All language subtitles for River.Monsters.S04E01.American.Killers.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

I'M JEREMY WADE.

AND DURING MY ANGLING CAREER,

I'VE CAUGHT DOZENS
OF FRESHWATER MONSTERS

FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE.

NORMALLY, I'M TRACKING THEM
DOWN IN REMOTE JUNGLES.

HEY!

BUT INCREASINGLY,
I'VE BEEN GETTING REPORTS

OF KILLER FISH
FROM AN AREA I DIDN'T EXPECT --

THE UNITED STATES.

FROM GIANTS EVERY BIT AS BIG AS
THEIR PREHISTORIC ANCESTORS...

Riley: I COULD SEE THE
INDIVIDUAL SCALES ON THIS THING.

THAT'S HOW BIG IT WAS.

...TO KILLERS
SILENTLY PROWLING,

READY TO ATTACK.

NOW I MEET THE PEOPLE
WHO'VE ENCOUNTERED THESE FISH.

I THINK THAT HE WOULD HAVE
DROWNED ME.

I WOULD HAVE ATE SUPPER
WITH JESUS THAT NIGHT.

THE WATER AROUND ME
JUST STARTED FILLING WITH BLOOD.

THEN I RISK MY LIFE
GOING AFTER THEM.

WE COULD BE PULLED INTO THE
WATER AND NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN.

BOOM! BIT ME ONCE.

OH!

WHAT A STUPID THING TO BE DOING.

COULD ONE OF THE MOST DEVELOPED
COUNTRIES ON EARTH...

NOW, THAT IS A BEAST.

...STILL HAVE DEADLY MONSTERS
HIDDEN IN ITS RIVERS AND LAKES?

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH,
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

HAVING BEEN ON THE TRAIL
OF MONSTERS ALL OVER THE WORLD,

I'VE DISCOVERED THAT YOU
HAVE TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED,

WHETHER IT'S A HUGE BEAST
IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY

OR IN A DRYING-OUT PUDDLE
IN SOUTH AMERICA

OR EVEN AT THE BOTTOM
OF A RAGING WATERFALL

IN AFRICA.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS,

I'VE BEEN HEARING OF STORIES
AND SIGHTINGS

FROM ALL OVER THE STATES,

SUGGESTING THAT THERE
ARE FRESHWATER MONSTERS

RIGHT IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS.

SO I'M GOING ON A MONSTER HUNT

TO FIND OUT
IF THERE REALLY ARE KILLERS

LURKING IN AMERICA'S
FRESHWATERS.

MY JOURNEY BEGINS IN FLORIDA
TO INVESTIGATE A DEADLY FISH

THAT'S BEEN SPOTTED
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND THE REPORTS
THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING

SUGGEST THAT THIS
POTENTIALLY LETHAL ANIMAL

IS PROWLING UNSUSPECTED

RIGHT UNDER THE NOSES
OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

THIS FISH WAS THE INSPIRATION

FOR THE MOST HORRIFYING ATTACK
STORY IN MOVIE HISTORY --

"JAWS."

THE FILM IS ABOUT A GREAT WHITE

PROWLING OFF THE COAST
OF NEW ENGLAND,

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY BASED ON
A SERIES OF BULL-SHARK ATTACKS

IN NEW JERSEY IN 1916.

TWO OF THE ATTACKS
DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE OCEAN.

THEY TOOK PLACE IN A RIVER
16 MILES INLAND.

BULL SHARKS ARE TOP PREDATORS
IN WARM, COASTAL SEAS

AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT THEY ALSO TRESPASS
INTO FRESHWATER.

THEY ARE THE ONLY COMMON SHARK
WITH THIS ABILITY.

I'M HEARING REPORTS

THAT BULL SHARKS ARE STALKING
RIVERS IN FLORIDA.

I WANT TO FIND OUT
IF THESE DEADLY ANIMALS

REALLY ARE PROWLING
FLORIDA'S INLAND WATERS,

AND IF SO, IS THIS A MODERN-DAY
"JAWS" JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN?

