Crocodile Hunting Adventure in Mississippi

I’ve got a soft spot for crocodiles, but this one? It’s quite impressive.

So, two hunters, Blake Dorgerty and Jimmy Appleton, had their sights set on the upcoming alligator season in Mississippi. They were initially focused on a 12-foot alligator they thought they’d spotted around Lake Oxbo, close to the Mississippi River. But then… they saw something that made them question everything. Was it a dinosaur? Seriously?

“We were hoping to find that 12-foot gator this morning,” Appleton recounted. “When we found it, we waited until noon to take a closer look, but then we decided to back off for a bit.”

But then, they heard this sound—kind of like a groan or roar, definitely dinosaur-esque. That’s when they encountered a truly massive gator.

“We knew right away he was the king of the swamp,” Dorgerty remarked. “He was making sure everyone knew he was the boss.” They completely lost focus on their initial target once they laid eyes on this giant.

After some tracking, Appleton managed to secure the big guy with his first cast. “He pulled me right from the boat,” said Appleton, reflecting on the struggle. “I tried to maneuver him with my rod, but he wasn’t having it.”

They added a second hook to try to control the gator, but it retaliated with that infamous Death Roll. It turned into quite the battle.

“He was pulling my 17-foot boat like it was nothing!” Appleton exclaimed.

Eventually, with the help of his sons, Cruz and Cash, aged 11 and 9 respectively, they were able to bring the massive creature under control using a snare and a Bang Stick.

Once they got it to the processing facility in Yazoo City, they discovered the gator measured an astonishing 14 feet and a quarter of an inch, weighing a hefty 662 pounds. This was only two inches short of breaking Mississippi’s state record!

As it turns out, the skull of this beast is now a local legend. Quite the tale, right? It’s a story for the books, for sure.