TOP 4 HUMONGOUS GATORS! | Swamp People
NARRATOR: As the sun rises on a new day of gator season, hunters gear up for battle. In Bayou Sorrel, lifelong swamper Willie Edwards and his son, Little Willie, are hoping the high waters will give them a chance to capture an elusive giant they’ve been chasing for years. You got a monster back here though.
That’s what they call the Black Lagoon. Black Lagoon– I’ve been after him for about four or five years, six years, something like that. And he done got away from me every time. It’s like he got my number, he knows what to do. He’s just one of them alligators. He’s like a ghost. Today’s our day. It’s the only sh0t.
I hope it be a good day. Should catch some alligators. NARRATOR: The veteran hunter knows today is most likely his only chance to catch Black Lagoon this season. Hold on. He’s got about two miles to go down this little ditch. And every year it’s taking more water to get back to where I can get close to it. So today, it kind of looks promising to go back there.
I mean, the water’s up another 6 inches from what it was the other day. And today is going to be the day. If I don’t get him today, we might have to wait another year. This is his little hole, right back here. That looked like one. You got him? Yeah, I got him. Something big– Let me help you.
He’s a big gator. Oh, whoa, let me get the hand hold. NARRATOR: This 10-footer’s a great catch, but it’s not big enough to be Willie’s nemesis. Woo! Big, fat, healthy gator, too. I mean, you never know until you get that alligator up, where you can get your eyes on him to see. I ain’t about to give up on him.
I’ll bust him in in the head with a 7 Mag. He going– he’s going to be at the end of his days. So he’s got a hole across the hill. Water’s high enough now, we can go back in. LITTLE WILLIE EDWARDS: He might be way back there. WILLIE EDWARDS: Let me go sneak over there and see. LITTLE WILLIE EDWARDS: If you shoot that thing, we ain’t going to be able to pull them over that hill.
WILLIE EDWARDS: Oh, we’ll get him over that dump. This might be the only day I get of shooting this big alligator, the Black Lagoon. He very rarely come out. When you do see him, it’s just a quick sight of him, and then he’s gone. We better back out knee deep of water. I mean, you never know when he’s laying right there if we don’t get on out of that low water right there and get on up the hill.
But yeah, some big alligator tracks right there. Only way we’re going can catch him is put a bullet right between his eye. NARRATOR: Fresh tracks mean Black Lagoon is close by. But Willie will need some luck to spot the elusive beast. He’s right behind the boat. Yeah, I see him. I see him. LITTLE WILLIE EDWARDS: He’s in front of the boat.
He’s in front of the boat. Ooh, yeah. Watch, America. Nice one, nearly 10 foot. LITTLE WILLIE EDWARDS: That’s heavy gator, too. WILLIE EDWARDS: Oh, yeah, he’s big. Oh yeah, he’s big. I know he’s 11 for sure, but it might be 12 foot. Pull him up, son. Ready? Let’s go. He’s a big one, but he’s not the Black Lagoon.
NARRATOR: Willie’s disappointed not catch his nemesis, but he isn’t ready to give up yet. WILLIE EDWARDS: But he’s still a biggun’. I don’t want no other alligator, no word’s badder than what I want this alligator right now. And I want him in the boat, and put a tag on him, and say I k1lled something that big.
And it just ain’t working out for me. I’m a pretty good alligator hunter. I mean, I ain’t saying I’m the best, but I’m in that category, and still yet have to catch him. He’s just tormenting me now. Gator that big, you ain’t just going to go up and k1ll him like you think. And I’ll bust him in head with a 7 Mag be an end to his days.
Ain’t he? LITTLE WILLIE EDWARDS: Yeah. WILLIE EDWARDS: That’s a big one. He was coming around the bend. And he comes up out there in the middle of the bayou. It could be Black Lagoon. I mean, his hair looked like it was 3, 4 foot long. He’s a big old alligator, biggest one I’ve seen yet this year. That’s the Black Lagoon, got to be.
LITTLE WILLIE EDWARDS: That is Black Lagoon. He come out of that hole over there. It’s getting low. WILLIE EDWARDS: Yeah, it could be him. Right there, right there. That’s a big boy, right there. I knew right then you couldn’t shoot him out the boat, because this alligator, all he gets is his eyes and the tip of his nose out.
And he’s barely got it out. And I jump out on the bank. And I’m going to go back there. And if I get a sh0t, I’m taking the sh0t. I mean, it’s been about five or six years now. He’d been tormenting me enough. And if I see him, he’s sh0t. Come on, baby boy. He’s coming up behind us over here. I see him way out there– way out there.
