You have any advice for getting close at night? I see tons of eyes, most are small 5/6ft, and let you get close.... but when I see a set of eyes I think is a bigger gator (solo, in the middle of canal, slurps back into water, and spooks easy going down when the light first hits it 200 yards away).... What's your next stage of approach? Do you stay far away, trolling motor up when resurfaces trying to keep it in the edge of the red light halo? Or.... run up on it, illuminate the hell out of the water with all those neat lights I dont have, and start pitching at bubbles? I try the red light and coming in stealth like, but I find they either disappear, or they drop right before im gonna make my cast.
@@christopherwright5527 I'm not a huge fan of nighttime gator hunting. The correct approach takes soooo long and there isn't a way to be positive of size. Then you usually get one cast... We have caught some good ones at night but it's tough. We use the big spotlight to find one far away. Get a heading and use the trolling motor to cover distance and check once or twice with a smaller light (just the edge of the beam for a second) to make sure he's still in the same spot. Once we get close to casting distance, we switch to a low power cheap headlight and still only check for a second. Once in casting distance, have someone in front of you with the spotlight light him up and make the cast.
Good stuff! I always aim right behind the head and if there is any cross breeze I compensate accordingly. Also, since I am doing nuisance work I have to get THAT gator and so I can't afford a break-off. Consequently for bigger ones I use a heavy bait casting reel and 350# spectra line. This limits my casting to a max of about 50 yards (a Hail Mary cast on a good day) with real accuracy limited to about 35. Not that big a problem since most nuisance gators are in backyard ponds.
@@thewildgame1 Exactly. Often if I get a break-off that gator is done for the day and goes in a hole or hides in vegetation so there is good incentive not to lose one.
Solid video man, thanks for the info. I have used the same Tiger rod and thinks its a perfect fit. Still new to gator hunting, so videos like this are great.
Was unable to get out, so did some fishing at ponds around here. My brother in law had to get work done around his house this past weekend. I am at his mercy since he has the boat and gear. I am slowly getting gear, but the boat is far off for me!! Hoping to get out this weekend though.
If I draw tags next year I will have to see if you are available to get some gators. Struck out again this past weekend. Kind of a bummer having to return tags, but its all good!! Hopefully next year is better. This gives me time to learn more for next season.
You have any advice for getting close at night? I see tons of eyes, most are small 5/6ft, and let you get close.... but when I see a set of eyes I think is a bigger gator (solo, in the middle of canal, slurps back into water, and spooks easy going down when the light first hits it 200 yards away).... What's your next stage of approach? Do you stay far away, trolling motor up when resurfaces trying to keep it in the edge of the red light halo? Or.... run up on it, illuminate the hell out of the water with all those neat lights I dont have, and start pitching at bubbles? I try the red light and coming in stealth like, but I find they either disappear, or they drop right before im gonna make my cast.
@@christopherwright5527 I'm not a huge fan of nighttime gator hunting. The correct approach takes soooo long and there isn't a way to be positive of size. Then you usually get one cast...
We have caught some good ones at night but it's tough. We use the big spotlight to find one far away. Get a heading and use the trolling motor to cover distance and check once or twice with a smaller light (just the edge of the beam for a second) to make sure he's still in the same spot. Once we get close to casting distance, we switch to a low power cheap headlight and still only check for a second. Once in casting distance, have someone in front of you with the spotlight light him up and make the cast.
Good stuff! I always aim right behind the head and if there is any cross breeze I compensate accordingly. Also, since I am doing nuisance work I have to get THAT gator and so I can't afford a break-off. Consequently for bigger ones I use a heavy bait casting reel and 350# spectra line. This limits my casting to a max of about 50 yards (a Hail Mary cast on a good day) with real accuracy limited to about 35. Not that big a problem since most nuisance gators are in backyard ponds.
I bet that 350 spectra line HOLDS them good! We make longer casts but different situation!
@@thewildgame1 Exactly. Often if I get a break-off that gator is done for the day and goes in a hole or hides in vegetation so there is good incentive not to lose one.
Do you tie your hooks directly to braid or do you use a Mono or bow fishing line leader?
@@MichaelAckerman-es4by 65lb Braid directly to the hook!
This brings back memories to the mid 90s when I was a teenager doing this. Now I have some pin point accuracy when casting.
Enjoyed the video!
Thanks man!
Solid video man, thanks for the info. I have used the same Tiger rod and thinks its a perfect fit. Still new to gator hunting, so videos like this are great.
Any luck this weekend!?
Was unable to get out, so did some fishing at ponds around here.
My brother in law had to get work done around his house this past weekend. I am at his mercy since he has the boat and gear. I am slowly getting gear, but the boat is far off for me!! Hoping to get out this weekend though.
I'll be bow hunting this week and weekend. If you want to go fill some tags next week, I'm down. Shoot me a text! 321-432-8661
Sounds good, will let you know how the weekend plays out. Good luck bow hunting man!! Archery hunting growing up was one of my favorite times.
If I draw tags next year I will have to see if you are available to get some gators. Struck out again this past weekend. Kind of a bummer having to return tags, but its all good!! Hopefully next year is better. This gives me time to learn more for next season.