Kayak Trip Report, Limestone Bay/Creek - Baby Gators!

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10-08-2021, 04:55 PM
Ditch Basser

Kayak Trip Report, Limestone Bay/Creek - Baby Gators!

I fished Limestone today, not much to report. I caught and released 5, all large fish, spider rigging but not another bit. The water has come up about 2 or 2 1/2 feet and I simply couldn't find the fish. I spent some time exploring with the high water and paddled up to the old iron bridge, then took the old Limestone Creek channel back down. Most of the Duckweed has been flushed out because of the water coming down creek and the water is high enough to get over the laydowns that cross the creek.

As I came into one area with a new laydown that had green leaves, I heard a sound that I haven't heard in over 15 years. Lucky I was stationary (about to push through the tree). I start looking around and see 6 or 8 baby gators. I start looking for momma and she's only 5 foot to my right. I hadn't seen her because of her head being covered in Duckweed. I slowly backed up, turned around and paddled back around the long way to my truck.

Please be careful if in Limestone on the bank or fishing skinny. Momma Gators will even fight a big Bull Gator defending their babies. The babies make a noise that sounds more like a bird than anything else, but switch to a faster, higher pitched squeak when scared. If they make that noise, momma is on the way and looking for a fight.
10-08-2021, 07:13 PM
Damion Kidd

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ditch Basser

I fished Limestone today, not much to report. I caught and released 5, all large fish, spider rigging but not another bit. The water has come up about 2 or 2 1/2 feet and I simply couldn't find the fish. I spent some time exploring with the high water and paddled up to the old iron bridge, then took the old Limestone Creek channel back down. Most of the Duckweed has been flushed out because of the water coming down creek and the water is high enough to get over the laydowns that cross the creek.

As I came into one area with a new laydown that had green leaves, I heard a sound that I haven't heard in over 15 years. Lucky I was stationary (about to push through the tree). I start looking around and see 6 or 8 baby gators. I start looking for momma and she's only 5 foot to my right. I hadn't seen her because of her head being covered in Duckweed. I slowly backed up, turned around and paddled back around the long way to my truck.

Please be careful if in Limestone on the bank or fishing skinny. Momma Gators will even fight a big Bull Gator defending their babies. The babies make a noise that sounds more like a bird than anything else, but switch to a faster, higher pitched squeak when scared. If they make that noise, momma is on the way and looking for a fight.

I decided not to go after seeing how the water was up yesterday. Decided to get some more honey do’s out of the way so I can be ready when conditions are better. But the constant gator reports will keep me away. Lol. I don’t know much about them but that sounds like a dangerous situation to me. Y’all be careful out there.

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10-09-2021, 05:16 AM
riverboss

cheKayak Fishing with GATORS on Wheeler Lake - SEASON 3 - FULL EPISODE - YouTubeck out this vid filmed mostly north end of the bay along limestone creek...yall will recognize several spots in the film and it features a huge gator in a gravel pit
10-09-2021, 07:17 AM
Ditch Basser

riverboss,

Cool to know the areas they're fishing down to specific laydowns. Thank for sharing!
10-09-2021, 08:19 AM
FurFlyin

How big were the little gators? I thought they hatched out in the spring?
10-09-2021, 08:36 AM
DockShootinJack

Sounds like y'all are getting a good sized herd of them gators
10-09-2021, 08:59 AM
Ditch Basser

Gators are about 9 inches when they hatch. Gators mate in April or May, eggs hatch in July-August. These were only about 10 or 11 inches long. If we have a cold winter they probably won't make it. Typically a Large bull male will have several breeding females and kill or chase off any other males in the area. Looks like that's what's happening in Limestone and would explain the one big guy with several smaller female gators in the area.
10-10-2021, 07:45 AM
riverboss

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ditch Basser

Gators are about 9 inches when they hatch. Gators mate in April or May, eggs hatch in July-August. These were only about 10 or 11 inches long. If we have a cold winter they probably won't make it. Typically a Large bull male will have several breeding females and kill or chase off any other males in the area. Looks like that's what's happening in Limestone and would explain the one big guy with several smaller female gators in the area.