ALTHOUGH GREAT WHITES
HAVE THE BAD REPUTATION,

BULL SHARKS ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR MORE ATTACKS ON HUMANS

THAN ANY OTHER SHARK.

IN RECENT YEARS, THERE HAVE
BEEN SEVERAL HORRIFIC ATTACKS

OFF FLORIDA'S COASTS ALONE.

TWO IN PARTICULAR
MIGHT GIVE ME SOME INSIGHTS

INTO BULL-SHARK BEHAVIOR.

ONE HAPPENED OFF PENSACOLA
IN 2001.

8-YEAR-OLD JESSIE ARBOGAST

WAS SPENDING THE DAY
AT THE BEACH WITH HIS FAMILY.

[ LAUGHTER ]

AS HE PADDLED JUST FEET
FROM THE SHORE,

A 6 1/2-FOOT BULL SHARK
ATTACKED HIM...

[ SCREAMS ]

...FIRST BITING HIS THIGH
AND THEN HIS RIGHT ARM.

JESSIE'S UNCLE
DRAGGED THE SHARK

BY ITS TAIL UP ONTO THE BEACH,

BUT BY THEN THE SHARK
HAD TAKEN THE BOY'S ARM.

IT TAKES YOUR ARM OFF.

IT CAN TAKE A LEG OFF
JUST IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

THAT'S MAJOR TISSUE DAMAGE.

IT'S GONNA SEVER SOME
MAJOR ARTERIES AND VESSELS,

SO, YOU KNOW,
YOU BLEED OUT QUICK.

WITH NO BLOOD
TO PUSH OXYGEN AROUND,

YOU KNOW, THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL
IS REAL SLIM.

WITHIN MINUTES OF THE ATTACK,

AN AIR AMBULANCE WAS DISPATCHED
WITH CHRIS ON BOARD.

INITIAL CONTACT ONCE OUT OF
THE AIRCRAFT WAS JUST TO ASK,

YOU KNOW, WAS HE BREATHING,
OR DID HE HAVE A PULSE?

AND, OF COURSE, THEY SAID NO.

WHILE FLYING TO THE
TRAUMA CENTER, CHRIS FOUND OUT

THAT THE VICTIM'S ARM
WAS STILL IN THE SHARK'S MOUTH.

MY COMMENT TO THAT WAS,

"OKAY, IF HE LIVES,
HE LIVES WITHOUT AN ARM."

WHILE THE HELICOPTER
WAS EN ROUTE TO THE HOSPITAL,

A PARK RANGER SHOT THE SHARK
FOUR TIMES

AND RETRIEVED JESSIE'S ARM
FROM ITS JAWS.

IT WAS PACKED IN ICE
AND RUSHED TO THE O.R.

SO SURGEONS COULD ATTEMPT TO
SEW IT BACK ONTO JESSIE'S BODY.

AGAINST ALL ODDS

AND DESPITE
THE MASSIVE BLOOD LOSS,

JESSIE SURVIVED,

WITH HIS RIGHT ARM
SUCCESSFULLY REATTACHED.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

THIS YEAR,
HE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS ATTACK TELLS ME

THAT BULL SHARKS CAN STRIKE
IN THE SHALLOWS.

UNLIKE MANY BIG FISH, THEY ARE
NOT RESTRICTED TO DEEP WATER.

WITH SO MANY HOUSES
ON THE CANALS AROUND HERE,

THEY CAN LITERALLY SWIM
RIGHT INTO PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS.

THERE'S A SECOND ATTACK VICTIM

WHO'S GOT MORE INFORMATION
TO SHARE.

DAWN SCHAUMAN WAS NEARLY KILLED
BY A 10-FOOT BULL SHARK

OFF THE FLORIDA COAST IN 1993.

I'M HOPING
THAT HER FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT

WILL GIVE ME INSIGHT
INTO THE IDEAL CONDITIONS

IN WHICH TO FIND ONE.