There he is. I got him. Oh. Come on, Willie! I mean, clear the day is long, I mean, he busts water and go down. Find out where he going to be bubbling at. That was a big gator. WILLIE EDWARDS: Oh, he’s 13 foot all day long. Just waiting for him to come back up now. What is that? Pull it on up. LITTLE WILLIE EDWARDS: He’s still bubbling.
Right here, right here. LITTLE WILLIE EDWARDS: Oh, I think that was him. WILLIE EDWARDS: I searched and searched for this alligator, trying to find out where he’s going to pop up at and everything. And, no way– he just disappeared, like shooting at a ghost. LITTLE WILLIE EDWARDS: I don’t think it’s coming back up.
WILLIE EDWARDS: Surprise me if he comes back up. I don’t know what it is about this alligator, Black Lagoon. Every time I go to put the cross hairs on him, the sh0t don’t hit his mark. Let’s rock and roll. Five years in now going, six years going, and can’t put the bullet on his head, can’t k1ll him. I don’t know what’s wrong.
This will be the last time he gets away. WILLIE EDWARDS: Oh, yeah I did. I do. I regret every bit of it. This alligator always got something up his sleeve. He always know what to do. It’s like he can feel the cross hairs when I put it on him. And he got away from me again. I might not get another sh0t on him.
There he is, right there. LITTLE WILLIE EDWARDS: It’s going up, going up by. WILLIE EDWARDS: . This is his little hole, right back here. Throw it across like that, son. Just like that. He’s huge. Oh, yeah. He’s a biggun’. Oh, you hit him way back in the frigging tail? Oh, hoo-woo.
That thing’s heavy. What’d I tell you?] That’s a big gator. And we finally got it, finally got him NARRATOR: After years of chasing Black Lagoon, Willie has finally landed the legendary beast. WILLIE EDWARDS: Yeah, to have the Black Lagoon in the boat, that’s the most wonderful day ever. I mean, this alligator been tormenting me five or six years.
And I mean, I’m tickled pink to have this thing in the boat, have it done, have a tag on him. And I mean, it’s just the most wonderful feeling I ever had. We finally got him. Good day right there. Veteran hunter Willie Edwards and his son Little Willie, are heading into the home of a monster that’s recently hit Willie’s radar.
A beast he calls “Renegade.” He’s big too. My dad went scoutin’ for these alligators, and this morning, he told me he’s seen a big one. I’m gonna go back there and make sure this alligator don’t get away. Huh? Right there, right there. Totally.
That’s him. That’s the Renegade. Go, throw it. Any longer, he’s gone. Oh, that’s a big one! Oh, man. The monster escaped their line. And judging by its size and f1ght, Willie is sure it’s Renegade. Within seconds, they spot more bubbles.
Right there. Oh, man! That was a lot bigger gator back there. That one back there, I felt the snatch on that one, he snatched me hard. He’s not big enough to be the Renegade. Looking at the size of this smaller catch, the hunters know their target
has slipped through their fingers. But they’re determined to continue the search. -We’ll get him. – Yeah. It’s hard, it’s a little frustrating, losing them, trappin’ hook, and everything. Once you fool the alligator so much, he will disappear on you, in a heartbeat.
I mean, it’s 20 times harder to catch him again. Yeah. Evidence of Renegade is all over. But looking for this sneaky gator is eating up valuable time. We done got a hook in him already and everything. He’s slick and he know what he’s doing. You might think you gonna catch him and all of a sudden, he’d disappear like you’re hunting ghosts.
You got to be on your game. I mean, you gotta… Can’t be playing around. Willie knows from a lifetime in the swamp that giant bulls can’t resist the draw of the gator nest. So they set lines close by. I’ll see it down through here. About four or five. It’s like finding treasure every time you find a nest.
A female, she builds a nest. There’s big males chasing her, just to breed with her. And if you want to catch big alligators, that’s the way. Probably got another nest right here. The sun’s starting to break down on the trees and everything, you got last hour, last minute, couple minutes of alligator hunting.
It’s stressful. I mean, it gets to you. But you gotta keep going and hold your head up and don’t let nothing bother you and just keep your head in the game of alligator huntin’. I got one. Don’t know how big he is, but he got one. Ooh! That’s the Renegade. -Ooh! -Hold on, Willie.
Let it go, let it go, let it go. -Get him on the post, man. -11-1/2, -Twelve foot. – You know, decent. -He’s right there. -Yeah. I’m trying to get over. -Big gator. -We need to go back to the tree. All right, you can back up. Coming to you? The big gator. Out you go.
