators ... we get some big ones too ... very big ... avoid them ... avoid them ... and stay away from a clutch of eggs ... they are excellent parents ...

 

good fishing ...

1 hour ago, NoShoes said:

Is fishing decent that far up the river?  I live near Savannah now but am always down to “visit” the grand parents. 

I assume you mean freshwater fishing. All the creeks off the river even past downtown toward the ocean have freshwater fish, esp. the further back up in the creek you go. Ive never caught a freshwater fish past the arlington river because its too salty. But between there and way south down the river you will catch fresh and saltwater fish as it is brackish. Ive caught mullet way up in crescent lake.

The further south= more freshwater fish. The closer to the ocean= more saltwater fish.

I might be wrong, but I believe FWC considers the buckman bridge to be the dividing line for salt and freshwater licensing.  So Drs lake is just into whats considered  freshwater  .

There is a lot of fish to catch. If you are dock fishing in Drs, Id use multiple baits, especially natural baits, cut bait, worms, live and dead shrimp, live shiners, etc. Youll catch more fish. 

I caught most of my fish in there in the tournament  on red shad culprit worms fished slow. I caught nearly all the fish near eel grass . I dont know if theres much of it left there anymore...

If you have a boat , and just want to catch something, fish deep holes or pilings in the river with dead shrimp. You can catch some nice bream fishing worms under docks in Drs lake too.

Wow! That is one big gator.

Florida most likely has more alligators than Mississippi and also has American crocodiles, spectacled caimans, and even Nile crocodiles have been reported. 

 

Long gators don't impress me anymore than tall men.

 

On 10/12/2020 at 5:18 PM, soflabasser said:

They are impressive animals and I am glad to see them when I go fishing.

 

Nuff said    

 

Roger

Just give them the respect that they deserve! It is their home!  ?

GO Gators!!

 

12 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

GO Gators!!

Your guess. How old is this gator???

 

50-75 years Id say.

What do you think , Sam?

3 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

What do you think , Sam?

No idea. I would think at least 25, maybe 40 at the most.