See the Longest Alligator Ever Caught in Mississippi

As wildlife enthusiasts, few things are more exciting than being able to say that you caught the biggest fish, climbed the tallest mountain, or found an unknown animal in the depths of the sea. 

There is just something about having your picture taken and that animal or mountaintop blasted all over the news for people to see what it is that you accomplished that no one else has. Well, for a couple of alligator hunters in Mississippi, they were able to take the state record for the longest alligator ever caught there.

Longest Alligator Caught in Mississippi

Four friends went out hunting to capture one of the longest alligators that they had ever seen. Tanner White, Don Woods, Will Thomas, and Joey Clark from the Red Antler Processing, which is a game processing and hunting store, headed out on Saturday, August 26th. 

Not only did they come home bringing the “bacon,” but this bacon won a prize by all standards in Mississipi. This alligator was a whopping 14 feet and 3 inches long. Not only this but it was reported by CNN that the“802.5-pound behemoth also had a belly girth of 66 inches and tail girth of 46.5 inches.”

This same day, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks reported on Social Media that these four men broke a new state record for the longest alligator. 

Capturing Alligators

While capturing an alligator might seem like the coolest thing in the world, it is important to remember that only those with skills, knowledge, and permits should attempt something this dangerous. After all, would you climb Mt. Everest if you’d never climbed a mountain before?

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks offers a warning. “It is illegal and very dangerous for the public to capture and remove or kill an alligator without a special permit from the MDWFP. As human developments (residential and commercial) continue to encroach into more rural areas of the state, increased interaction and conflicts with wildlife are subject to occur.”

What is the Largest Alligator Ever Caught?

Although many large alligators take the cusp, the one that wins the A-Z Animals award comes to us from Louisiana. This alligator was enormously 19 feet and 2 inches in length. It was not able to be weighed; however, based on its size and looks, it was estimated to weigh about 2,000 pounds, according to experts. This massive reptile was killed on Marsh Island back in 1890 by Edward “Ned” McIlhenny. 

This is an exception to the rule. While gators can reach lengths and weights such as this, it is not a common occurrence to see alligators this large.