[Jims5543]

About 16 years ago I went with a client on his airboat into the St. Johns River.

It was about 11 at night and we were going "Gator Grabbin". This seems to be a big redneck pastime and I was about to be initiated.

We wore lights on our heads that were very bright they might have been halogens.

We came upon the 1st gator, his eyes were glowing red like a pair of ping pong balls pinted flourescent red. I reached down and grabbed this sucker and pulled him to my chest in a quick motion, just like they taught me, and put his neck in a headlock and his tail in a... well... tail lock.

He was about 3 feet long and I could feel this little guys strength. We looked at him for a moment and threw him overboard. off to find another.

The next one was about 4 feet long. I grabbed him, pulled him in and held him for about 30 seconds. They actually seemed to like being held and did not fight much. It was weird.

I was told it was time for redneck graduation. We pulled alongside the next one. Eyes were close together, from above water I guessed it to be about 3-4 feet. I was wrong. I reached down and grabbed his neck,....... I could not get my fingers aroufn his neck!!! I let go and jumped back.

I was called a pansy, pussy, and other mean names. (Did I mention we were also friends and I was dating his little sister,.... hmm... he might hae been trying to kill me now tha tI think about it) We circle around and now my friend pulls this gator out. It was over 5 feet long and really pissed off. I was moving quick to the engine to get away from him. That freaked me out.


The next day we went for a ride and we went right over a 12-14 footer we saw it go under the airboat as we were doing 50+ MPH.

These guys were nuts and would take their airboats on land and chase cows. That where the nitrous came in. They ran 6 cylinder Lycoming engines in their airboats with a shot of nitrous for good measure.

We also jigged frogs that night and kept a gator both tasted like chicken.