- 6 days ago
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00:00:00it's day three of gator season and floodwaters from northern states are now swallowing the bayou
00:00:22making this one of the most unpredictable starts in history when the water fluctuates
00:00:27it makes it a lot harder to hunt we're not catching nothing because of the high water from the flash
00:00:32flood 100 calls upon old tricks from a fallen legend our normal way of fishing is not working
00:00:40this year while another pulls out their secret sauce this is terrible it smells horrible what's
00:00:47going on as one team answers an urgent call for help i just passed this trap and look what they're
00:00:52going that is some damage son high water is a huge problem the gators can go anywhere
00:01:00another reignites an old rivalry to jump start their season daniel and myself head to head
00:01:09be careful what you wish for and the young hunter works overtime to help her family
00:01:15it's a bigger with their livelihoods on the line it's like we can't win swampers fight tooth and nail
00:01:22he's a monster he's a monster to keep their season afloat
00:01:36all the pain through the struggle and the strife now there's just one thing we got left to do
00:01:42light a lot of mass let it burn and break them too
00:01:52like a wild wolf's run and you're out of control
00:01:56like a loaded pistol like a raging storm
00:02:00you got thunder in your veins you won't stop till your dying day
00:02:06it's only day three of alligator season and mother nature is already determined to make
00:02:35it one of the most challenging seasons on record like the god is working harder than ever this year
00:02:43i can't quite figure it out unprecedented flash flooding up north has caused water
00:02:48levels in the bayous to rise rapidly over the past 24 hours drown in baited lines
00:02:55it's already late afternoon and the king of the swamp is struggling to make a dent in his 900 tags
00:03:01that's exactly what i'm talking about right there put that line yesterday the chicken with the food
00:03:09out the water now it's in the water every day two-thirds of the united states greens down the
00:03:16mississippi river and that affects us a whole lot we might not even hear about the flash flood they had in
00:03:22tennessee or kentucky but then the next thing you know a week later we got a rise in the river over
00:03:28here of three foot another one another one all you see is the hook sticking out
00:03:34this crap is driving me nuts peewee i mean three days ago the bait was two foot out the water
00:03:40today the bait's in the water uh it's like we can't win we never had the water fluctuate this much
00:03:47before i'm so tired of changing my bait every day when bait falls into the water an alligator can't
00:03:53smell it from as far away as if it were hanging in the air just dealing with the high water and the
00:03:59low water is insane you get in a rhythm and you you're running every line and then all of a sudden
00:04:04you come back the next day and all your bait's under the water and it's just i can't get in a
00:04:09groove here and that's really the biggest pain about this season our normal way of fishing is not working
00:04:18this year with the day coming to a close soon troy and pickle know they have to change their strategy
00:04:27to adapt to the changing water levels hey mr sterling showed us how to use that styrofoam last year
00:04:38to keep that bait floating what'd you think about that that might be what we need to do mr sterling was
00:04:45one of the old timers around here and we just lost him but he was very smart and very good at
00:04:52anything he did in the swamps okay baby we're gonna do it we're gonna do this okay did i hook it right
00:04:58make a hole in this stuff home you do this right there you pass that hook pass that hook through
00:05:03and you just put it right on top like that he taught peewee and i how to float bait so we're gonna
00:05:12go in we're gonna go find some styrofoam and we're gonna come back and do just like mr sterling
00:05:18for years and years he's done that i don't see why it wouldn't work for us
00:05:24how big he cut these not too big p i think that's gonna work oh for sure i don't know why we didn't
00:05:33think of this sooner now we don't have to worry about the high water low water if it come up we'll be
00:05:41good if it go down we'll be good you'd better do at least 15 or 20 like that i think we got something
00:05:47here i think you're right
00:05:50over in the bitter root bayou veteran alligator hunter bruce mitchell and his deckhand anna rebeck
00:06:14are also battling the high water what you got i don't have a gator when the water's up
00:06:21the gators go all over and what they're doing they're chasing food and you can't get them they're
00:06:27way back got one down mr bruce see anything yeah there's the line
00:06:36it ain't looking good we got to do something different mr bruce what are we gonna do we're
00:06:48gonna figure out something i know this ain't working we're not having a very good day the
00:06:53gators aren't biting really nothing is happening well we ain't doing too good i got an idea let's go
00:07:00back to the land we're gonna make up a secret sauce i've used it before it's worked what's in
00:07:07it i'm not can't even tell you right now i'll show you eventually okay i don't know how but it
00:07:13works all right let's go to land it i told anna i got something i got a trick up my sleeve jump in
00:07:21there get that uh pot okay fixing to make some good stuff i got my little pot and i started mixing
00:07:29it up i got some garlic i mix them under kool-aid in there and a couple other secret things i got
00:07:36mixed in here what is the red stuff that's starting to work the high water allows the big gators to
00:07:43venture farther out into the swamp leaving only the small ones behind but bruce hopes the potent smell
00:07:50of his secret sauce to lure the giants to his lines oh this is terrible i know they're like worse
00:07:58this is a rotten chicken alligators have an extremely powerful sense of smell similar to
00:08:05that of dogs developed for both hunting and finding mates they can pick up sense from hundreds of yards
00:08:12away just don't get it on you bruce is confident in his concoction but it's nearly 6 p.m and smothering
00:08:23all their bait will mean a late night for the hunters we have to go back out and rebate everything
00:08:29with the chicken that we dunk in this red sauce i really hope it's gonna work mr bruce we having a
00:08:36terrible time out in franklin whatever it takes we need to make some more money to do one half of
00:08:54team edgar joey edgar and his daughter callie are wrapping up a slow day of running lines with 485 tags
00:09:02to fill this season the pair hope their last line is a sign of things to come water level is high
00:09:10this deep water at these four corners awesome for alligator they had another one right there that's
00:09:15another one right there too this is only our second year in the boat cali has really stepped up to the
00:09:22plate it's like we've been hunting together the whole life that's what i'm talking about baby it being