I WAS PROBABLY LIKE 25
TO 50 YARDS OUT PAST THE WAVES,

MAYBE IN 15 FEET OF WATER.

AND I JUST FELT SOMETHING
SLAM INTO ME.

I FELT THIS BURNING IN MY HAND
AND A BURNING IN MY LEG.

I PULLED MY HAND
OUT OF THE WATER,

AND IT WAS JUST DRIPPING
IN BLOOD.

THE WHOLE WATER AROUND ME
JUST STARTED FILLING WITH BLOOD.

DAWN WASN'T JUST WORRIED
ABOUT HER OWN LIFE.

SHE WAS 6 1/2 MONTHS PREGNANT
AT THE TIME.

AND I DID START PANICKING,

AND I THINK I REMEMBER
JUST CALLING OUT FOR MY MOM

AND JUST BEING REALLY WORRIED,
LIKE, "I NEED HELP,"

AND THEN NO ONE WAS THERE
BUT ME, SO I JUST RELIED ON ME,

AND THAT'S THE POINT WHERE
I GATHERED MYSELF TOGETHER.

THE ONLY THING SHE COULD DO
WAS TRY TO SWIM TO THE SHORE.

THE WHOLE TIME, SWIMMING BACK,
THOUGHT FOR SURE --

ANY MOMENT, I WAS WAITING
FOR THAT SLAM AGAIN.

THAT WAS THE LONGEST SWIM
OF MY LIFE.

SHE FINALLY MADE IT TO SAFETY.

DAWN WAS RUSHED
TO THE HOSPITAL,

WHERE HER LIFE-THREATENING
WOUNDS WERE TREATED.

HER LEG ALONE
NEEDED 85 STITCHES.

2 1/2 MONTHS LATER,
SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A BOY.

HE'S NOW 18.

AND HE WAS BORN HEALTHY,

AND WE NAMED HIM
MACINTYRE SHARK SCHAUMAN.

SINCE HER NEAR-DEATH
EXPERIENCE,

DAWN HAS GAINED
AN EXPERT UNDERSTANDING

AS TO WHAT COULD HAVE LED

TO THE BULL SHARK
ATTACKING HER.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR ODDS GO UP

BY DOING SOMETHING
LIKE WHAT I DID --

SWIMMING DURING CLOUDY,
MURKY WATER, BAIT-FISH SEASON.

IF YOU SWIM IN THE EARLY MORNING
OR LATE IN THE AFTERNOON,

EVENING, THAT'S WHEN THE
BAIT FISH ARE COMING THROUGH.

IF YOU SEE A LOT OF
FISH JUMPING OUT OF THE WATER,

YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN THERE,

BECAUSE SOMETHING BIGGER
IS CHASING THEM.

SO YOU CAN DEFINITELY
LOWER YOUR ODDS

BY AVOIDING ALL THAT.

THE DETAILS OF THESE
TWO ATTACKS ON JESSIE AND DAWN

HAVE GIVEN ME
USEFUL INFORMATION.

I NOW FEEL BETTER PREPARED

TO START TRYING TO CATCH
A BULL SHARK

AND PROVE THEY'RE PROWLING
FLORIDA'S FRESHWATERS.

MY INVESTIGATION
IS GOING TO FOCUS

AROUND THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

THIS IS WHERE I'VE BEEN GETTING
THE MOST REPORTS

OF BULL SHARKS ROAMING INLAND.

IN 25 YEARS OF FISHING
AROUND THE WORLD,

I'VE LEARNED THAT
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

IS KEY TO CATCHING
ELUSIVE FISH.

SO WHETHER I'M IN
PAPUA NEW GUINEA,

THE CONGO, OR IN FLORIDA,

TALKING WITH THE LOCALS
IS A MUST.

AFTER SOME ASKING AROUND,

I'VE BEEN PUT IN CONTACT
WITH MIKE PALMER,

WHO'S BEEN CATCHING BULL SHARKS
FOR OVER THREE DECADES.

