Croc!!!

[Mike53C]

Now this is rare. This is a salt water croc (cocodylus acutus, american crocodile), not very common. The zone is salt water, not brakish water. Different from the common alligators you see in Florida channels. The crocs in Florida were in the verge of extintion but are recovering. Not the usual sight down here either. This guy was warming himself in a broken floating dock, about 200' from my docking, and a mere 40 or 50' from the end of the dock. After he jumped to the water I measured the distance in between the planks where he had been resting and it came to 6' 7", not a monster but enough to scare the living lights out of you if you are fixing your mooring buoy and come face to face with him.
Sightings had been reported but I had not seen one personally.
About two or three weeks ago I saw one from long distance, and this last Friday I could get close enough to take this picture.

Miguel

 

[Bob Bradley]

At the risk of offending the good people at peta, I would respectfully submit that this is one critter that we probably do not need to become prolific. Perhaps a well placed .22 slug would be in order.

 

[Mike53C]

At the risk of offending the good people at peta, I would respectfully submit that this is one critter that we probably do not need to become prolific. Perhaps a well placed .22 slug would be in order.

Hahaha...my wife is absolutely gun shy, but when she saw it she was walking with our grandaughter, one year old next Thursday and said, no, not said,...shouted...

Hunting season for croc is open!!!!...I NEED A GUN!!!.....And she really meant it...

Talk about women instinct to defend the young...

Miguel

 

[Starman]

I have some crock tail in the freezer I need to cook up. Pure white but tough to chew if not cooked right.

We are getting more gators here in the Jacksonville area. One guy I know was bitten , it was pretty bad. His brother and wife were with him and the only tourniquet........His sister in laws bikini top

Some 10-12 footers in the salty water near the MCAS docks and about 1/3 mile away in the brackish waters of southwest Creek, they are thriving .

 

[Trojan]

There are a lot of salt crocs in the north Keys. Oddly, that is the only place in Florida they have salt crocs. Along with the Key deer.

BILL

 

[thoward]

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,1636,00.html

Could it be the same one???????

 

[Sparky1]

There are a lot of salt crocs in the north Keys. Oddly, that is the only place in Florida they have salt crocs. Along with the Key deer.

BILL

I am going to the keys with my son in a few weeks. Should I be afraid to swim down there. I mostly wade these days. Are they near beaches or in swamp places?

 

[thoward]

We feed them tourists so I'd be carefull

 

[Capt.Erich]

I am going to the keys with my son in a few weeks. Should I be afraid to swim down there. I mostly wade these days. Are they near beaches or in swamp places?

You probably won't see any croks or gaters on the beaches but there is pleanty of other "native" marine life to see.

How's your hunt for a Hatteras going?

Hmmm... that gives me an idea. A new reality show could be the "Hatteras Hunter"... One mans quest for the perfect boat. Tune in as he is makes his way though the perils of finding the perfect boat. Watch him in action as he deals with the slick broker, the know-it-all prior owner, the clueless banker, the surveyor and 3rd cousin twice removed of the broker, and the insurance agent from Iowa. Along his journey he is guided by the all knowing but not always right Hatteras Owners Group… a group of well meaning people who have a passion for their boats and welcome all that even express an interest in their boats.

This is sure to be a hit. I should pitch this to a network.

 

[Sparky1]

Hello captain Erik I am still looking for a boat and have been meaning to call on those we talked about. My son is coming down and we are going to the keys but that place is scary to me with strange people I hear. I dont swim like I used to and those aligators sound mean. He saw the pictures of the 70 foot boat and like it so maybe we can talk about that some more. I still have your phone so I can call when he gets here. You told me that was in fort Meyers a while back if it is we can see it maybe. I am wondering about that other boat I saw too so we can talke some more. Thank you for helping me with boats I really do want one soon and my son does to.

Leon