00:09:27my second year as a commercial alligator hunter but i think that i learned something new each day i
00:09:32mean it's always something happening my dad's always telling me new tricks i mean i just know that
00:09:37i can learn something every day doing this hey teddy look right here
00:09:44you feel heavy i can't tell yet but i ain't taking no chances
00:09:57well he's got it pulled tight too
00:10:12oh what hold him don't let him go into the boat oh
00:10:18strong strong it's your shot okay hold on
00:10:33got it shoot teddy shoot
00:10:48good shot
00:10:52and it's a nice gator it's a real nice gator let's go now good job this 10-footer is a solid end to a
00:11:03disappointing day but lucky for joey gators aren't the only item on the menu today
00:11:10dad we're not rebating the line no why tonight we're going shrimping i didn't tell you that
00:11:16why i just got a order in for shrimp that we can't pass up and while it got shrimp it would be worth us
00:11:24going to make that extra money we need to go get this money we need to go make an extra hustle
00:11:30we have a really nice shrimp boat and the bay is full of shrimp we in the seafood business when an
00:11:37opportunity arises and we can make more money we're going to go do it we're going to take advantage of
00:11:42that so we're going to work all night and then tomorrow instead of running lines we go trouble
00:11:48hook and snipe so i need to have my rifle ready yes ma'am i'm gonna be counting on you you think
00:11:52you'll be able to make it we're going to work all night yeah i got that okay daddy if you're edgar
00:11:57that's gonna it's in your blood you have to work hard good job i got a name to live up to so
00:12:02whatever you need me to do i'm gonna do it let's roll
00:12:09got my hard money in
00:12:22in bayou black the other half of team edgar swamp patriarch daniel edgar and his deckhand zach
00:12:29catch them have one line left to run that's the last line of the day last line while their day
00:12:38hasn't been a total loss they're light on their quota and daniel believes the high water is to blame
00:12:45when waters from up north come and they enter the swamps in the chavalai basin what happens is it
00:12:52carries animals it moves fish and these alligators through all the turmoil
00:12:58they're not where they normally are it's gonna be a tough season for us with the larger more
00:13:05aggressive gators following high water into new areas the little ones have seized the opportunity
00:13:11to feed on the hunter's bait this is insane we're just catching nothing but things these little ones
00:13:18are just everywhere this year the water has come down from the mississippi and it's creating a whole
00:13:23different terrain and we're gonna have to adapt to really find these gators this is gonna be quite a
00:13:28challenge yeah we got one on there finally something's eating some
00:13:36whoa whoa you got some action we might lose this for real cow whoa
00:13:55on the third day of gator season whoa you got some action daniel and zach are hoping they finally landed a big gator
00:14:03whoa whoa come on he's facing me turn his head shoot him shoot him
00:14:24hey come on baby i don't remember catching four that small in a row they're all the same size
00:14:42this is insane the big ones are here too we're seeing the big ones but we're just catching nothing
00:14:47but things that's the problem with the lines zach we can't pick and choose no with yet another small
00:14:54catch on the lines the hunters decide they need to start targeting giants in open water wasting time
00:15:00wasting energy lines are not gonna do it you're right zach with all this flooding comes adaptation
00:15:06and strategy we might not catch these gators on the line but there's nothing like picking and choosing
00:15:11giant alligators with your rod and reel that's the way to hunt to help jump start their season
00:15:16zach proposes a friendly wager with his teammate i wanted to hit that competition with that rod and
00:15:22reel again let's do this get these things to the dock get them on ice we'll do the rod and reel fishing
00:15:29tomorrow and as far as that rod and reel competition zach yeah i'm telling you
00:15:36be careful what you wish for let's see what you got
00:15:57out east ronnie adams and his partner timmy oqua are primed to fill their 181 tags
00:16:05but high water makes hunting in the marsh even tougher than other areas the water so freaking
00:16:11high right now the high water is a huge problem down in the marsh compared to where it is in the
00:16:17swamp when you get the high water down by me in the marsh where there's no trees i mean
00:16:23what looked like once was land it just turns into like big lakes the gators can go anywhere
00:16:28i think that's my cousin boo he's out here crabbing yeah they got crab traps all through this marsh bro
00:16:42louisiana is the top producer of blue crab in the united states and is estimated to bring over 290
00:16:49million dollars into the louisiana economy while peak season is generally from may to september
00:16:56crabbing takes place year round hey what's going on babe we got an issue back here man come on
00:17:04they got a gator in my pocket man godly bro i just passed this trap and look what they're doing
00:17:10where you at right here right around this turn they got a they got a flat and that's why he's dragging
00:17:15them up in the bank on us mother humper dude that is some damage son why are they tearing your traps
00:17:21up they're going after that bait all the bait box in the middle look at that i got you that's what
00:17:26they're trying to get since they're going after that catfish heads maybe we'll get about three or
00:17:30four heads from them and bathe with them yeah well that's a good idea yeah put me a couple in the
00:17:34boat right there dante although it's a sacrifice of precious time at the season's start ronnie sees an
00:17:41opportunity to both help the fisherman get rid of a nuisance gator and catch a monster that's 60 70
00:17:49bucks huh cuz godly all in all they taking a good hurting right now with the crabbing uh because they
00:17:56losing out on bait they losing out on crabs their traps is getting destroyed and like the local
00:18:01fishermen we help each other that's how we do down here i'm gonna try to get him for you bro me and t
00:18:07gonna try to put some lines on you i've never used catfish before he said they're destroying the traps
00:18:12to get to these catfish heads so all in all hopefully we can get this big boy in a boat i got
00:18:17you baby we're gonna get it water's a little high in here right now so we can get in here you know
00:18:28that's what he's using to get in and out it's like going to a grocery store for him real easy picking
00:18:33they're going to just keep doing it keep on and keep on until we catch them and get them out of
00:18:37there we've been busting up them traps trying to get them catfish hairs out of that crab trap
00:18:43hopefully the catfish hairs on the hook is going to work you get the gators that's roughly eight or
