gator attacks

rastamastakontiki · Newbie Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 32 City: Orlando, Tampa

Ive doing some research and i cant find anything on this subject. Im going wakeboarding in a lake for the first time tomorrow. I usually hit up Tampa bay. Wondering how many reported gator attacks there have been related to wakeboarding. Embarassed

Anthony Csogor · Outlaw Joined: 16 Sep 2005 Posts: 214 City: keswick

couldnt tell yah.. i live in good old ontario were there are no extensivly dangerous animals lurking beneath your body as you take a plunge on your wakeboard. Mr. Green

Mobe789 · Posted: Nov 04, 2005 8:39 pm Post subject:

not many at all. when they hear a bot motor, they get the hell away, they dont wanna mess with that.

Theres a few in our chain down here, well, up from you, but they wont bother you. i never have second thoughts about jumping in these florida lakes, even when i started, i had no problem with it.

Mr. Top Hat · Outlaw Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 237

gators make good sliders.

rastamastakontiki · Newbie Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 32 City: Orlando, Tampa

lol straight up bro.

hyperlitewakeboarding · Outlaw Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 108

Im also in ontario so I don't have to worry about them.. how do you guys ride knowing that there is gators underneath you lol.

wakeboarder89 · Addict Joined: 15 Jun 2003 Posts: 637

gators dont do anythign to you.. they usually try to get away when they hear the boat

Thug Hunter · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 134 City: Austin

It's discussions like this that give me reasons to believe Central Texas is the best place in the world. I'm grateful there are no fockin' gators around here.

Anthony Csogor · Outlaw Joined: 16 Sep 2005 Posts: 214 City: keswick

Just wondering.. have you ever seen a gator while wakeboarding Shocked

... i think id stuff myself if i did.

Mobe789 · Posted: Nov 05, 2005 8:31 am Post subject:

there was 2 in some saw grass on the edge of the lake near where I was riding, they were trying to eat some crane, or whatever kinda bird it was. I dont really ever think about it, i never ride at night tho, thats when they come out to the middle of the lake, during the day they stay in the swampy areas.

Mr. Top Hat · Outlaw Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 237

03Belmont · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 4656

I have seen gators while in orlando in the boat. I went wakeboarding a few minutes laster in the same spot. There not gonna mess with you

wakeboarder89 · Addict Joined: 15 Jun 2003 Posts: 637

i got pulled right by a gator one time, i didnt even see it but they told me when i fell.

wakerider07 · Posted: Nov 05, 2005 1:56 pm Post subject:

im not trying to sound like a hardass or anything but im not scared of gators at all. they are more afraid of you. i have been pulled about 30 ft from one on the colorado and didnt really think twice.

not what scares the bejesus out of me is when i am ridin and you look down and all the sudden you start seein like thousands of spots go by in the water (jellyfish)

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

Gators only come out into populated areas like 1 or 2 months out of the year anyway. Don't know why but have heard from a reliable source that they do.

liquid_helix · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 38

you really dont go to 'the spot' very much if you dont think there are gators in texas Wink

or atleast in houston, its so crouded in the popular smooth spots that you have to go to the way back area to get the good water, and its not always motionless on the shores if you catch my drift

hyperlite22 · Outlaw Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 134 City: denton

Thug Hunter, i agree with you in every way..

SouthWaker · Posted: Nov 07, 2005 6:10 am Post subject:

I'm another who has boarded around them, over them, and by them, but one got me last night after reading this thread no lie! That had to of been the worst night mare I've ever had. Three of them just popped up within three feet around me after I had taken a fall. To add to it I had on my White Ricky G vest so I was thinking I looked like one of those white birds they are always eatting off those Animal Planet clips.

8824 · Posted: Nov 07, 2005 6:48 am Post subject:

rastamastakontiki,

Dude, I heard the main source of food for gators as all but disappeared. They have been actively attacking humans due to a food shortage.

Anything flopping or splashing in the water resembling a disabled animal has been getting attacked with great ferocity.

Be careful bro. I heard they are also attracted to slime. So try another lube.

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

SouthWaker, So obviously you made it out. Were they drifting toward you? What happened?

whirlynuke02 · Criminal Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Posts: 96 City: Sherman

When I was in FL i was told that they only come out and will bother you after sunset or something cause thats when they look for food

markymarc · Posted: Nov 07, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject:

ya most of their days is spent basking (sp?) in the sun and will usually become more active at sunset and night... really though nothing to worry about when they hear the boat racing threw their water I don't think they're wondering if its food...

SouthWaker · Posted: Nov 07, 2005 2:05 pm Post subject:

gene3x, I woke myself up I was so scared! Shocked

wmk · Newbie Joined: 16 Sep 2005 Posts: 7 City: Orlando

Gators aren't going to bother you, if so you've either encountered an edgy mother or you just have the most unfortunate luck possible. That being said I would probably avoid places like lake Jessup or Griffin as a safety precaution. Both of these lakes have an absurd amount of gators who really aren't all that skittish of nearby boats.

Atrain · Criminal Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 56 City: muskego

Gators arent what u need to worry about. Its those damn water mocosins. or however you spell it. those things arent affraid of u at all and they have nothing better to do than eat you. so watch out for them Laughing

markymarc · Posted: Nov 07, 2005 9:09 pm Post subject:

Mike · Addict Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 536 City: Orlando

Supposedly I had a gator surface like 30 feet from me the other week although I didn't see it, everybody in the boat did. It really didnt bother me. I actually wanted to see it because I havent seen a gator in the lakes since I've been down here.

Mr. Top Hat · Outlaw Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 237

saw a nice looking bull shark when my buddy was riding two days ago.

Mike · Addict Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 536 City: Orlando

That's way more scary than a gator!

freerider4 · Posted: Nov 08, 2005 6:35 pm Post subject:

I think we have had 3 deaths from gator attacks where I live in the last few years.

shaggyboarder · Posted: Nov 08, 2005 6:51 pm Post subject:

the gators at markham dont seem to mind the boat... weve ridden within feet of them and they dont really budge... i havent heard of any attacks... i think the only real time to watch out for them is during mating season

wakerider07 · Posted: Nov 08, 2005 10:13 pm Post subject:

heres what scared the crap out of me the most when i was riding...

i was chillin on my healside edge out in the flats. then all of the sudden i here "PPPPFFFFFFFSSSSSSHHHH!!HHHH!!!!!!!!" right under neath me and i immediatly looked down and saw a HUGE grey thing swimming in the water under me. i pretty much wet my pants until i figured out what it was. a dolphin had surfaced in the wake of my board just like they do on boats. it was pretty cool. it swam with me for about 1-2 minutes before it dissappeared. was really scared once i found out it was a dolphin but i was not about to fall. (those things can tear you to peices). i just rode strait for a bout a mile before doin anything else again.

wake_quake · Posted: Nov 08, 2005 10:27 pm Post subject:

i ride in the birsbane river which s full of bullsharks, people see them all the time and a few people get bitten each year. but where i ride it is so far up river that it is nearly freshwater so we only get the small ones.

ttuclint · Addict Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 984 City: Lubbock, TX

gators, sharks, snakes, you name it - ALL attack more when you are riding in smooth water. Razz

D420 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 May 2005 Posts: 279 City: NAPLES