HE USED TO CATCH AND KILL,
BUT FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS,

IT'S BEEN STRICTLY
CATCH AND RELEASE.

MIKE IS GOING TO HELP ME
HUNT A BULL SHARK,

BUT HE ONLY FISHES
FROM THE SHORE,

WITHOUT THE SECURITY OF A BOAT.

ALSO, UNLIKE MOST
OF MY NORMAL FISHING,

THE ROD WILL BE ATTACHED TO ME
WITH A HARNESS.

IF I FIND MYSELF BEING DRAGGED
TOWARDS THE WATER,

IT WON'T BE POSSIBLE TO LET GO.

FOR FISHING
ON THE RIVERBANK

AND HOOKING
A 500-POUND BULL SHARK,

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT.

SOUNDS VERY, VERY PHYSICAL,
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

IS THAT A CORRECT SUMMARY,
PERHAPS?

WE'VE ACTUALLY HOOKED FISH
AND GOT PULLED DOWN TO OUR KNEES

AND DRUG DOWN
TO THE WATER'S EDGE.

AND BY SOME LUCK,
THE LINE BROKE.

WHAT COULD BE THE WORST
POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HAPPEN

WITH THIS KIND OF FISHING?
WE COULD DIE.

WE COULD BE PULLED INTO THE
WATER AND NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN.

I'VE FISHED
FOR BULL SHARKS BEFORE

IN AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA,

BUT MOSTLY, THIS WAS FROM
THE SAFETY OF A BOAT,

WHICH COULD FOLLOW THE SHARK.

SO THE RISK OF BEING PULLED IN
WASN'T SUCH AN ISSUE.

HAVING MY FEET ON THE SHORELINE
CALLS FOR A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

BECAUSE I COULD HOOK SOMETHING
OVER THREE TIMES MY WEIGHT,

I'M USING SOME SERIOUS TACKLE
FROM ENORMOUS, FORGED HOOKS

TO THE STRONGEST LINE
I'VE EVER USED.

AND WE USE
THE BEST HARNESSES

TO TAKE THE LOAD OFF
OUR BACK.

HOW'S IT FIT, JEREMY?

IT FEELS GOOD.

WHEN WE HOOK UP
ON THESE BIG SHARKS HERE,

WE HAVE A SPOTTER ON
THE BACK OF OUR HARNESS.
WE USE THE BELTS.

THEY HAVE A LITTLE HANDLE
ON THE BACK,

SO WHEN WE HOOK UP,
THAT FIRST SURGE,

I MEAN, YOU COULD
EASILY GO IN THE WATER.

[ REEL CLICKS ]

DURING THE DAYTIME,
PEOPLE USE

THOSE LITTLE STRETCHES
OF BEACHES IN THE RIVER.

AND PEOPLE ON RAFTS, PLAYING,
THIS AND THAT,

AND WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN,

THE WHOLE LIFE
ECOSYSTEM CHANGES.

THAT'S WHEN THE SHARKS
MOVE INTO THE SHALLOWS.

THEY FEED ON STINGRAY,
THEY FEED ON MULLETS,

AND IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT
WORLD AT NIGHT.

I WANT TO GET MY BAIT OUT

A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YARDS
INTO THE DEEP CHANNEL.

I CAN'T CAST THAT FAR,

SO THE ONLY OPTION
IS TO PADDLE OUT

TO WHERE THE SHARKS COULD BE
AND DROP IT IN.

ONCE I GET BACK TO SHORE,

IT'S A WAITING GAME TO SEE
IF A BULL SHARK WILL BITE.

[ CLICKING ]

[ CLICKING RAPIDLY ]

Wade: [ GRUNTS ]
THAT IS A FISH ON.

I'M LEANING INTO THIS.

MY REEL IS NEARLY ON FULL DRAG,

BUT THE FISH IS STILL ABLE
TO SWIM OFF WITH EASE.