00:18:49nine foot or bigger is the ones that's going to start crushing these traps but the way this trap is
00:18:55mangled it's 10 plus no doubt about it it's probably a four or five hundred pound alligator because
00:19:01the strength in his jaws is just shredding lord i'd like to catch that giant that's in here
00:19:07anything i could do to help him with them traps you know
00:19:21in the gulf after a hard day of hunting gators the edgars are gearing up for a long night of
00:19:27shrimping to make some extra cash it's a friction clutch you have to just release it and you just
00:19:34let it go a little bit see how it's rubbing yeah it looked complicated but don't forget you can stop
00:19:42it in a bag yeah while they work mr daniel's giving his granddaughter a crash course in shrimping when you're
00:19:50shrimping you don't ever want to go more than three miles per hour you have two engines and it's just like
00:19:56a car you turn this way the boat's gonna go that way your boat can't turn as short as you want yeah
00:20:04so to turn real fast if you want to go left you just speed this engine up watch the boat turn watch
00:20:11yeah it's kind of a lot to learn to drive this one boat there's a lot to learn but if you're interested
00:20:18and you pay attention shouldn't be too bad i'm 76 and i'm still learning every day about something
00:20:25it's my passion and it will be real one day that i will own st mary's seafood alongside my brother and
00:20:32we're gonna raise our children the same way that we were brought up so i have to step up and do what i
00:20:37need to do in order for this legacy to still live and be gone we usually just take the good ones and
00:20:46everything else is trash this is what we're looking for today that's a giant what kind of money can we
00:20:52make on a trip like this three four thousand dollars in a 12 hour clock well we need that
00:20:58boat is an important tool in our arsenal yeah the family has hours of work ahead tonight before going
00:21:05right back into hunting gators in the morning but for mr daniel it's time well spent for me i'm always
00:21:13thinking about the foundation for my kids and my grandkids in the future the water's clear they're
00:21:21really hard to catch right now but the sun's going down after it gets dark we're gonna crack
00:21:28it's a new day in the swamp and troy and pickle are hoping a trick they learned from a late swamp legend
00:21:53mr sterling will change their luck mr sterling fish more in the marsh in the marsh they deal with
00:22:01high tide and low tide a lot i think that's why through the years he adapted to floating his bait
00:22:08if the water comes up it goes down or it stays the same we're gonna float it worked for mr sterling and
00:22:15hopefully he's gonna watch over peewee and i and bring us some good luck and uh if we don't do it right
00:22:20he'll tap us on the shoulder and say hey you're messing up miss your body huh yeah very much you
00:22:28gotta keep reminding yourself it's a might be hell to get old but it's a pleasure we gotta keep marching
00:22:35on all we can do is remember him and what a better way to remember him than to fish the way he used to
00:22:42fish i think he's looking down on a smiling right now i'm sure he is
00:22:50oh pete look at here oh look at that snow he broke i keep broken up starry phone look at that snow
00:22:56oh look like a good one
00:23:02oh yeah
00:23:12oh
00:23:22oh yeah
00:23:28oh shoot him
00:23:34Bring him up, Pee-wee, bring him up.
00:23:45Shoot him, Mr. Troy.
00:23:46Shoot him!
00:23:51On Grand Lake.
00:23:53Shoot him, Mr. Troy!
00:23:54Bring him up, give me a shot, give me a shot.
00:23:56Troy and Pickle are wrestling a monster they hooked with their floating bait.
00:24:00Shoot him, Mr. Troy.
00:24:02Shoot him!
00:24:04Eat him, eat him, this is it.
00:24:17Whoa!
00:24:18What you talking about, little girl?
00:24:21Dude.
00:24:22I mean, he tore that styrofoam up.
00:24:25I think he thought it was a marshmallow.
00:24:28Mm-mm-mm.
00:24:30Yeah, I always heard you like marshmallows.
00:24:32Mm-hmm.
00:24:32Mr. Sterling's floating bait is paying off, and the hunters are already doing better
00:24:39than yesterday.
00:24:41He's still spitting out.
00:24:43Sorry for him.
00:24:44The water came up about a foot overnight.
00:24:47So if we'd have hung our lines like we normally hang them, we wouldn't have had nothing to do.
00:24:52Our bait would have been in the water, it would have been turtle feed.
00:24:55Yeah, if you can grab them pieces.
00:24:57Try to get that piece over there.
00:24:59Can't wait to see by the end of the day what we're going to catch now that we started floating.
00:25:03Over in Franklin, after a hard night shrimping, the Edgars aren't missing a beat, getting right back into gator hunting.
00:25:23Today's focus is shooting gators in open water, and it's an opportunity for Callie to prove herself.
00:25:29Today we don't have any lines set, and being that we worked all night, it's a great opportunity for Callie to really sharpen her skills sniping and trouble hooking.
00:25:39The fact that that water is so high, we should see more activity, we should see more alligators.
00:25:48Yeah, let's just wait and see if one come up right by the boat.
00:25:51Water looks like it's rising.
00:25:54Look at how much fish they got.
00:25:56That's why they're right here.
00:26:01Awesome for alligators.
00:26:02Awesome.
00:26:09Look, Tony.
00:26:14That's a big one.
00:26:15Yeah, that's a big one.
00:26:19See if you can prop and get a shot.
00:26:27Let me get a little closer.
00:26:37See him over there?
00:26:38Yeah.
00:26:46Tony, where did he go?
00:26:47He flattened out?
00:26:48No, he's right there.
00:26:49Look, he's right there.
00:26:50He's still going.
00:26:52I see your dad.
00:26:53I'm just trying to get a steady shot.
00:26:54It's like the boat is doing too much.
00:26:57It's too rocky.
00:26:58Let the boat start moving.
00:27:00When you get your shot, rock him.
00:27:02Just keep looking at him until you get your shot.
00:27:08All right, Tony.
00:27:09All right, Tony.
00:27:21Listen.
00:27:22He went on.
00:27:23All right.
00:27:26Sometimes alligators are not that easy to snipe.
00:27:29Like, I don't want to be like that.
00:27:30I want to be able to do whatever we got to do.
00:27:32Missing this beast is a disappointment for the young hunter.
00:27:36But Joey knows sniping a gator is harder than it looks.
00:27:40I think Callie's a better shot than me.
00:27:43But just that level of skill set on an airboat, it's always a challenging deal.
00:27:50But I have a lot of confidence in Callie.
00:27:53Don't give up.
00:27:54All right.
00:27:55I'm not worried.
00:27:56We'll go get him.
00:28:09Several miles southwest, the other Edgar crew, Daniel and Zach, are going head-to-head in a competition to catch the biggest gator.
00:28:18And after losing in a showdown against Mr. Daniel last year, Zach's determined to come out on top.
00:28:26You know that dream you have about beating me?
00:28:28Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:28:30Could end up being a nightmare.
00:28:31All right, young man.
00:28:33It's just the rod and reel in Daniel and myself today.
00:28:37Mano mi mano, head-to-head.