That’s definitely Renegade. At 12 feet long, the hunters know they finally caught the notorious Renegade. It’s a good feeling. ‘Cause I know this alligator’s in the boat, and we’re calling it a day.
That’s what we needed right there. I’ve never seen that done before. Hey, Troy! Hey, old buddy. I don’t know if you’ve ever met Peewee. -Peewee, this is Mr. Sterling. -Nice to meet you, Mr. Sterling. -Nice to meet you, love… -About time. That’s pretty amazing. I’ve never seen that before.
Imma learn something new today. Mr. Sterling and I have been friends forever. And he’s been telling me of a big alligator. He said, “Troy, I know where they got an alligator that’s gonna be a record.” Gator come off the bank, passed under my boat and raised my boat up, and knocked my brother down. Knocked his brother down in the boat.
-In the boat. -That was a big gator. He’s talking about a 14-foot alligator, maybe 15-foot alligator, which would be a record for me. I’ve never caught nothing that big. -You ready? -Yes, sir. -Let’s get it. -Let’s go. Hang on, Mr. Sterling. You sure you don’t want a life jacket? You’re in good hands. Don’t listen to her. You’re in good hands.
I’m all excited. Peewee and I could catch the biggest alligator of our life right here, and catch it with our good friend Mr. Sterling. To bag this monster, Troy is relying on Mr. Sterling’s unique baiting strategy designed to lure even the most guarded gators. Go right past that big cypress tree right there, Troy.
-Right here? -Right here. What you want, shad or chicken? -Chicken’s good. -Okay. -Chicken’s good? -Chicken’s good. Okay, what we gonna do is we gonna do this, okay? Did I hook it right? Make a hole in this Styrofoam. Do this like that. You pass that hook… pass that hook through, and you just put it right on top like that.
Like that. That’s it right there. I find it’ll catch a better gator. If you put the silver side up, the sun shine on it, and it makes a little sparkle. Gets ’em every time. Pretty slick. That’s how you do it, baby. -Tying this back on. -You got it now? -Oh, yeah. -Now, I ain’t gonna charge you much for that, okay? -Okay. -That’s a freebie.
Mr. Sterling, he’s been hunting like that for years. And floating this bait, if he’s here, we should catch him. This is almost foolproof. They can’t pass this up. I can’t believe this one ain’t got nothing. Oh, there should’ve been a gator here. Intersection there, intersection there, -intersections here. -Yeah.
This line should’ve had an alligator on it. Yeah… I’m a little skeptical, because a big alligator like that, sometimes they too smart to grab a hook, you know. So we’ll see how it goes. I seen some action. Look like a good one, Troy. Looks like we got a little mud there, Peewee. Yeah, we got a little mud kicked up, huh? -You gonna shoot him, huh? -Yeah, I’ll shoot him.
-Need some action. -He feels heavy, yeah. -It’s a good one? -Yeah. -Oh, my God! Whoo! -Ooh, Lord have mercy! That’s a good one there. Watch him, Peewee, watch him. Oh, there he goes. There he goes. Pull him, Peewee. Pull him, pull him! Oh, he’s pulling! He’s pulling! -That’s a good one there, buddy.
-Whoo-hoo-hoo! Shoot! -He’s on… -I can’t, Troy! Bring him up, Peewee, bring him up. -Oh, there he is. -Bring him up. Shoot! -Whoo-hoo-hoo! -Boy, I’m taking him… -Good sh0t! -…everywhere with me. -Hey! -That’s a big alligator. -What? -He’s a good one. He’s a good sh0t and a good luck charm. That’s a good method, Mr. Sterling.
I love the technique. I love it. One, two, three. It may not be a 14-footer, but the hunters are off to a strong start, and Troy’s not about to give up on Mr. Sterling’s monster. We don’t have the giant that we looking for, but a big alligator like that is a dominant alligator. There’s no other alligators that’s gonna hurt him.
If– If he hasn’t been caught by a hunter, he’s still here. Hey, this boy eat candy one day. -Yes, sir. -On the street corner. The old gentleman comes by, says son, “Are you enjoying eating that candy?” The little boy says, “Mm-hmm.” The old gentleman say, “You know, son, too much of that candy ain’t no good for you.
” The little boy say, “Sir, my grandfather lived to be 96 years old.” The old gentleman says, “From eating all that candy?” He said, “No, sir, from minding his own business.” Everybody that grew up in a small town, you… you kind of cling to your old-timers, you know. That’s where your core values lie.
