Over the years I have had some unusual request for rods....but this one takes the cake. A rod for catching alligators. It will be a casting rod that is at least 8'-0 long. Any suggestions on blank and componets would be greatly appreciated.

Heavy duty stuff.

I wonder who is going to net the gator?

Giving a 300 lb alligator an eight foot lever to use against you does not seem like a good idea.

The answer is obvious. Gator Glass [www.mudhole.com]

An 8' stick against a gator is a bad choice IMHO as that gives the critter a heck of a lever against the angler, most of the cow tuna sticks are short like around 6 feet or shorter and these guys are hammering 200 plus pound fish.

But if they insist... Calstar BT775-7.5 30-100 rock cod blank would do the job [] Or you could use one of these... [] a vertical jigging blank, they appear to have some serious lifting power in the 60# range.

I would imagine this is to capture the alligator prior to shooting it. Maybe not the best method but I suppose it would meet the legal requirements of capture prior to dispatching the animal.

From SCDNR Alligator hunting Regs....
"CAPTURE METHODS
It is unlawful to kill or attempt to kill an unrestrained alligator during the Public Alligator Hunting Season. Alligators must first be captured alive prior to shooting or otherwise dispatching the animal. In order to capture an alligator, the hunter must first secure a restraining line to the animal. Several methods may be used to attach a restraining line to an alligator, including handheld snares, harpoons, gigs, arrows or snatch hooks. It is up to the individual hunter to decide which method will work best for their situation and skill level."

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I do have some experience snagging gators with very large treble hooks and fishing tackle... on purpose. 8' length is not such a bad idea, the treble hook rarely penetrates the skin very deep so that length helps keep tension on the hook as he moves/thrashes around. Hope that makes sense. Any type of fiberglass blank with a moderate to mod/fast action in the 30-60# range should work nicely, maybe heavier depending on the size gator you're after. Most gator hunters do not horse the gator in with the rod, it's used to keep track of where it is so you can get close enough to harpoon,snare,kill or otherwise get control of it. Hope this helps

Steve

Correct Alex......using 12/0 treble hook.
I think Florida allows fishing for alligators with artificial lures?

You got it right Alex, I guess we were typing at the same time.

Instead of using a 30-60 # class rod

I would suggest a 3006 Remington with 4- equally spaced 3mm micro guides and using the front site for the tip. That way you can snap set the hook and line right back up on him to shoot before he decides you’re a meal.
I think that s how Lance and Bill got Clyde

Sorry Steve.. in SC you have to use a handgun or bang stick.

But you can still use micros for the sights on the pistol! Maybe some with tritium ring inserts for a nice evening glow?

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Some of the professional animal catchers on TV shows that get rid of gators use fishing rods with baited trebles to catch them and get them either to shore or in the shallows. An 8 ft would be a good idea because it allows more give when a big one wants to leave in a hurry. I would think the rod would be a moderate action with a lot of backbone and a reel with a great lever drag ..........

Another important note... I would VERY strongly recommend against using cork for grips. Gator blood does not come off!! Dark or possibly red EVA would be ideal. As for the rest of the components, consider going a little extra heavy as this rod will no doubt get banged around if an angry gator gets in the boat.

Keep that very large treble hook in mind when choosing a hook keeper too.

The long battles this rod will see would be well suited by a spiral setup if you're into that.

Hope some of that helps

Steve