Well after dealing with a stressful family matter that included death and handling of an estate for weeks and finally getting a resolve, I took time off for for a little R&R with my brother in the Low Country of South Carolina.
I went on a Gator hunt! My First. (Yes it was Legal) Holy Smoke! Now I know this story may not Pass as PC. Hopefully my clients understand. But the truth is all I have to present. This post is not your usual Realtor(r) post. Thankfully my wife Jane minded the store in my absence.
So this is an insane test of testosterone.... Noting that Alligators are not willing participants.
We start in a ten foot aluminum Jon boat loaded with 3 men, an electric motor, and 1 paddle; coupled with two offshore fishing rigs, and a .223 rifle. The waterline on the little boat is 4 inches fully loaded with all our stuff and people.
Sliding off an ancient dike from a historic rice plantation, we traveled through old canals slowly. The canals were covered on the surface with algae, weeds, and beady eyes that flash beneath the surface. When we use visuals to survey the 120 feet wide and 12 foot deep canals, a variety of gators dive beneath the surface to swim rapidly away along the bottom.
After 1 hour of hunting, we get close to what looks to be a big one. We throw 1LB treble hooks cast from our offshore rigs in the direction of the bubbles spewn from the alligator/dinosaur. I was told when I reel in, if I feel that I have "hooked the Bottom of the canal and it moves....Hold on" . There was my cast, there was the rapid reeling , and there was the feeling that I hooked a log. Then it moved. It was a 45 minute ride. The Gator was dragging the boat up and down the canals and I was told it was a big one. (Swell, why couldn't it have been a medium size one).
Finally, he goes into a "death spiral". I'm using 300lb test line and he has spun himself into 100 yards of line. Oh my Back. Then he sits on the bottom of the canal with no movement. My brother tells me to yank him up.(Right). I apply all the pressure I had left in my arms. He finally comes to the surface (2 feet from me). Remember the boat has a 4" waterline. This Monster is 11' 7'' and weighed out over 450Lbs. He is alive and pissed off at arms length and nearly eye level. My only thoughts are for my family and why I ever tried this. I see the headlines flash in my mind...Idot Realtor(r) Eaten by Monster Alligator.
Well my counterparts scrambled for the gun and waited (seemingly forever) to get the right shot as to not "wreck the hide". I was a little loud when clamoring "Shoot Him!".
Bang!, Thrash, and silence. We navigate the boat to the dike, Fishing pole still in my hand with taught line.
As we try to heave the beast out of the water, tail first, we find our footing weak on the soft dike. I was directed by my brother and our guide to grab the "dead" Gator by the rear leg. Well....he was almost dead but not quite and turned toward me in a last gasp effort.
Another religious moment.
I think I jumped about 6 feet in the air. He then collapsed and we got him out a few minutes later.
The sinister laughter from my brother and our guide lingers in my mind. The guide stated "never trust a gator" . NS. Now he tells me.
Eleven feet, seven inches, 450lb bull alligator. From now on I will cherish the pleasantness of golf and remember that testing fate is more than an adrenaline rush. Ok... There is a form of Military "Hu-Rah" on this ....but really ...I'm still thinking about my 6 foot jump. BTW I'm not auditioning for any Animal Planet segments...ever
Fortunatelly all the alligators have left Charlotte. The best way to find alligator-free properties in the Charlotte NC Area is to start at our WebSite and get a bite-free look at all the properties
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