Alligator snapping turtles are amazing!
No one is quite sure how old they get and just how big they get.
Here’s a shot of me with a 100-pound alligator snapper housed at Gator Country in Beaumont, TX
Have you ever encountered a big snapper? What about a huge softshell?
Beware! Snappers are protected in Texas!
This one was captive so we’re in good shape!
I have encountered both. We have 200 acres outside of College Station on hwy21 which has a couple creeks and 4 large ponds. One day my brother and I were fishing in the larger, creek fed pond and i hooked into a nice bass. I was bringing in this bass in the 2-3lb range when all of a sudden my rod got slammed, then line went limp. Something got the fish, lure everything. Sitting there scratching my head while starring into the water, my brother and I notice what appeared to be a log coming towards us and out of the water. It was the the biggest alligator snapper we have ever seen anywhere, on tv, pictures, magazines etc. We agreed it was about 3/4 the size of the truck hood and several hundred pounds. It came out of the water towards us, standing high on all fours and neck fully extended, approximately 4′-5′ft long. it came fully out of the water and approached us before turning around and walking back into the water, never to be seen again. Amazing site indeed. Fishing for gar in oyster creek one night we caught a soft shell that wouldn’t fit in the net. Was able to get it on land due to heavy leader. He was around 30-40lbs. He fought well in the water and on land. It was a feat getting the hook out and releasing him. Their neck is long and fast. And when i was a kid we walking down the bayou in Bellaire when we came across another big soft shell. My friends house was close so he ran and got a standard sized, round silver trash can. The turtle wound not fit so his dad came down and put it in the bed of his truck. We took it to braes bayou (45N @ S. Wayside) and released it. They are pretty cool creatures.
Thanks for sharing that story. Awesome!
I caught a big softshell in one of the local rice canals. it was atleast 15 inches around and mad as all get out.
I have turtle pictures on my website—caught and sold turtles(with a licence) several years ago—mostly red-ears. But when I caught snappers, I turned them back–like catching my granpa—now soft-shells I will eat
What’s your link? I”d love to see the pics.