Many people have a low-key fear of alligators. This is often due to this reptile’s fearsome appearance and size.
Florida is no stranger to alligators. Over a million gators are making their home in the Sunshine State. What people still find surprising is how big some alligators are. There was one report of a 13-foot alligator making its home in one of the waterways in Pinellas County.
The report begs the question of whether Florida is home to the largest alligator in the world. There’s no question the state is in the running for that. Let’s take a quick look at the world’s bigger gators and where they’re found.
Stokes Alligator
The Stokes alligator remains the undisputed king when it comes to sheer size. It’s named after Mandy Stokes. The mother of two is an avid hunter. She and her party found the reptile near their camp. It’s 15 feet and nine inches long. It weighed more than a thousand pounds.
It took the Stokes’ hunting party three hours to capture the animal. It was reportedly so heavy it broke the winch used for weighing it. Displaying the Stokes alligator was also a challenge. One taxidermist had to create a special mount for it. You can find the Stokes alligator on display at Millers Ferry Powerhouse in Alabama.
The Florida Farm Gator
The Florida Farm gator was reportedly caught in a pond near a cattle farm. The alligator terrorized the Okeechobee farm for days. Many cattle went missing and were later found eaten. It was later caught and killed by hunters Lee Lightsey and Blake Godwin.
The alligator was later measured and found to be 15 feet long. It also clocked in at 800 pounds. It was almost as big as the Stokes gator. Here are some alligator fun facts. Lightsey later said the alligator was so large they needed a tractor to pull it out of the pond. The alligator’s meat was later donated to charity. The body was also preserved and mounted.
Mississippi Gator
One alligator came close to unseating the Stokes gator from its throne. Four hunters caught one of the biggest alligators found in Mississippi in 2023. They are Tanner White, Don Woods, Will Thomas, and Joey Clark. The group worked together to bag this amazing beast.
The four saw the alligator during the first few days of the 2023 hunting season. It measured 14 feet long and weighed 802 pounds. The state’s Department of Wildlife affirmed the animal beat the old record by two inches. Experts say the gator was around 40 years old. The alligator was later processed and most of its meat went to local food shelters.
Big Tex
Texas also has its fair share of huge reptiles. The most famous one is Big Tex. It was first captured in Texas back in 2019. What’s notable about Big Tex was the hunters caught it alive. The alligator was famous for roaming around the Trinity River Wildlife Refuge. But it reportedly lost its fear of humans. That’s when the state decided to capture and move him.
Big Tex was then transferred to Gator Country Adventure Park. He later escaped his enclosure when Hurricane Imelda ravaged the state. He was later found near a pond when flood waters subsided. Staff from the adventure park were confident they would find their star attraction. After all, it’s hard to miss a 14-foot-long and 1,000-pound alligator.
The Ammerman Gator
The next entry in our list is the Ammerman Alligator. It’s named after hunter Robert “Tres” Ammerman. He bagged this animal on the last day of the 2017 hunting season. He said he knew the animal was huge when he saw the alligator’s head.
Ammerman had a challenging time with his catch. The animal towed the boat for 45 minutes before Ammerman was able to kill it. But the alligator was so large he couldn’t get it into the boat. He had to tow it to shore. It was later measured at 14 feet and 3.5 inches. It also weighed 654 pounds.
A Final Word
Swamp Fever Airboat Adventures is one of Florida’s hidden attractions. We got a nomination as one of the best airboat companies in the Sunshine State. Book a one-hour tour with us and build amazing memories. Join us in exploring the majesty of Lake Panasoffkee. We’ll show you alligators, turtles, and rare birds up close. We also guarantee a safe and educational ride. So why not give us a call at 352-643-0708 and book a tour? You can also make an appointment here.
