Ocean Explorer Magazine Miami show 2015 | Page 10

The harpoon has a small tip that breaks away We got back on plane and continued our hunt. from the pole and is connected to a 25ft. rope The next gator was an 11footer and we got him and a large float. to the boat being careful not to be bitten, I power We loaded up and started running around the headed him right behind the skull and into the lake in search of a large lizard. Chris spotted a good spinal cord, killing him quickly and humanely.Than one, and we started running towards it at over 60 we tagged him and continued the hunt, tagging 4 mph. We threw the harpoon and struck the big gators of various sizes in the night. gator, and the float started flying across the water like the shark in the movie Jaws. We chased the float and picked it up, being careful to roll the rope up; if the gator wanted to run again, he could be given some slack. After about 20 minutes, the barb pulls and the 13ft. gator is gone. Page 10 These hunts are very important to control populations and generate money to help the management of these potentially dangerous reptiles. A total of 2,681 individuals were permitted in 2004 to take two alligators on their specified area.