Florida man hauls in 1,000-pound gator on Lake Okeechobee
COOPER CITY, Fla. (FOX 13) - A South Florida man taking part in Florida's annual alligator hunt pulled in a huge gator while out on Lake Okeechobee.
Jim Howard, who's also an airline pilot, was on the lake with his neighbors last week when he spotted the 12-foot gator.
RELATED: Alligator hunting season underway in Florida
The gator took the bait after about 30 minutes, Howard told FOX 13, which led to a fight that lasted about an hour and a half, even dragging the boat through the water, until they were able to bring it in.
The gator weighed about 1,000 pounds.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has issued more than 7,500 permits to help manage the alligator population.
After being placed on the endangered species list in 1967, the population of alligators has rebounded.
The season, which began Aug. 15, runs until November 1.