Questions from Louisiana

[Whaler]

Hi, I'm looking forward to my first season of alligator hunting. I have read all of the LA regs and got my tags. This board has been very helpful, but I have a couple questions:

1. I will be using bait (tilapia or chicken, not sure yet). Treble or regular hooks? What size? Do I leave the point exposed or completely buried?
2. Do I need a cable leader or is a good rope adequate? If the rope is fine, what is the best way to tie on the hook?
3. How does the wood dowel method work?

Thanks in advance!
Andrew

[chicken chunker]

We are not allowed to use baited hooks in Florida, but in rigging bait I use a 3-4ft section of small diameter rope or very heavy piece of fishing line with a wooden peg tied to the end and threaded thru a tilapia or chicken. Then I hang it outside in the sun to let it ripen and get smelly for at least a day. We have never used a cable leader with the bait. We sometimes use bubble wrap or a piece of styrofoam stuffed in the gut cavity to provide flotation or hang the bait from branch hanging over the water. The bait needs to float or be suspended above the water so the gators can pickup the scent. A long rope is tied to the line threaded thru the bait, and place it in a good location and back off a good distance depending on how skittish the gators are.

[biggiofan]

Whaler,

Hey bud. Louisiana (Lafayette) Alligator hunter here.

Email me at premierboxbreaks@hotmail.com

I have a few questions for you being a Louisiana man like me. I am wanting to get into Alligator hunting, and we may be able to help eachother.

Thanks Bud.

Bubba

[admin]

The following link has a video that shows the process of baiting for an alligator with the hook method.
They were using a regular hook and they just hooked chicken quarters and suspended them above the water.