[VFB] Flyfishing for Aligators???

[StevenOjai]

A State of Louisiana Conservation officer was being interviewed on the radio today about the problem of people moving into Aligator Country and having problems with the gators, ie finding them under their cars, in their swimming pools, and the irrigation canals going through many of the coastal towns. He was an advocate of hunting the beasts since the meat is quite good and the hide tans into a fine leather. He did say that the price on Aligator is down, however, as the market was weak. His choice method for capturing these beasts was with a heavy Fly Rod and a large treble hook. He snags the gator and after a tussle brings the gator up to his boat for a quick kill with a gun. Then tapes the jaws and brings it into the boat. Most of the gators he snags are in the 4-5 foot class. He also mentioned that he thought it was a "fair" fight since many times the gator usually gives the hunter/flyfisherman a puncture or two. Anyway, after hearing this report, I started to imagine a Dave Whitlock article in one of the flyfishing mags on how he switched from flyfishing for carp or gar  to 'Gator but that he practices "C&R".
Steve Schalla