If alligators are visible on top of the water does that mean that fish, manely bass, won't be by it because of fear of getting eaten?

I caught tons of bass in Santee-Cooper and there were gators everywhere.

Not true at all in my experience... in fact sometimes quite the opposite will be true.

Gators will eat a bass, but most of there diet comes from turtles and slower moving fish. I catch bass around gators all the time.

When I see a gator I know fish are there as well. BTW, alligators love bass I'll show you what I mean.

I use gators as well as birds to FIND fish. They are not there because it looks pretty. I rarely have problems with gators but I have been run off of a spot once or twice. I don't really like it when they try to get in the boat after my fish.

Not true at all in my experience... in fact sometimes quite the opposite will be true.

Do you mean bass will sometimes eat the gator? HAHAHA

I caught tons of bass in Santee-Cooper and there were gators everywhere.

In a Kayak?

Agree with all the posts about gators being a marker for bass location. They are both in "live" areas with food supply. Maybe they do feed on the occasional bass but both are there for the same reason-not unlike bluegills being markers for bass

Gators are there for 1 reason and that's to eat, bass are a part of their diet. On more occasions than I could count I have seen predatory mammals, reptiles and fish move my target species into hiding. One many may not think of are dolphins ( flipper, cute cuddly nuisance) clear out the game fish real quick, sharks too.

In a Kayak?

No, I was in my bass boat, but I know many that fish gator waters from kayaks.

No, I was in my bass boat, but I know many that fish gator waters from kayaks.

I wonder how they felt when or if a gator tried to climb in a kayak? I would god can't say on site, lol. Are they laws carrying a rifle and shooting gators?? I just wonder and somewhat glad not to have to deal with them here in Va but I love visiting them in La.

BTW love the video Shane.Good luck with getting your $7.99 back, lol

I wonder how they felt when or if a gator tried to climb in a kayak?

Everyone says they don't, and are mostly afraid of people.

I heard about boats like in FishinDaddy post but never heard anything on kayaks and god that has to be a scary feeling if the bad doesn't happen. But it might be like you said J Francho unless like Shane said in one of his videos or post can't recall a while back it's the hand fed gators that he worries about.

I would not feel comfortable fishing a Yak around alligators. I've seen too many go crazy at the sight of us reeling in fish. Thats scarry enough in a boat...can't imagine being a couple of inches out of the water and a gator chaseing my fish back to the boat

I heard about boats like in FishinDaddy post but never heard anything on kayaks and god that has to be a scary feeling if the bad doesn't happen. But it might be like you said J Francho unless like Shane said in one of his videos or post can't recall a while back it's the hand fed gators that he worries about.

Check your email, LOL.

I would love to see a yaker come down to Shane's special spot especially during low water levels! I would film it, pay for the trip, and provide accommodations. In Shane's spot I had them swirl underneath my little 14' jon boat and charge boat trying to catch landed fish, totally unafraid of fisherman.

Now if you add some teal ducks and duck hunters to the equation all bets are off. Gators are about as brave as a little school girl dressed in a pink dress in a yard full of pit-bulls around duck hunters, don't ask why.

Its always those 3-4 footers that are a pain.

The only animal that makes me leave an are is an otter, they will clean out anything around.

That was one of the best videos I have ever seen about bass fishing.

Keep 'em coming!!!

Speaking of the gators,I had a est 12-14 foot gator(huge head-mouth open slightly) surface a few feet in front of my legs as I was sitting in the front seat of my bass boat with my legs stretched out over the side at the intersection of Uncle Joe's cut/rim canal at Lake Okeechobee.I guess the wiggling of my toes was enticing

Up until that point all I saw was the run of the mill 5-8' gators. Needless to say, I retracted my legs from the side of the boat to under the seat for a while. You just never know what is lurking under there. I pass on the canoes and kayaks unless it is a neighborhood canal.

I have had some success fishing where gators are present and I have also noticed a lack of fish when they are not around. That said, I think it is a good sign to see some gators.

Great video Capt Shane, I enjoy watching your trips.

I would love to see a yaker come down to Shane's special spot especially during low water levels! I would film it, pay for the trip, and provide accommodations. In Shane's spot I had them swirl underneath my little 14' jon boat and charge boat trying to catch landed fish, totally unafraid of fisherman.

Now if you add some teal ducks and duck hunters to the equation all bets are off. Gators are about as brave as a little school girl dressed in a pink dress in a yard full of pit-bulls around duck hunters, don't ask why.

Must be the loaded 12 gauges..

I like the pit bull analogy. They act like angry pit bulls with no fear.Falling in the water in that canal would be bad.

I was followed around by a good size gator the other evening, what made me extra aware was this was a golf course gator, they see people all day. The ones that have no fear are the ones to stay away from.

Speaking of the gators,I had a est 12-14 foot gator(huge head-mouth open slightly) surface a few feet in front of my legs as I was sitting in the front seat of my bass boat with my legs stretched out over the side at the intersection of Uncle Joe's cut/rim canal at Lake Okeechobee.I guess the wiggling of my toes was enticing

Up until that point all I saw was the run of the mill 5-8' gators. Needless to say, I retracted my legs from the side of the boat to under the seat for a while. You just never know what is lurking under there. I pass on the canoes and kayaks unless it is a neighborhood canal.

I have had some success fishing where gators are present and I have also noticed a lack of fish when they are not around. That said, I think it is a good sign to see some gators.

Great video Capt Shane, I enjoy watching your trips.

OMG this post gave me cold chills. I fished some lakes around Gainesville in FL as a child and remember seeing the gators. I even fell in Newnan (?) lake and freaked out. I was about ten years old. So, yeah.... having one come up to see your toes....Ugh!

@Captain Shane The alligator that swallowed your trap, probably has already passed it, sifted it, retrieved it, polished it and is using it to catch more bass now!

Great video Capt. Shane. Do you ever see any pythons in the Glades?