00:28:39And he's been talking a little too much game since I let him win last year.
00:28:42You're the best.
00:28:44I'll give it to you.
00:28:46But when I get a chance to whip the best for a little moment, I like it. I like it.
00:28:53Let's just get the lines wet and we'll see how you do.
00:28:56I'm not planning on letting him beat me, catching the biggest alligator.
00:29:01Zach is very good with the rod and reel, but I may be better.
00:29:05He's gonna need to be lucky to beat me.
00:29:08Okay, Zach.
00:29:10You up first, buddy.
00:29:12Show me what you got.
00:29:13All right.
00:29:14Show me what you got.
00:29:28There he is, there he is, there he is.
00:29:29He stopped right there.
00:29:31Cut the motor.
00:29:45I got him.
00:29:46There we go.
00:29:47Come on.
00:29:48Get him, Zach.
00:29:49Pull him, I'm coming.
00:29:51Pull him, Zach.
00:29:52Oh, my God.
00:29:53Oh, he's going every which way so fast.
00:30:00Switching sides.
00:30:03Switching sides.
00:30:07Pull him to him, buddy.
00:30:09He's spinning, he's spinning.
00:30:10That's what all that is.
00:30:12Okay, let me just try.
00:30:19Oh, get him, get him, get him, get him, get him.
00:30:25Stick him, son, stick him, son.
00:30:26Oh!
00:30:29Get the gun.
00:30:30I am, I am.
00:30:31Hold him, hold him, hold him.
00:30:32Shoot him, shoot him, Zach.
00:30:36Hold him, hold him.
00:30:47Oh, my God.
00:30:49That thing almost got us.
00:30:52That boy almost got us, son.
00:30:58This giant is a huge improvement over the size of yesterday's catch.
00:31:03And it puts Zach on the board with an impressive 11-footer.
00:31:07Come on in here.
00:31:09One in the boat.
00:31:10A solid monster that Daniel probably won't even be able to beat.
00:31:13This is a giant alligator.
00:31:16If Daniel wants to beat me, he's going to have to pull up a 12-foot monster.
00:31:19We are catching giants today.
00:31:22All you.
00:31:24Let's see what you got.
00:31:26I like it.
00:31:27I like it.
00:31:28Back in Bitterroot Bayou, Bruce and Anna are counting on a secret sauce to draw in some monsters after striking out yesterday.
00:31:47You're not going to tell me what's in it?
00:31:50I will sooner or later.
00:31:51I'll show you.
00:31:52All right.
00:31:53I hope we catch.
00:31:54Let's hold on.
00:31:55Let's go catch some catering.
00:31:56Went out and baited these lions yesterday.
00:31:58This chicken in this red sauce that he won't tell me about.
00:32:02This is terrible.
00:32:05This better work.
00:32:06And I'm kind of thinking to myself, is this really going to work?
00:32:09Are we just wasting our time?
00:32:17Line's down, Mr. Bruce.
00:32:19Sure is.
00:32:23Let's see what we got.
00:32:24Let me grab that gun here.
00:32:26I think we got something.
00:32:27We need a big one.
00:32:30Hold that.
00:32:31Hold that.
00:32:32Be careful.
00:32:33Be careful.
00:32:38Oh!
00:32:39Go, go, go.
00:32:40Whoa!
00:32:41There he is.
00:32:47Oh, golly.
00:32:48Got the big data.
00:32:49Watch out.
00:32:50Watch out.
00:32:51That secret sauce worked, Mr. Bruce.
00:32:52Yeah, Johnny, it worked, huh?
00:32:53I told you.
00:32:54Holy smokes.
00:32:55Get him up out of the smoke.
00:32:56I'm trying.
00:32:57Hold on.
00:32:58Don't let him put you in.
00:33:02Whoa!
00:33:06In Bitterroot Bayou.
00:33:07Get him up, Anna.
00:33:08Come on.
00:33:09I'm trying.
00:33:10Bruce and Anna are wrestling a giant.
00:33:13Whoa!
00:33:18Whoo!
00:33:19That's a big one.
00:33:20Oh!
00:33:21Can you get a shot, Mr. Bruce?
00:33:22Get him over there.
00:33:23There he is.
00:33:24I'm trying.
00:33:25You all right?
00:33:26He's pulling.
00:33:27Oh!
00:33:32You got him.
00:33:33We don't have to worry about him.
00:33:34I told you that secret sauce would work.
00:33:35You're going to tell me what's in it now?
00:33:36Nope.
00:33:37Not yet.
00:33:38I'll tell you later, maybe.
00:33:39Uh-huh.
00:33:40You keep saying that.
00:33:41Now, the work's done.
00:33:42All right, let's get him around there.
00:33:43Whew!
00:33:44Work time.
00:33:45We'll go ahead and tie it right here on the front.
00:33:46Okay.
00:33:47You know I always like to do that.
00:33:48The secret sauce successfully lured this 10-footer out of hiding, a promising sign that hunters
00:34:03can overcome the high-water gator migration.
00:34:08Well, you can't grab nothing here.
00:34:13I'm kind of thinking to myself, there's no way that this sauce is actually going to work.
00:34:18We get to our first line, and sure enough, there's a pretty decent gator on this line.
00:34:23Let's cover him up and go catch another one.
00:34:26Woo-hoo!
00:34:28Out in the marsh, Ronnie and Timmy are also searching for giants spread out by high water.
00:34:48So they're returning to the lines they set for the monster terrorizing local crab fishermen.
00:34:54We've got to get this gator out of here for him, because he's destroying their crab traps.
00:34:58He said last week, seven traps crushed.
00:35:02Seven times 70, I don't know what that is, $400 and something dollars, $500?
00:35:07And he's begging me, bro, please catch that big gator.
00:35:10He said it's a stud.
00:35:11I'm excited about today, because now we've got all these lines baited up with the catfish heads.
00:35:16I've never used them before, so I'm excited to see if we can land this big crab trap killer.
00:35:22Oh, yeah, T, we down, baby.
00:35:25Be that big boy we're looking for.
00:35:27Come on, baby, T.
00:35:31What we got, baby?
00:35:32We'll get you right up on you, T.
00:35:44Whoa, whoa, that's a good one.
00:35:46That's a good one, baby.
00:35:47Get the gun.
00:35:48Woo, woo.
