Thread: Hooked A Moc

Had a 3 foot water moccasin swim beneath my line the other day while fishing above a culbert. I waited until he was right beneath me and gave a tug, caught him in his tail and the fight was on. It has eased up to my cork thinking it was some critter, then swam on by, and when he got half way past the cork, I ripped the line up and hooked him. So, I'm standing there fighting this poisonous snake on my fishing line and suddenly a little light bulb went off in my empty head; I'm thinking, "ok big boy, you caught him, now whatcha gonna do?" About ten seconds later, he fought himself loose and the fight was over.

OK first off it's culvert. Second unless you were in far southeaster Oklahoma you probably hooked a common Dimond backed water snake that 99% of the people id as a Moc as you called it. I have lived and hunted and fished every creek and lake in central Oklahoma and have never seen one. But I have seen fishermen run from the afore mentioned snakes many many times. Most folks just don't know how to id them. No offense, but if you can catch it, call the wildlife dept. they say they are only in the south east part of the state.

Originally Posted by BudsBoy

OK first off it's culvert. Second unless you were in far southeaster Oklahoma you probably hooked a common Dimond backed water snake that 99% of the people id as a Moc as you called it. I have lived and hunted and fished every creek and lake in central Oklahoma and have never seen one. But I have seen fishermen run from the afore mentioned snakes many many times. Most folks just don't know how to id them. No offense, but if you can catch it, call the wildlife dept. they say they are only in the south east part of the state.

I too have grown up 50+ years working the creeks and lakes of Eastern Oklahoma and would agree until recently. I saw 2 killed at Graves Creek last year and saw another the other day downstream from the low water dam below Hudson. Got a picture of him but not face on. But he had the white jaw line and the head shape. He was working the roots of a tree just above the creek. Copper heads are out as well, saw one this week. The common water snakes are easy to tell once you see the real deal, totally different look and attitude. Simple solution if it gets in the boat kill it, if it stays out of the boat leave it be the only good snake is on a new set of Cowboy boots LOL

BudsBoy..I will differ with you STRONGLY...There at Water Moc"s on Eufaula, and many of them as well. I was on a guided trip last week up Gaines Creek and had 4 swim by my boat including a 3'er trying to get into my boat. No Banded or Diamond Back water snake a full fledges Moc. I will differ and argu with the Wildlife Dept too and if the money is right will certainly take em and prove my point. Banded or Diamond water snakes will not float above the water and Moc's will. Had em within 2' of my boat last week. They do live here in East Central Oklahoma..AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK.....Ranger

I don't live there now but grew up just out side McAlester and fished Gaines creek, Cole creek and all around there before there was a Eufaula lake. They is plenty of them real moccasins all around there. And have fished Eufaula since it was built and seen plenty there to.

I've seen them all over NE and SE OK. Caught one on Greenleaf when I was a kid on a floating crank. Thought I'd be smart and mess with it, so did it. My Dad was so proud.....NOT! Of course, he was the one who had to take it off the hook! I had resigned myself to loosing a $2.00 crankbait (back when that would buy any crank made - not like todays $15.00+ models!) but good ole' Dad got hold of it with two pair of needle nose and then I promptly made it into two snakes. Just another of those "Wow, Father really does know what's best" moments. Wouldn't trade em for anything. If you look at head, eyes and tail, it's pretty easy to tell the difference between water snakes and cottonmouths.

OK Stink, just what exactly did you hook into?


"Water snakes have round pupils, and cottonmouth pupils are vertical slits. The cottonmouth also has a heat-sensing pit that sits between the eye and the nostril on each side of the face. The water snake does not have this."

But who wants to get close enough to look into their eyes?
Venomous Water Moccasin or Harmless Watersnake?

Water snake vs. water moccasin | Tulsa World

Stink, I have had a few of those uh oh what moments!! Glad yours was resolved the easy way!

Ranger - I want to know why you let the cottonmouth get within 2' of your boat. I pull the ol' 20 gauge long before that and watch the chunks fly. Nuttin like pink mistin dem. #8's shreds them pretty good.

I'm a land surveyor, I'm always around creeks and I fish every weekend, I'm here to tell you mocs, cotton mouths whatever you want to call them are all around eastern and southeastern oklahoma, but I will say this everyone does like to call the banded or diamond back water snake a moc!!! If you don't believe me budsboy come on down and I'll take u to greenleaf and I'll show u some good ol mocs