Baby alligator

[silverselkie56]

Advice please. Fishing along bank of Toledo Bend with Baja Bug and have 18 inch baby alligator which took bait and refuses to let go. Do not want to git bit and heard from others fishing near me that Mama gator is probably close by. Of course, none of them have ever caught an alligator. Figures. Should I just cut the line or what. Thank you for immediate help.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Baby alligator

Switch lures to half a chicken on heavy tackle...Try for Momma!!!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Baby alligator

What, ya take your laptop out with ya and you are just sitting there bobbing around untill ya get an answer??? Cut the line and continue to fish, times a waisting! Oh, and Mommas watching you.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Baby alligator

Yeah it's safe to just cut the line, I watch the discovery channel all the time and I know for a fact that those baby gators are by themselve. Big Mama is only around until the eggs hatch, then she pick up the little ones with her jaw and bring them to the water. After all are in the water then she is gone so she won't eat the babies. On one of the show, there was one that just hatched swam out into the open and got eaten by a bass. Crocs Week on discovery, should watch it if ya live close to them critters.

 

[colding01]

Re: Baby alligator

Not true, gonefishie... Momma will hang around for awhile after they are hatched. I do a lot of swamp fishing and often see a litter of pup gators. Once they start yelping, that means they're calling for momma. She's usually not too far away, and she'll defend her brood if she has too.<br /><br />Just cut the line Silver... No need to harm the gator or yourself by trying to remove the lure.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Baby alligator

I don't know an 18 inch gator? Mommas gone they are about a foot long when born. Best thing is to cut line and call it good.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Baby alligator

depends, if it was one a those $30 crankbaits, I say reel it in & fight for it. Just remember, the muscles for closing their jaws are very strong, but the muscles for opening up are weak, so you can hold its mouth shut. Now, if you crankbait is in its lips you can retrieve it, if its inside its mouth...well...just how quick are you?<br /><br />BTW, my wife's birthday is coming up & she might like an aligator purse. So if you see the momma...try & get her purse for me would ya?<br /><br />thanks,<br /><br />

 

[txswinner]

Re: Baby alligator

The fine is not worth it nor is the bite. We used to catch lil allies out behind the elem. school and I havenot seen a momma gator with a ruler or calendar but know they stay around quite a while. If on land listen for a hiss or tail thump, never mind it is too late. They are fast on land.

 

[silverselkie56]

Re: Baby alligator

Thanks for all the info. I just happened to have my notebook with me down by the water. <br />Was not expensive lure. About 99 cent one.<br />took picture of it and cut line. <br />Would not want to meet Mamma - have had some follow the boat and they were as big as the 16 ft boat I was in.<br />Toledo Bend has some big ones and illegal to bother them. Wish someone would tell them to leave the humans alone. But fishing here is good and love living near the lake.<br />Again, thank you all.