00:35:49Woo, woo.
00:35:53Woo, T.
00:35:54We got a good one, baby.
00:35:58This son of a gun's strong, T.
00:36:00Hell yeah, baby.
00:36:05Watch him, T.
00:36:06Watch him, baby.
00:36:10Look at him, T.
00:36:11That's a good one, bopper.
00:36:12Or a mess.
00:36:13Or a mess.
00:36:14Put it on him, T.
00:36:25That a baby.
00:36:26Woo.
00:36:27Good job, baby.
00:36:29Hey, hey, bro, that's a good one for the first gator.
00:36:32Yeah.
00:36:33I take him.
00:36:34That's a eight-footer.
00:36:36Huh?
00:36:37Oh, yeah, T.
00:36:38Oh, yeah, baby.
00:36:41Ronnie and Timmy land a hearty eight-foot monster.
00:36:44A big gator, but not the culprit they're looking for.
00:36:48You know, T, bro, he's a good gator for the first one of the year.
00:36:51Uh-huh.
00:36:52But definitely not that dude moving the traps.
00:36:54He's not big enough to be, uh, tearing his traps up like this.
00:36:57There's gotta be a bigger gator.
00:36:59That big dude's in here, dude.
00:37:01We got to get the one for the crab, bro.
00:37:03The crab trap thief?
00:37:04Yeah.
00:37:05Got to get him.
00:37:06Yeah.
00:37:07Back on Grand Lake, Troy and Pickle are filling their boat
00:37:22using a method passed down from Troy's old friend.
00:37:27This is all about using what we learned from an old timer.
00:37:32I think he'd be proud.
00:37:34I think he'd be proud.
00:37:35You're right.
00:37:36I'm not saying I want to float my bait all the time
00:37:39because it is a little bit slower process.
00:37:42It takes you a little longer to float your bait.
00:37:45But Pee Wee and I are catching a boatload of alligators,
00:37:49and when the water's fluctuating as much as it's doing this year,
00:37:52I feel we don't have no choice.
00:37:59Floating that bait is working.
00:38:01Stacking them up one after the other.
00:38:04We're going to have to pick that styrofoam up.
00:38:06Yeah, we'll pick it up.
00:38:13Watch your fingers.
00:38:14All right.
00:38:15Bring them up, Pee.
00:38:16Bring them up.
00:38:17Bring them up.
00:38:30What are you waiting on?
00:38:31It's a big one.
00:38:32It's a big one.
00:38:33Oh, that's a big one, Pee Wee.
00:38:34Bring them up.
00:38:35Bring them up, Pee Wee.
00:38:38Oh, that's a big one, Pee Wee.
00:38:40Bring them up.
00:38:41Bring them up, Pee Wee.
00:38:42Oh, good job, dude.
00:38:43You saw that?
00:38:44Yeah.
00:38:45That's how you shoot, Pee Wee.
00:38:46Really?
00:38:47Boy, I'm going to tell you something, dude.
00:38:48We should have been floating our bait for the last few days.
00:38:50I just never thought about it.
00:38:51This nine foot monster is a great addition to an already impressive pile of gators.
00:39:09Woo, Mr. Sterling.
00:39:16Sterling. I hope you're smiling on us right now, Mr. Sterling, and you might have shook your head
00:39:22at a couple of the first lines that we set, but I think me and Mr. Troy are putting our heads
00:39:26together and remembering what you taught us and putting it to good use. Think Mr. Sterling would
00:39:31be proud? I think so. Out in Franklin, Callie still hasn't sniped a beast, and if she doesn't
00:39:49start hitting the target soon, the Edgars could go home empty-handed. Got one right here. He just sunk
00:39:58right here. He just sunk right here. Hold on. That ain't gonna make a circle on top. We'll try to get him
00:40:03in the bubble. We got alligators to kill. I have a lot of confidence in Callie, but I'm really
00:40:10concerned about today. We need to go get this money. Get ready. Look, look, look, look, look, look.
00:40:24Boy, he ain't giving you much, huh?
00:40:28I think you got him. Huh? Yeah, you got him. Make sure your gun's safe. It is. It is.
00:40:49Okay, good shot. I think you got him. I think you got him.
00:40:53Daddy, daddy, daddy. Don't go, don't go.
00:41:09In Franklin,
00:41:10Daddy, daddy, daddy. Don't go, don't go.
00:41:13The Edgars are trying to land their first snipe of the season.
00:41:18Get back, get back, so they don't peel you off the deck.
00:41:20Look at him. Oh my God.
00:41:24Let me get a shot. Let me get a shot.
00:41:29Way over there.
00:41:30You want me to throw that way?
00:41:32Look at his head over there.
00:41:34Shoot him.
00:41:35Shoot?
00:41:36Yeah.
00:41:36It's a nice alligator.
00:41:52Good alligator.
00:41:53You rocked him.
00:41:56Callie's hoping this 10-footer will be the start of a hot streak.
00:41:59I finally hit the alligator, and it feels exhilarating.
00:42:04It really is a confidence builder.
00:42:06It just made me feel really good about myself.
00:42:08Oh, he's fat.
00:42:09Yeah, he's fat.
00:42:10Okay, put that up.
00:42:11Put your jacket up, and we're on to the next.
00:42:13We got a lot to do today.
00:42:16Back in the Bitterroot Bayou, Bruce's secret sauce is luring giants out of their high-water
00:42:34hideouts.
00:42:37You sure you don't want to tell me what's in it?
00:42:38It's working, ain't it?
00:42:40Yeah.
00:42:41I know it works.
00:42:42It works good.
00:42:43I see it.
00:42:47See it?
00:42:48I see it out to the right.
00:42:56Get it on.
00:43:01Hang on, I'm coming.
00:43:03Get that gun.
00:43:04Get that gun, mister.
00:43:04I got it.
00:43:10Watch him.
00:43:13Get him up.
00:43:15Get him up.
00:43:21Hold on.
00:43:22Don't need to pull you out the boat.
00:43:23I got him.
00:43:24Don't wrap that hand now, whatever you do.
00:43:26Get so fast.
00:43:29Get him up.
00:43:29Get him up.
00:43:30Get him up.
00:43:30You got to worry about him no more.
00:43:41Nope.
00:43:42Ha-ha.
00:43:43Nice one.
00:43:44Oh, golly.
