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An Outdoor Happening: No Problems With Big Gators … Until I Retired

Kayak angler, a former FWC officer, has close encounter with 12-foot giant.

An Outdoor Happening: No Problems With Big Gators … Until I Retired
Kayakers shouldn’t have to worry about alligators attacking, but the chance is never zero.

I never feared alligators. I’ve always had a healthy respect for them anytime when I am fishing, boating, or hunting. With 30 years of experience as an FWC officer, I’ve probably handled several hundred alligators during my career. Everything from catching small nuisance alligators, seizing live alligators as evidence in criminal cases, to assisting FWC nuisance alligator trappers with catching large supersized aggressive alligators that were too large to handle by one person. I’ve never had a problem with alligators, until I retired.

It was a warm spring morning as I drove to the secluded boat ramp in central Florida. I previously discovered this out of the way public pond that had a small fishing pier, gravel boat ramp, and picnic tables for visitors to enjoy. I was all set for exploring the new lake armed with my favorite baitcasting combos. The dark tannic waters I prepared to explore looked like something out of a Tarzan movie.

Standing atop my kayak, I caught a large tilapia. I was about to lift the fish out of the water when out of nowhere the dark waters exploded. A giant 12-foot alligator came up out of the water with jaws wide open! In a flash, the alligator’s jaws came down on the top and side of the kayak. I never saw it coming, it happened so fast, and without warning! The entire kayak rocked as the jaws of the gator bit into it. Fortunately, the stable watercraft did not flip me into the murky water.

Punctures in a kayak caused by an alligator.
Two punctures in Steve Wayne’s kayak show the power and ferocity of an alligator’s near miss.

I fell back into my seat and began pedaling as fast as I could to get away from the attacking alligator! There was one problem, I still had a fish hooked on the end of my line and it was tangled around the rod tip. I couldn’t get away fast enough with a fish in tow. As I quickly pedaled, I fumbled for my braided line scissors. I was still almost in shock but had to free myself from the gator-attracting fish on the end of the line. The line snapped, freeing me from the attacking alligator.

Once back at the ramp, an awaiting FWC officer was responding to the lake about complaints from the public about the aggressive gator. Apparently, it was well known that the public was routinely feeding the alligators (which is illegal in Florida). These alligators lose their natural fear of humans and instead associate people with being fed and become aggressive. A licensed FWC nuisance alligator trapper had (unsuccessfully) tried to capture the alligator the day before because of the level of aggression the alligator has displayed.

When I pulled my kayak out, several scratches and two puncture holes from the alligator’s teeth were on port side. I’m glad to be alive and gained a healthy respect for alligators!


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If you have had an interesting, exciting or funny experience in the outdoors, tell us about it and send us a picture: It might qualify as “An Outdoor Happening.” If your story is chosen, you’ll receive a Florida Sportsman gift pack worth over $100. Email your story and one or two photos to editor@floridasportsman.com. Or send your story by mail to Outdoor Happening, Florida Sportsman, 3725 SE Ocean Blvd, Suite 202, Stuart, FL 34996.


  • This story was featured in the November 2024 issue of Florida Sportsman magazine. Click to subscribe.



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