THIS HAS TO BE A MONSTER.

THANKFULLY, THE HEAVIEST LINE
I'VE EVER USED

IS JUST ABOUT HOLDING OUT.

I'VE GOT MIKE HANGING ON
THE BACK OF THE HARNESS HERE,

BECAUSE...I'VE GOT
VERY TIGHT DRAG,

VERY STRONG LINE.

AND IF THE FISH TAKES OFF,

THE WEAK LINK IS PROBABLY
ME ENDING UP IN THE WATER.

AFTER A 20-MINUTE FIGHT,

I HAVE THE FISH
CLOSE TO THE SHORE.

WHEN IT FINALLY BREAKS
THE SURFACE,

I SEE SOMETHING
I DIDN'T EXPECT.

LOOK AT THAT!

I'M TRYING TO CATCH
A BULL SHARK

TO SEE IF THESE LETHAL FISH

REALLY ARE PROWLING
FLORIDA'S INLAND WATERWAYS,

READY TO ATTACK.

I HAVE SOMETHING WEIGHING
IN THE HUNDREDS OF POUNDS

ON THE END OF MY LINE.

THERE IT IS. THERE IT IS.
THERE IT IS. THERE IT IS.

THERE IT IS.

AS I WORK IT
CLOSE TO THE SHORE,

IT'S CLEAR I'VE HOOKED A GIANT,
BUT IT ISN'T A SHARK.

FISH IS BEACHED NOW.

Palmer: LET'S GO IN THERE
AND GRAB IT.

IT'S A GOLIATH GROUPER.

THAT IS JUST A MASSIVE --
A MASSIVE GROUPER.

AFTER A 20-MINUTE STRUGGLE,
IT SHOULD BE WORN OUT,

BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF
FIGHT LEFT IN THIS BEAST.

AS IT THRASHES AROUND,

I HAVE TO WATCH OUT
FOR THE GIANT-SIZED HOOK

AND BE CAREFUL
NOT TO GET IMPALED

BY THE SPIKES ON ITS BACK.

LET'S GET THIS OUT.
HOOK'S OUT.

I'M AFTER SOMETHING
WITH A MOUTH FULL OF BIG TEETH,

BUT THAT IS A BEAST.

THAT IS A BEAST.

THE LENGTH IS...

83 INCHES.

69 AND 83.

ABOUT 69 INCHES.

THAT'S JUST SHORT
OF 7 FEET LONG

AND MORE THAN
5 1/2 FEET AROUND.

AT THIS KIND OF SIZE,

IT'S GOING TO WEIGH
OVER 350 POUNDS.

[ GRUNTS ]

THEY CAN GROW EVEN BIGGER --

TO OVER 600 POUNDS
AND 8 FEET LONG.

I COULD FEEL IT WAS
A HEAVY FISH,

AND IT WAS ALSO TAKING LINE
AGAINST A VERY HEAVY DRAG,

BUT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE
WHEN IT CAME IN CLOSE

WAS A BIG DORSAL
OF A BULL SHARK.

AND THEN THESE SPIKES
BREAK THE SURFACE.

IT'S A PREDATOR.

WHEN THAT MOUTH OPENS,
ANYTHING THAT'S SWIMMING AROUND

EVEN IN THE VICINITY
JUST GETS SUCKED IN.

THERE ARE STORIES
OF GIANT GROUPER

GRABBING DIVERS BY THE ARM
AND EVEN BY THE HEAD.

WITH A MOUTH THIS ENORMOUS,

I CAN WELL BELIEVE
THAT THIS COULD BE TRUE.

ALTHOUGH THESE ARE VERY TOUGH,
RESILIENT CREATURES,

IT'S PROBABLY TIME
TO PUT THIS BACK.

I WANT TO GET IT INTO
DEEPER WATER TO RELEASE IT,

BUT THIS GIANT
ISN'T COOPERATING.

LOOK OUT.

I'M KNEE-DEEP IN WATER.

