Every August through early fall, when the air turns thick and the moonlight ripples across the bayou, Florida’s Forgotten Coast comes alive with a different kind of adventure—one that’ll test your nerve, your patience, and your grit. I’m talking about alligator season. And if you’ve never been gator hunting under a blanket of stars or tracked a 10-footer through the sawgrass with nothing but a harpoon and a headlamp—you haven’t lived.
At Williamson Outfitters, we’ve been guiding clients through this experience for years, and I can tell you with certainty—it’s unlike anything else in the outdoors. From securing your permit to dragging a 600-pound dinosaur onto the boat, I’m going to walk you through the full experience.
First Things First: The Permit
To legally hunt alligators in Florida, you’ve got to draw a Statewide Alligator Harvest Permit through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Applications open every May at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. You’ll have 12 chances to choose your preferred hunting zones in Phase I, and each permit allows you to harvest two alligators in a designated area.
Permits run $272 for residents and over $1,000 for non-residents. It might sound steep, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most people—and well worth the price when you feel that first hit on the line.
Pro tip: Don’t wait until the last minute to apply. The best zones go fast, and year after year, we see more people entering the draw. Tags are getting harder to come by. If you plan to hunt with us, apply early and send us your zone picks—we’ll guide you through the rest.
The Hunt Begins
Gator hunting is all about stealth, patience, and precision. We hunt at night, when gators are most active. Picture this: It’s pitch black. The only sound is your heart beating and the hum of a trolling motor as we ease along the Roseau cane edges of the river. Then you see them—eyes glowing red in the spotlight, tracking us just as we’re tracking them.
We use a variety of methods depending on the situation—harpoons, heavy-duty rods and reels with snatch hooks, air-bows, and bait. Once you hook into one, the real fun begins. A gator can spin, thrash, and take a boat for a ride. It’s a battle of wills. You’ve got to play it smart, keep pressure on him, and wait for the perfect moment to put him down with a bangstick; we use calibers ranging from .223 rifle rounds to .410 shotgun shells.
In 2024, one night out near the Ochlockonee River, a two-man team from Tallahassee guided by Capt. Trent hooked into an absolute monster. Took them nearly 2 hours to land it. When they finally hauled it over the side, it measured 13 feet, 1 inch—the biggest gator we’ve ever taken at Williamson Outfitters. It was a moment none of us will forget.
Another night, Capt Brice snatch-hooked a bull gator and then chased him through the Apalachicola River for over two miles before getting a clean shot with the air-bow. That beast never showed more than his snout, but he kept pulling line like a freight train. When he finally surfaced, the hunter nailed the air-bow shot from 10 feet out. Pure adrenaline.
After the Harvest: Processing Your Gator
After you tag your gator with your CITES tag, you’re required to report your harvest to FWC by mid-November. Then comes the meat and hide.
We offer full support for processing. You can keep the meat, the hide, the skull—or all three. Some folks turn the leather into custom boots or belts. Others mount the head. The tail meat is the real prize—it’s tender, white, and tastes a lot like chicken, cooked properly in the fryer it rivals Chick-fil-A's golden nuggets.
What to Expect with Williamson Outfitters
Most of the gators our clients take measure between 6 and 8 feet—perfect size for meat and trophies. But if you’re looking for that once-in-a-lifetime lizard, they’re out there. That 13-footer from 2024 didn’t come easy, but man, was it worth it.
We provide all the gear, boats, and guidance—you just show up ready for an adventure. Whether it’s your first gator hunt or your tenth, we tailor each trip to your goals, your group, and your comfort level. We’ve guided families, solo hunters, and die-hards alike.
The Wild Side of Florida
Hunting alligators on the Forgotten Coast isn’t just about filling a tag. It’s about stepping into a world that hasn’t changed much in a hundred years. Cypress trees, dark waters, and prehistoric predators—it’s raw, real, and unforgettable.
So if you’re ready to feel your pulse quicken, ready to take part in one of Florida’s most exciting and challenging traditions, give me a call. We’re booking now—and with tag demand rising every year, the time to plan is now.
Call or text me, Capt. Chris Williamson, at 850-251-8650, or book online.
See you in the marsh.
– Capt. Chris 🐊