00:43:46Yeah, that's a nice one.
00:43:48Hook that rope.
00:43:49Ready?
00:43:50Yep.
00:43:51Yeah.
00:43:51This 8-footer is the 6th of the day, and it has Anna changing her tune.
00:43:58We have a pretty decent pile of gators now, and, you know, the bite's picking up, and there's
00:44:04another good gator on the line.
00:44:05And I'm thinking to myself, I'm kind of liking this sauce, and I really need to know what's
00:44:11in it.
00:44:11What's in it?
00:44:12Oh.
00:44:12Oh.
00:44:12Oh.
00:44:12Oh.
00:44:12Oh.
00:44:12Oh.
00:44:12Oh.
00:44:13Oh.
00:44:13Oh.
00:44:13Oh.
00:44:14Oh.
00:44:14Oh.
00:44:14Oh.
00:44:15Oh.
00:44:15Oh.
00:44:15Oh.
00:44:16Oh.
00:44:16Oh.
00:44:17Oh.
00:44:17Oh.
00:44:18Oh.
00:44:18Oh.
00:44:19Oh.
00:44:19Oh.
00:44:20Oh.
00:44:20Oh.
00:44:21Hold on.
00:44:22Come on, Mr. Bruce.
00:44:23You've got to tell me.
00:44:24I will sooner or later.
00:44:35Over in Bayou Black, Daniel and Zach have been hauling in swamp monsters, but Zach's 11-footer
00:44:42still keeps him ahead in the race to be king of the rod and reel.
00:44:47Woo-hoo.
00:44:48Daniel having fun.
00:44:49Stay back on.
00:44:50Daniel, go.
00:44:51Daniel, go.
00:44:52Get him.
00:44:52Get him.
00:44:53Get him.
00:44:53Get him, young man.
00:44:55Let's go.
00:44:55Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo.
00:44:59We're settling this competition once and for all.
00:45:01The first time, I'm not going to lie, he did well.
00:45:04He deserved the win.
00:45:05But there can only be one king of the rod and reel.
00:45:08Follow the bank of the rod and reel.
00:45:11Follow the bank a little bit.
00:45:13Make a circle.
00:45:15Come back.
00:45:17I got you.
00:45:21Stop the engine.
00:45:30Yeah, he's right there.
00:45:39He's passing right on him.
00:45:46Yeah, I got him, Zach.
00:45:48Come on, stick him, stick him, stick him, boy.
00:45:54I got the treble.
00:45:56Throw it past him.
00:45:58Perfect through.
00:45:59That might get him.
00:46:03Hold that.
00:46:04Hold it, Zach.
00:46:05Open the drag, open the drag, open the bell.
00:46:10In Bayou Black,
00:46:13Daniel's hooked into a giant.
00:46:15Open the drag, open the drag, open the bell.
00:46:18Daniel's hooked.
00:46:21Pull!
00:46:26Pull in, Zach.
00:46:27Pull again, pull again.
00:46:29You got it.
00:46:30Oh-ho!
00:46:31Look at the size of that thing!
00:46:35Oh-ho!
00:46:36That's a big boy.
00:46:39Go ahead, start it.
00:46:40This 12-footer puts Daniel in the lead for the biggest catch of the day.
00:46:50That's a good one, buddy.
00:46:51Aw, yeah.
00:46:52It's a giant, and Daniel's ahead, probably by an inch or two, but definitely ahead.
00:47:01You could tell by the girth and the size of his head, so it's time to pull out the big guns and perform.
00:47:14No, I don't have any room to put my shoes.
00:47:15Well, I'm telling you.
00:47:16You're up next.
00:47:17Show me what you got, buddy.
00:47:18Come on, lady.
00:47:19Look, I need a big one.
00:47:20This old man's been talking too much smack.
00:47:21Over in Franklin, Callie's looking to do her part to help the Edgar family.
00:47:27Since she landed her first gator, she's been on a hot streak, bagging three more.
00:47:48But she's looking to snipe one more to ensure the day's a winner for the Edgars.
00:47:55edgars the alligator is wild he acts a certain way he knows that you're there and then that's
00:48:08what makes it even harder to kill because he knows exactly what's going on he's going to go down pop
00:48:13up go down and when he's barely over the water and that's when you have to get your good shot
00:48:17and take it when you can he's right there you see him
00:48:20i got him get your big hooker right here
00:48:34right there
00:48:37i don't even know if we got him we might have missed him
00:48:43hold him daddy hold him hold him hold him
00:48:49get your rifle get your big rifle 30
00:48:55okay tell our big news
00:48:57when you can get a shot
00:49:02when you can get a shot
00:49:06that hole is deep right here
00:49:09hold him daddy
00:49:15that's what i'm talking about that's a giant daddy
00:49:28sniping and hooking this giant 12-footer is the perfect way to cap off the day with cali delivering
00:49:36big for the family
00:49:38day look at the shot on that
00:49:41that's what i'm talking about baby i felt like a big accomplishment had happened in my life because
00:49:46i went alligator hunting i went shrimping all night only got a couple of hours of sleep we went alligator hunting again and i executed it you know it's always better to do 110 percent always go the extra mile
00:49:58look at that look at that you did great under pressure like that i couldn't be any more proud as a father of this kid cali has a work ethic that's probably a little different than most kids
00:50:13it's a great thing to have a work ethic because going forward to take care of yourself that's the only way they're gonna make it
00:50:20got him daddy i love you love you too
00:50:35over on grand lake
00:50:37troy and pickle have filled their boat with a little help from a friend
00:50:41this is the last line for mr stirling
00:50:44i know huh
00:50:46our old buddy it's not just the last line of the day but the end of a tribute to a fallen swamp legend
00:50:54it's hard to believe we're never gonna see him again
00:50:57never gonna be able to talk to him again
00:51:00not good
00:51:01i've gone through a lot of heartaches with mr troy and being on the inside of mr troy's circle and seeing him go through all these things very recently
00:51:13he really holds the old timers close to his heart and he won't admit it and he won't say it out loud but i've watched him break down over a few of these people that he's lost and mr troy will not talk about these things and so i guess it's kind of my job to tell the inside of it you know and kind of open up troy's heart a little bit and let everybody in on the frog in our throats this season
00:51:30uh
00:51:35oh yeah hold on
00:51:39get everybody in on the frog in our throats this season.