How big was mama gator or could you tell?
10-10-2021, 06:45 PM
Ditch Basser

I'd guess about 6 or 7 foot, scared the hell out of me to have her that close and me on top of her babies!
10-10-2021, 06:51 PM
Ditch Basser

FYI, females seldom get over about 8 or 9 feet. They're typically 6 to maybe 8 feet . Males keep growing with maturity about 8 feet and 10 to 12 feet fairly common on the Southeast and Gulf Coast. The two biggest I've seen in North Alabama is the male in Limestone and one even bigger in Blackwell Swamp (north of Huntsville Airport).
10-11-2021, 02:46 AM
riverboss

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ditch Basser

FYI, females seldom get over about 8 or 9 feet. They're typically 6 to maybe 8 feet . Males keep growing with maturity about 8 feet and 10 to 12 feet fairly common on the Southeast and Gulf Coast. The two biggest I've seen in North Alabama is the male in Limestone and one even bigger in Blackwell Swamp (north of Huntsville Airport).

about 15-20 years back an article in the huntsville times had a photo of "stumpy" in our fav gravel pit and identified her as a 9ft female......if shes still around she could potentially be quite a bit longer but none of the ones Ive seen will be still on the bank long enough to check for the missing foot of tail that begot her name...obviously she would be a larger than normal example of a female gator so could be that the 10 footer you guy's saw the other day was her...
10-11-2021, 05:04 AM
DockShootinJack

They are enjoyable to watch from a distance. Very interesting animals
10-11-2021, 05:57 AM
Damion Kidd

river boss I was gonna ask you about stumpy. Also there was one that always stayed in that big pitt on the peninsula. I saw it over 20 years ago lots of times there. It was a good 9-10 ft.

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10-11-2021, 06:22 AM
riverboss

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damion Kidd

river boss I was gonna ask you about stumpy. Also there was one that always stayed in that big pitt on the peninsula. I saw it over 20 years ago lots of times there. It was a good 9-10 ft.

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I dont know how far a gator ranges from its fave spot or if thats something that changes but all that area is real close quarters and could be that one you mention is one we see in the connected pit.....maybe stumpy herself...I never saw that gator but could see where it entered a "den" if such a thing exist in an undercut bank across from the road that passes it regularly as I walked past the pit to fish from the bank. I also havent fished the creek downstream of the iron bridge but theres a pit adjacent to that stretch that I have fished from bank in the winter and now see video of a big gator in that pit which is near I believe to where DB described seeing baby gators so we are amongst them fishing out there and I dont believe I will wade any if I can help it......
10-11-2021, 06:54 AM
Damion Kidd

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverboss

I dont know how far a gator ranges from its fave spot or if thats something that changes but all that area is real close quarters and could be that one you mention is one we see in the connected pit.....maybe stumpy herself...I never saw that gator but could see where it entered a "den" if such a thing exist in an undercut bank across from the road that passes it regularly as I walked past the pit to fish from the bank. I also havent fished the creek downstream of the iron bridge but theres a pit adjacent to that stretch that I have fished from bank in the winter and now see video of a big gator in that pit which is near I believe to where DB described seeing baby gators so we are amongst them fishing out there and I dont believe I will wade any if I can help it......

I always thought that was stumpy. We used to go down there at lunch just to see it. It was always laying up on the bank when the sun was out. Seems like the end of the tail was cut off. I’ve fished that one down stream from the bridge till after dark several times. Not anymore. Lol

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10-11-2021, 07:11 AM
Damion Kidd

And at this time last year I was down there dragging fish all over the place on a stringer. If I get the nerve to go I’ve got to find me another way to keep them.

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10-12-2021, 02:57 PM
eminart

This is pretty cool news. I've always wanted to see some
babies out there. I'm a huge reptile nerd. Like you said, they probably won't make it through the winter. The vast majority of babies (of almost all animals) die or get eaten anyway. And we're at the edge of their survival range here, so it's especially tough to grow up.

I've also seen the same two (probably) big bulls as you in the gravel pits and Blackwell.
10-12-2021, 06:28 PM
Ditch Basser

Piney Creek has a small spring and so does Beaverdam Creek. If the winter isn't too cold they may have a shot if they can stay close to the warmer water. Blackwell Swamp has several springs in the North end also. That may be the key to them successful breeding in the area.
10-14-2021, 02:39 PM
Mr. S

That right there is enough to make you want to give up on kayak fishing and buy a tin boat. I sure don't want to be that close to them in a kayak. White Flag Icon
10-14-2021, 03:59 PM
Ditch Basser

All my fault, not momma Gator.

There could have been a Water Moccasin that I spooked and been in the kayak with me just as easy. When you picking through trees in the back of a creek in two feet or water you've got to learn to slow down. Sometimes I forget.
10-15-2021, 02:43 PM
fishing man

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverboss

cheKayak Fishing with GATORS on Wheeler Lake - SEASON 3 - FULL EPISODE - YouTubeck out this vid filmed mostly north end of the bay along limestone creek...yall will recognize several spots in the film and it features a huge gator in a gravel pit

I saw this video a couple years ago and was curious where they were fishing. I had never fished limestone creek at the time. Seeing it now i recognize all the places they were fishing. I would never get that close to that big gator. After seeing him up close, I give him plenty of room to exit.