Video shows large alligator chasing Florida fisherman

“Well, that puts an end to my tarpon fishing,” he says, as the gator stares him down.

A Florida fisherman had to pack it up early after a large alligator chased him from his spot last weekend.

A video posted to YouTube on Saturday, May 8 by Florida resident Tommy Lee, shows the fisherman scampering down a narrow path while a massive apex predator chases him down. 

“Oh Jesus Christ, you got to be careful here,” says the 22-year-old after seeing the 11-foot gator. He then begins back peddling down the path, and, like in any good horror movie, he actually trips and falls while the gator moves towards him. 

“Well, that puts an end to my tarpon fishing,” he says, as the gator stares him down. 

According to the Daily Mail, the incident occured in the Florida Everglades. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reached out for further comment and we’ll update this post if we hear back. 

If anything, this video is a great reminder that we’re currently in the thick of alligator mating season, which runs from now until the end of June depending on temperatures. During this period, it’s not uncommon to see big gators acting more aggressive than usual while they move around looking for mates, says the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

So, for the next couple months, it’s probably a good idea to keep an eye out next time you’re fishing, swimming, walking into your kitchen, getting into a car, or just hanging out in your yard. Basically, just stay ready. 

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Colin Wolf

Colin Wolf has been working with weekly newspapers since 2007 and has been the Digital Editor for Creative Loafing Tampa since 2019. He is also the Director of Digital Content Strategy for CL's parent company, Chava Communications.
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