Fishing, friends and ALLIGATORS!! An average day in sunny Florida my fishing buddy (Jeremy) and I go looking for a place to fish. Our journey takes us down old Rt.41 30 miles from Naples. The brackish water off the side of the road offers snook ,redfish ,garr and small tarpon .The fish hang around cuts in the mangroves and the mouth of small tributaries flowing out of the everglades. Jeremy and I were working the side of the road, casting between cars and trucks (Pain in the ass) . I could see fish all over so I would wait to cast. A large snook was under a small cut next to a rock… so I thought. I dropped my fly on the rock one small strip and the rock was hooked . Oh Shit that’s no rock it’s an alligator.. Hooked between the eyes! What do I do now ? Yelling to Jeremy he comes over “Cool “and starts to video. I play the with the gator for a wile then it hits me. If I land this thing then it’s his turn to even the score! With force I pull and the fly comes loose ( thank god) . A few laughs and we are back to fishing. You never know what you’ll catch in the ever glades but be on the look out for swimming rocks!
There are over 100 miles of fishable water on old Rt.41 be careful of the traffic and watch for alligators sunning themselves . Most times the gators are not aggressive except in the breading season ( late April until mid May) . I like small dark flies check at the local shops. In Naples Everglades Anglers by city dock. Good luck see on the water Joe-m
