How many gators would stop you from fishing?

[fishnsled]

Video

 

(CNN) -- A voice heard on an amazing video of 300 feeding alligators says it all.

 

"I ain't never seen so many gators in my life."

 

Ray Cason's biggest catch earlier this month, when he went fishing at Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee Swamp in southeast Georgia, was two videos that have made a splash on Facebook and YouTube. As of Tuesday night they had garnered nearly 100,000 page views, according to YouTube.

 

One of the videos looks like something out of an "Animal Planet" special. Alligator heads bob on the surface while others, in the background, gyrate and thrash in the water as they snap at mudfish, also known as bowfin.

 

The alligators are jammed in a canal perhaps 30 feet wide.

 

"With a high population of mudfish you can almost smell them," said Art Webster, supervisory refuge manager at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

 

"I've never seen footage like that before," said state wildlife biologist Greg Nelms who, along with other wildlife officials, told CNN this rare "cooperative feeding" happens once every three or four years.

 

Stephen C. Foster park manager Travis Griffin believes it last happened in 2007.

 

Griffin, who was not at the park the weekend of the event, said rangers saw alligators congregating about 10 p.m. July 9 near the quarter-mile-long canal that leads from the Foster boat area into open water near Billy's Lake.

 

No one had any idea of the scene that would greet Cason, 39, of Homerville, Georgia, on the morning of July 10.

 

"When I put the boat in you had the awfulest ruckus," Cason said. Many alligators were in the boat basin.

 

He headed out in the early morning light with another boat close behind. Moments later, they realized they had about 150 alligators in front of them and 150 behind.

 

Cason said the teeming alligators were hunting together. Many formed a reptile wall beyond the canal.

 

"They would converge together," Cason said. "I saw gators pushing them [the fish] back [into the canal]. I saw them push them to the bank and eat them."

 

Cason returned to the park the next morning, July 11, and shot more video. He said about 175 gators were visible.

 

The alligators were gone by 8 a.m., according to Griffin. Although he and other wildlife officials said the waters are safe for boaters, the state park waited to be sure that wild morning.

 

"I wouldn't rent my boats out until they were gone," he said.

 

Stephen C. Foster State Park covers 80 acres. It is a small portion of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge's 401,000-plus acres. Webster estimates the refuge is home to about 11,000 alligators.

 

He said he was concerned that Cason and the other boater may have been pushing the gators along and might have hurt them. "This was potentially not a safe thing to do."

 

But Cason said he waited several minutes for most of the alligators to clear before he proceeded. An alligator bumped the boat behind him but wasn't injured, Cason said.

 

The videos were posted by the Clinch County News. Cason said he hopes to show additional footage to school groups.

 

"By no means is the swamp dangerous," he said. "It's probably something I never will see again."

 

Cason had additional luck that Saturday, catching his limit of jackfish and warmouth perch.

 

Life has almost returned to normal at Stephen C. Foster State Park, which is near the town of Fargo. Alligator sightings are at normal levels, it's hot and the park's beauty awaits visitors.

 

Griffin isn't sure whether Cason's encounter will bring more campers and boaters, but it sure has raised interest in the behavior of alligators.

 

"You can never predict what they are going to do," Webster said.

Edited July 29, 2010 by fishnsled

[Terry]

saw it on tv..crazy

Edited July 29, 2010 by Terry

[TC1OZ]

Thats crazy! Awesome sight for sure!

[Guest LivingLegend]

I actually was as at this swamp yrs ago, not fishing though. CRRAAAAAAAZZZZYYYY!!!!

[TC1OZ]

Hahaha, just watched the video (was on the phone when I made the first comment).

 

Favorite quote = "I just eased on by and went fishin!"

 

AWESOME

[mbosh1980]

to answer your question anything more than zero

[Spiel]

Would I ease a 14' Jon Boat through all them gators, uhhhhh, NO!

[Bly]

Guess it would all depend on what was biting BESIDES the gators lol

[Stoty]

Incredible video!

Insane fisherman!

 

In case you can't find the video.....

[JohnF]

When I was doing some cave diving training in Mexico we were floating in a pretty cenote in the jungle one day. I commented on the interesting mix of fish life in the water. This is only about 100 yds from the Caribbean and has a connecting tunnel to the sea so the baby barracuda etc come in to feed and stay safe from big predators. My instructor said we'd come out there some night to dive so I could see the crocs all lined up in the mangroves. He said the entire pool is surrounded by little red eyes glowing in the dark. I asked where the crocs go during the day. I wish I hadn't. But we spent hours in that pool and never saw a big critter once.

 

JF

[Roy]

He said the entire pool is surrounded by little red eyes glowing in the dark.

 

Sounds like a regular Saturday night around a pool in these parts too, John.