THIS FISH'S BELLY
IS STILL SCRAPING THE BOTTOM.

IF IT'S FEELING ANYTHING LIKE
AS TIRED AS I DO,

IT OUGHT TO SINK
INTO A CORNER SOMEWHERE

AND JUST RECOVER
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

IT'S NOW 5:00 A.M.,

AND WHILE I HAVE CAUGHT
A MONSTER,

IT ISN'T THE BULL SHARK
I'M LOOKING FOR.

I'M GOING TO USE
MY DAYLIGHT HOURS

TO FIND OUT WHAT I CAN DO

TO INCREASE MY CHANCES
OF HOOKING A BULL SHARK

IN FLORIDA'S FRESHWATER.

I'M MEETING UP
WITH GRANT GILMORE,

AN EXPERT
IN BULL-SHARK BEHAVIOR.

Gilmore: THE FEMALES ARE IN
EVERY SPRING,

GIVING BIRTH
IN THE LAGOON

OR IN THE DOWNSTREAM
FRESHWATER AREAS.

SO THEY'RE 500, 600 POUNDS,
8 AND 12 FEET.

THEN THEY LEAVE.

THE YOUNG STAY FOR
THE FIRST FIVE OR SIX YEARS

TILL THEY'RE 5
OR 6 FEET IN LENGTH.

AND THEY'RE A LARGE PREDATOR
BY FRESHWATER STANDARDS.

SO, AT ANY TIME, BULL SHARKS
COULD BE STALKING THE WATER

JUST FEET FROM
THESE SUBURBAN BACKYARDS.

FLORIDA IS CRISSCROSSED
WITH CANALS,

WHICH GIVE BULL SHARKS ACCESS

TO JUST ABOUT ANY WATER
IN THE STATE.

Wade: HOW MANY OF THEM
MIGHT BE SWIMMING AROUND?

ARE WE TALKING DOZENS, HUNDREDS,
THOUSANDS, OR WHAT?

OH,
IT'S CERTAINLY THOUSANDS.

I THINK
THEY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE

WE DO HAVE
THESE VERY LARGE PREDATORS

THAT ARE RIGHT OFF
YOUR FRONT DOOR

IF YOU LIVE
ON THE WATER IN FLORIDA.

THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON
IS OVER 150 MILES LONG

AND HAS NUMEROUS RIVERS
FEEDING INTO IT.

IT'S ALSO CONNECTED TO
THE OCEAN BY THREE INLETS,

ONE OF WHICH IS AT FORT PIERCE.

Wade:
RIGHT UP AHEAD THERE

IS THE MAIN WAY IN
AND THE MAIN WAY OUT

BETWEEN THE OPEN OCEAN

AND THESE THOUSANDS OF MILES
OF FRESHWATER CANALS.

SO THIS IS WHERE,
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,

THE 10- OR 12-FOOT-LONG
PREGNANT FEMALES ARE COMING IN

TO DROP THEIR PUPS INLAND.

THIS IS ALSO THE SAME PLACE
WHERE THOSE JUVENILES,

THOSE 6-, 7-FOOT-LONG SHARKS,

HAVING SPENT FIVE
OR SIX YEARS INLAND,

ARE SWIMMING OUT.

SO THIS HERE -- YOU CAN SEE

IT'S ONLY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED
YARDS ACROSS --

IS LIKE A HIGHWAY FOR SHARKS.

POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OR EVEN
THOUSANDS OF SHARKS EVERY YEAR,

SWIMMING UP AND DOWN,
AND IT'S JUST --

YOU KNOW, JUST RIGHT PAST
ALL THESE PEOPLE.

MY PLAN IS TO MEET UP
WITH MIKE LATER ON

TO FISH THROUGH THE NIGHT
FROM LAND.

BUT AFTER HEARING ABOUT
THESE BULL-SHARK NUMBERS,

I CAN'T RESIST DROPPING A LINE
IN THE WATER WHILE I'M HERE.