We hold those people dear to us, and there’s not many of ’em left. So you’re missing out if you don’t sit down and listen to ’em, you know, because they have a lot of knowledge that has been lost otherwise, and it’s just all up here. Hey, look, what about that? -To the left, see it? -Yup. Good eye, good eye.
-Oh. -We got something? Bring him up, Peewee, bring him up. Bring him up, bring him up, bring him up. -Get off the rope. -I’m stepping on it. Whoo! -Oh Lord. -All right! Get ready, get ready. Come on, let’s go. Bring him up slow. Whoo! Lord have mercy! -All right. -Don’t let the line go! Shoot him, Mr.
Sterling! -Whoo! -Whoo! I don’t think this is your 14-footer, -Mr. Sterling. -No, he’s not. But he ain’t gonna cause a problem in the future. -That’s for sure. -That’s right. This seven-footer is only half the size of the monster they’re after, but Troy knows that win, lose, or draw, this day is special.
This could be our last time ever hunting together. He’s 86 years old. When– When do you know when it’s gonna be your last day alligator hunting or your last day hunting or fishing? You don’t know. So, you know, at his age, I feel I’m very happy that we took the time to go with him. I don’t regret it. I wouldn’t trade it for nothing in the world.
We got a couple of big ones, but we ain’t got the 14-footer. Yeah, them 14-footers is hard to catch. Especially this one. Floating that bait really, really works. We’ve got a boat full of ten- and 11-footers. So we catching way better average than if we would’ve hung our lines. But we not seeing that big 14-foot alligator what he promised me he saw right in this area.
That’s the last line. I h@te to break y’all hearts. What we got up there? Y’all see something? Seeing a lot of mud. I saw a little movement. Got one, Mr. Sterling. Hurry up, get the gun. Feel like a good one? Oh, yeah, feel like a good one. Whoo! It’s a big one! This is him, I guarantee you. That’s a good one there, baby.
Watch him, Peewee, watch him. He’s going around the tree. Mr. Sterling! This is him! -There he goes. -Watch him. Whoo… Shoot! I can’t, Troy! Bring him up! -Oh! -There he is! Bring him up! Shoot! Whoo-hoo-hoo! Good sh0t, old buddy. That’s it right there. Good sh0t. I got my face washed for the day. Oh, yeah. Look at the Styrofoam.
Them old rigs worked. He chewed that Styrofoam to pieces. Yeah. You think that’s the one? He’s a big one, but I don’t know if that’s the one. This 12-and-a-half foot goliath is proof positive Mr. Sterling’s floating baits hook giants. And although they didn’t catch their 14-foot monster this time around, Troy thinks it’s a white whale worth chasing in the future.
Whoo! That’s a big alligator, old buddy! We didn’t succeed this year. That don’t mean we not gonna come back and try again. This big alligator could be living a mile back in the swamp, deep in the swamp. We might have to take an airboat, we might have to take a helicopter to get back there where he’s at. I don’t know.
But we will find him. Man, I gotta say, Mr. Sterling, I didn’t think that Styrofoam trick was gonna work. Don’t ever doubt one of the old-timers from around here. Yes, sir. Especially Mr. Sterling. This alligator’s ancient. That alligator’s in my category. That’s an old alligator. we have a storm building up.
You dealing with Mother Nature here, so, when you got the opportunity to catch, you better catch. We put a flag on this one? -What? -We flag this one? I thought it was right here we had put it. Oh, look, right there. I see it. Oh, yeah, I see it. -Oh, yeah. -Do you see the line? Yeah, it’s going to that other cypress tree over there.
-Oh, yeah… -It’s wrapped around the tree. Oh, yeah, ain’t nothing on it. What it look like, P? Drowned. You got a de@d gator, huh? -Yeah. -Might be still good. Oh, I don’t know. It’s pretty stiff, huh? A de@d six-footer is not the start Troy was expecting. Hate to lose the first one we catch, huh? Yeah, that would suck.
Hold on, because they got stumps everywhere. Come on, I know we put a line here somewhere. Come on, little girl. You see anything? Now, Peewee, shoot him! Shoot him! Shoot him! Hurry up! -Whoo! -Whoo-whoo! Shoot him! It’s a big one, it’s a big one. Whoo! -Pull him up, pull him up! -Whoo! Shoot it, Peewee! Hurry, hurry! There’s your sh0t.