00:51:46Pee-wee, pee-wee.
00:51:48Looks like we got some action.
00:51:52Oh, yeah, hold on.
00:51:54That floating bait is paying off, little girl.
00:52:05Whoa, that's what I'm talking about, pee-wee.
00:52:09Woo-hoo!
00:52:12Bring him up, pee-wee, bring him up!
00:52:18Woo!
00:52:19Good out, kid.
00:52:20Oh, my God!
00:52:22He's gonna find me!
00:52:27On Grand Lake...
00:52:29Whoa, that's what I'm talking about, pee-wee.
00:52:32...Troy and Pickle nabbed a giant on their last line of the day.
00:52:36Oh!
00:52:41Lower and mercy!
00:52:42Snack-a-mouth truck!
00:52:43Ready, ready!
00:52:44Clear!
00:52:45Perfect size!
00:52:46You got a giant female, huh?
00:52:47You don't give me nothing to pull on me.
00:52:48One, two, three!
00:52:50Mm!
00:52:51Mm!
00:52:52Floating bait gave Troy and Pickle the upper hand over rising water, and turned the day into
00:52:57a fitting celebration of their late friends.
00:52:58One, two, three!
00:52:59Right there, that's where I would like to leave.
00:53:00Floating the bait has really worked good today for Pee-wee and I.
00:53:04You caught better than we caught the last few days, so it definitely saved us.
00:53:09over rising water and turned the day
00:53:11into a fitting celebration of their late friend.
00:53:15One, two, three.
00:53:17Right there, that's where I would like to leave.
00:53:19Floating the bait has really worked good today
00:53:21for Peewee and I.
00:53:23We caught better than we caught the last few days,
00:53:26so it definitely saved us.
00:53:29And Mr. Sterling was watching over us today,
00:53:32and I think we really made him proud.
00:53:35Oh, Mr. Sterling.
00:53:38Yeah, we sure going to miss him.
00:53:40Yes, sir.
00:53:52In the Bitterroot Bayou,
00:53:55Bruce and Anna have found success with Bruce's secret sauce.
00:53:59But Anna's got unanswered questions.
00:54:02Mr. Bruce, it's working so good.
00:54:03How come we don't use this all the time?
00:54:05Well, it costs a little bit of extra money.
00:54:08It costs about three times the regular bait.
00:54:10Oh, yeah?
00:54:11What is it?
00:54:12Well, you seem part of it.
00:54:14You'll learn the rest of it sooner or later.
00:54:16We got a boat full of gators right now,
00:54:19and Anna's wanting to know why we don't use this secret bait
00:54:22all the time.
00:54:23And it's kind of expensive.
00:54:26So if they're biting, we don't use it.
00:54:28If they're not biting, hey, you got to do what you got to do
00:54:30out here.
00:54:37Ow.
00:54:39Yeah, I'm going to pull it around.
00:54:40You got it in the red line, all right?
00:54:42Be careful.
00:54:43Just be careful.
00:54:50What you got?
00:54:50What you got?
00:54:51You got the gun?
00:54:52Where you at?
00:54:53Where you at?
00:54:53He's swimming.
00:54:54Oh, howя!
00:54:58Ugh!
00:55:01Get him out!
00:55:08Watch him, Mr. Bruce.
00:55:09Watch out!
00:55:09Get him!
00:55:10Get him!
00:55:15No.
00:55:16Get him out!
00:55:16Yeah!
00:55:18Come on, Mr. Bruce, hurry!
00:55:20I got him.
00:55:20I got him.
00:55:20That secret sauce is working, what's in it?
00:55:36You don't really need to know yet.
00:55:37Yes, I do.
00:55:38I don't believe we're going to pull this in by hand, we're going to use Mr. Winch.
00:55:43Another solid nine-footer all but eases the memory of yesterday's goose egg, but Anna
00:55:48is still no closer to learning Bruce's secret ingredients.
00:55:52Who's got it in now?
00:55:53There we go.
00:55:54Well, she keeps on and on all day wanting to know what was in there.
00:56:00Hey, I'm not going to tell her, not right now.
00:56:03One day she might know, but not right now.
00:56:05I'm going to let it roll.
00:56:06All right.
00:56:07He still won't tell me what's in it.
00:56:10I'm never going to get it out of him, but we're having a great day, so I can't complain
00:56:15too much.
00:56:16That's secret sauce.
00:56:17It works like a charm.
00:56:18You were right.
00:56:19Doesn't know how it does it, but it works every time.
00:56:32Back in Bayou Black, hunting with the rod and reel allowed Daniel and Zach to load the boat
00:56:37with giants.
00:56:38But Zach's still hoping he can top Daniel before the day's end.
00:56:44There he is.
00:56:50Right there.
00:56:51Oh my God.
00:56:52Daniel and I have been crushing it with the rod and reel, but there can only be one king.
00:56:58I've got to shut him down.
00:56:59I love him, but I cannot have any more mercy on this man.
00:57:02Cut the engine, Daniel.
00:57:03He's right there.
00:57:04Look at the bubbles on that thing, son.
00:57:05Is that him?
00:57:06Yeah.
00:57:07Just keep a tight grab on him, Zach.
00:57:09He's coming towards us.
00:57:10Oh my God, this thing is huge.
00:57:11Look at that thing pull and drag.
00:57:23Don't lose him, buddy.
00:57:24Don't lose him, Zach.
00:57:25Don't lose him, Zach.
00:57:26We're almost on top of him, Darren.
00:57:27Oh, that's my shot, huh?
00:57:28I got him, Zach.
00:57:29You better lean into that one.
00:57:30Oh, that's him!
00:57:31That's him!
00:57:32That's him!
00:57:33That's him!
00:57:34That's him!
00:57:35He's a monster!
00:57:36In Bayou Black...
00:57:37I got him, Zach.
00:57:38You got him?
00:57:39You better lean into that one.
00:57:40Oh, that's him!
00:57:41That's him, that's him!
00:57:44That's his monster!
00:57:45In Bayou Black, Daniel and Zach are battling for the
00:57:58battle of King of the Rodden Reel.
00:58:01Daniel and Zack are battling for the title of King of the Rodden Reel.
00:58:05We gotta pull his head up.
00:58:07Can we try to throw another treble in this thing?
00:58:09You hold that.
