The fishing trip of a man from Florida was abruptly ended after he almost became the catch of the day.
The 22-year-old was fishing for tarpon in the Everglades when an alligator suddenly emerged from the water and chased him.
Florida-resident Tommy Lee recorded his fishing adventure and his attempt to catch some fish on a quiet bank in the Everglades. His adventure turned out to more heart-pounding than he had initially hoped for.
In the video, which he posted on YouTube, Lee noticed the approaching alligator while he was spinning his reel. "Oh, Jesus Christ," he is shown saying as the alligator approached him.
Lee attempted to run away from the alligator but fell while fleeing. Fortunately for Lee, the alligator stopped chasing him, which then led to a tense standoff. The alligator then turned back and returned to the water.
After the intense experience, Lee decided to cut his fishing trip short and called it a day. According to Lee, the alligator may have been more than 11 feet long.
Experts commenting on the video said it is actually the mating season for alligators in Florida, which means that they are more active and encounters with them are more frequent.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Department has urged residents and visitors to be more vigilant during the mating season. Officials have repeatedly warned people to look after their children and pets, which are often mistaken by alligators as food. Alligators are common in all 67 countries within the state.
"First of all, you need to watch every body of water, your bathtub, your swimming pool, your backyard pond, your mud puddles that your kids play in, anywhere an alligator can be found right now, because alligators are on the run, especially the smaller ones that are easier to hide," wildlife experts at Florida's Gatorland said.
Experts said smaller alligators can often wander to residential areas as they attempt to escape the big bull alligators that are attempting to mate.