8Let the rope go. I got the rope. Good job, Peewee. Thank you, thank you. Oh, one of those slimy thing, huh? Another small gator has Troy worried, but he’s staying the course. Certain places you catch big alligators, certain places you catch little alligators. And you very seldom gonna catch a big alligator in a spot where the little ones are.
But this is a good area. We catch good here. It’s always been productive. They got alligators swimming all over. Why don’t you let me throw a treble hook on ’em? Peewee, we ain’t got time to treble hook. We gotta set lines, run lines, move lines. You know, Peewee loves to treble hook. I’m just the opposite.
I wanna run lines. You got a lot of tags to fill, you never gonna fill ’em treble hooking. But you can fill ’em running lines. We lines people. We not treble hook people. On a good day, you might catch four or five treble hooking. On a good day running lines, you’re gonna catch 40. That’s the difference.
Okay? Okay. We all know Mr. Troy likes to run lines, and he doesn’t like to play at all. So for me to convince him to stop and let me treble hook for a second and just kind of do what I love to do is a pain, you know. Uh-oh, look like we got a crime scene, Peewee. Looks like it’s wrapped up. Talk to me, P! Oh, yeah, come here.
Come here. This is a good one. Oh, wait, hold on, never mind. -What? -Psych. Oh, my God. That’s why I keep begging you for the treble hook. We got too many babies in the area. Bring him up. Whoo! Show him who’s the boss. Watch him. Bring him up, bring him up. Shoot the thing! Give me that sh0t. Bring him up, bring him up, bring him up.
Whew. Please let me throw the treble hook. You gotta let me throw the treble hook out here. This is their fourth small catch of the morning, and it’s got Troy reconsidering his stance on treble hooking. I can’t just have it my way. I gotta let her have her fun. You know, she likes to treble hook.
Running lines get old. It’s always the same thing. So, you know, maybe we need to step up to the plate and fish harder than we been fishing. -See him? -Oh, yeah, that’s a good one. -Look like a big one. -Yeah, that’s a big one. That’s one I think you could treble hook this evening. Why can’t I get him now? -Wanna try to get him now? -Yeah.
Get your stuff ready. Treble hooking alligators is my absolute favorite way to fish. When you are f1ghting a raw, fresh alligator, it’s either you or him, really. Either you getting pulled in or you’re gonna hold on long enough and have enough stamina to wear him out. That’s the ultimate to me as far as alligator fishing goes.
And so I get my chance. I know right where he’s at. Oh, no, there’s a log right there. I’m gonna catch the log. -Got the log? -Yup. Hurry up and pick up and throw again. He’s right there though. -Oh, yeah, you on top– -Throw again, P, throw. -You on top of him. -Straight in front of the boat. Straight in front of the boat.
Oh, he’s way over there, over there, over there, over there, over there. -See him? -All right, I see him. Well, if you can hook into that thing, we got a f1ght on our hands. What? Oh! -Got him? -I think so. No, that’s him, that’s him, , that’s him! That’s him, you got him? Damn, I lost him. -Oh, no, you lost him? -Damn! Hold on.
Looks like he’s stopped. He is stopped right there, P. This is your chance. Don’t mess it up. I got him! I got him, I got him! I got him– , he come off. I was on him. Give me another hook. You not setting it. Oh! I had him. Oh, yeah. Oh, he broke your hook. Pickle’s plan snagged a giant, but with this beast escaping, the hunters are still left with a boatful of small gators.
I’m devastated at this point, and this is the biggest alligator I’ve ever tried to throw a hook on, and he got away from me, he broke my hook. My favorite treble hook is gone. And I gotta retire this and try to deal with a new hook that I’m sure I’m not gonna like. Oh, P. P, P, P. Hold it, hold it, hold it. That’s a big one.
-I think it’s a big one. -Where’d he stop? He’s over there, straight towards that little tree. Throw it right by them grass. I think he moved. I thought I saw bubbles over there. -Oh, I got him! I got him! -Got him? You got him? I got him, I got him! Yeah, yeah, I got him. Get the gun. Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness.
Whoo! That’s a big alligator. Dude, you’re telling me. Whoo, he’s fresh like that, huh? Oh, my God. Shoot, shoot! Whoo! -What? – Good job, little girl, good job. -Oh, I love it. -Whoo. With this 12-footer captured, Pickle is feeling good that her treble hook prevailed. I’m happy, Mr. Troy’s happy.
He finally let me stop. Maybe he’ll let me treble hook a little more. We got him, Peewee. That’s it. What a way to finish the day, huh? Yup. We got him. That’s all that matters. Let’s go ice ’em down. Let’s go. Whoo! Imma go ice me down.