00:58:10Oh, my God, it's huge.
00:58:13Yeah, get another one in him.
00:58:15Oh, he can't do anything with him.
00:58:16Okay, it's hit.
00:58:20Get the big gun.
00:58:21Get the gun, Zack.
00:58:22Is there one in the chamber?
00:58:23Yes.
00:58:24I don't care where you hit him, just hit him.
00:58:26Get ready, Zack.
00:58:31Come on.
00:58:32Come on.
00:58:40One on the board.
00:58:43This competition's more like a death sentence.
00:58:47Boy, he's heavy, is he?
00:58:49Look at the size of that thing.
00:58:51Yeah.
00:58:53This 13-foot leviathan is easily twice the size of what the pair was catching yesterday.
00:58:59And Daniel's ready to admit defeat.
00:59:02The boat's eight feet wide.
00:59:05His nose is touching the other side.
00:59:07And I'm six feet tall.
00:59:09So you know how long he is.
00:59:11I think the Rodden Reel competition's over.
00:59:14When Zack caught this giant alligator, I was just thinking, there's no way I'm going to catch one that big.
00:59:19You are just not going to find many people anywhere that's as good as he is.
00:59:24At least you don't have to bring the measuring tape out.
00:59:26Listen, hey, look.
00:59:27Look at me.
00:59:28Look, Zack.
00:59:31I won this competition.
00:59:33It's over.
00:59:34Call of the day.
00:59:35I'll take the crown, because I am the new king of the Rodden Reel.
00:59:38That's a home run.
00:59:42Hell yeah.
00:59:43Out east in the marsh, Roddy and Timmy are still on the hunt for the crab trap crusher.
00:59:59Oh, hell yeah.
01:00:00This is a big old alligator trail right here, bro.
01:00:03Oh, yeah?
01:00:04Cool.
01:00:05The size of the alligator that's crushing these traps, it's 10 plus, no doubt about it.
01:00:11It's probably a 400, 500-pound alligator.
01:00:13Hopefully, we can get this big boy in a boat.
01:00:18Get the gun, team.
01:00:21That's a 12-footer, Timmy.
01:00:23Yeah, you shoot him right away.
01:00:26Hold tight, team.
01:00:27Did he get off?
01:00:28I don't know if he was on.
01:00:29Let me get this little trouble hook thing ready.
01:00:35Let me see if I can find this rope.
01:00:38Let me see if I can...
01:00:42Something big.
01:00:44I don't know what it is, bro.
01:00:56Come on, team.
01:00:57Get him, team!
01:00:59Come on, team!
01:01:01Oh, team!
01:01:02You son of a gun strong, team.
01:01:04Put it on him, team!
01:01:06Shoot him!
01:01:14Dude!
01:01:15Can you believe that?
01:01:16No, I can't.
01:01:18I threw the hook right on him!
01:01:20Thank you, God.
01:01:21Thank God, yes.
01:01:22For blessing us with this dang giant.
01:01:25The way this son of a gun come off the bank, he looked like a damn submarine.
01:01:29And just the luck of the draw, that I literally threw one toss, but it threw right on top of it.
01:01:35And I caught the gator literally, literally in the palm of his hand.
01:01:39One, two, three.
01:01:43One, two, three.
01:01:45Come on, team.
01:01:45I think this gator's gonna go six, seven hundred pounds.
01:01:49He is just enormous.
01:01:50This is the biggest alligator I think I've ever caught.
01:01:53He's gonna work his way in himself.
01:01:55Oh, yeah, he's in now.
01:01:56What a giant.
01:01:59We got the crab trap crusher, and I am so pumped to show my partner to see what this gator looks like.
01:02:06Cuzzle!
01:02:09I think we got something for you, baby.
01:02:12Look how big he is.
01:02:13That's him.
01:02:14I guarantee you, that big son of a gun's the dude that did it.
01:02:17He's been around here for a while, too.
01:02:19You put me on him, dude.
01:02:20I can't thank you enough, cuz.
01:02:22Good deal, man.
01:02:22You're helping me out, too.
01:02:23I know, bro, but you also putting, giving me a paycheck, as well.
01:02:27Thanks, man.
01:02:28You got it, baby.
01:02:29See y'all later!
01:02:42Over at the Edgar's family home.
01:02:44Dad, these are the shrimp that we caught last night?
01:02:47Yeah.
01:02:48Daniel, Joey, and Callie finally have a moment to catch their breath
01:02:52and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
01:02:55Fresh Louisiana shrimp.
01:02:58They big, too.
01:03:00Yeah, they're pretty.
01:03:01Spending time with family is something for me that is very special.
01:03:05We work together, but when we spend time eating and relaxing, that's the reward.
01:03:11When you can enjoy something enough to where you can make a living, raise your family, and have fun, of course, it's very hard work.
01:03:22It's not always fun, bud.
01:03:23It's not, but you got to at the end of the day.
01:03:25We got to work hard.
01:03:27If you're an Edgar, that's a, I don't want to say a heavyweight, but if you have that last name, you better make it work.
01:03:33We're hardworking people.
01:03:34We have to sell crawfish, sell crab, sell alligator.
01:03:38It's a lot that comes with St. Mary's seafood.
01:03:40You know what's the greatest gift to me, Teddy?
01:03:42What, Paul?
01:03:43I remember the day y'all were born, both of you.
01:03:46And to be here catching shrimp, killing alligators, and talking and enjoying ourselves together,
01:03:53there is no better blessing three generations of us here.
01:03:58Yeah.
01:03:59I am so thankful.
01:04:01There's no words for it.
01:04:04There's no words for it.
01:04:05There's no words for it.
01:04:06There's no words for it.
01:04:07There's no words for it.
01:04:08There's no words for it.
01:04:09There's no words for it.
01:04:10There's no words for it.
01:04:11There's no words for it.
01:04:12There's no words for it.
01:04:13There's no words for it.
01:04:14There's no words for it.
01:04:15There's no words for it.
01:04:16There's no words for it.
01:04:17There's no words for it.
01:04:18There's no words for it.
01:04:19There's no words for it.
01:04:20There's no words for it.
01:04:21There's no words for it.
01:04:22There's no words for it.
01:04:23There's no words for it.
01:04:24There's no words for it.
01:04:25There's no words for it.
01:04:26There's no words for it.
01:04:27There's no words for it.
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