BULL SHARKS GO FOR BOTH LIVE
AND DEAD BAIT,

SO I'M USING ONE OF EACH.

THERE'S A BALLOON ON THE LINE
ABOVE THE LIVE BAIT

TO KEEP IT CLEAR OF THE BOTTOM,

WHERE IT'S MORE VISIBLE
TO PREDATORS,

AND TO SHOW ME WHERE IT IS.

THERE'S ABOUT 6 FOOT
OF WATER HERE,

BUT WE'RE RIGHT
ON THE EDGE OF TWO CHANNELS.

THERE'S THE MAIN,
DREDGED SHIPPING CHANNEL THERE.

THEN THERE'S ANOTHER
SIDE CHANNEL HERE,

SO WE'RE IN A BIT OF A "V"
BETWEEN THE TWO,

SO THIS BAIT SWIMMING AROUND --

WHAT I'M THINKING IS,
FROM TIME TO TIME,

IT'S GOING TO STRAY
OVER THE DROP-OFF,

ABOVE THE DEEPER WATER.

THAT'S CLASSIC SORT OF
BULL-SHARK AMBUSH TERRITORY.

JUST GIVING THE CHUM A BIT
OF A WORK,

JUST GETTING SOME SMELLY,
OILY FRAGMENTS INTO THE WATER.

THIS WILL CREATE A SCENT TRAIL
HUNDREDS OF YARDS LONG

TO ATTRACT THE SHARKS
ONTO MY BAIT.

AFTER THREE HOURS,
I GET MY FIRST BITE.

SOMETHING ON THE END OF THE ROD.

IT'S 'ROUND THE OTHER PROP.

[ REEL CLICKING ]

HEY!

IT'S A TARPON,
A FISH FAMED FOR ITS FIGHT,

AND IT JUST SPAT MY HOOK OUT.

BUH, BUH, BUH, BUH!

THAT ONE WAS ABOUT 40 POUNDS,

BUT THEY CAN GROW
TO 8 FOOT LONG

AND WEIGH NEARLY 300 POUNDS.

A FISH THAT SIZE IS CAPABLE
OF CAUSING SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE.

JUST THINKING ABOUT
HOW THAT TARPON

THREW ITSELF
OUT OF THE WATER,

JUST THE STRENGTH AND THE ENERGY
THAT THEY HAVE.

THERE HAVE BEEN STORIES
OF PEOPLE IN BOATS BEING KILLED

AFTER BEING HIT
BY A LARGE TARPON

AS IT JUMPS OUT OF THE WATER.

AS NIGHT FALLS,
IT'S TIME TO MEET UP WITH MIKE

AND BRACE MYSELF
FOR ANOTHER SESSION

GOING AFTER BULL SHARKS
FROM LAND.

THERE ARE SHOALS OF BAIT FISH
SWIMMING THROUGH HERE --

JUST THE THING THAT WOULD
ATTRACT A LARGE PREDATOR --

AND SOMETHING
SEEMS TO BE CHASING THEM.

I HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED.

THE TAKE COULD COME
AT ANY MOMENT.

A LAPSE IN CONCENTRATION
COULD MEAN LOSING A CATCH.

[ REEL CLICKING ]

IT'S THE FISH.

THE ANSWER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

THE ANSWER...

I'M FISHING THE FRESHWATERS
OF THE U.S.

TO FIND OUT WHETHER
THERE REALLY ARE LETHAL FISH

LURKING BENEATH THE SURFACE.

I'M CURRENTLY IN FLORIDA,

AND I'M HOPING
THIS IS A BULL SHARK.

[ GRUNTS ]
THERE'S A WEIGHT THERE.

IT'S JUST SORT OF PULSATING.
IT'S NOT RUNNING.

BUT IT'S A SOLID OLD WEIGHT.

BUT I HAVE GOT ABOUT A GOOD
150 YARDS OF LINE OUT HERE.

THIS FEELS LIKE A GOOD FISH.

IT'S BEEN TAKING LINE
OFF THE DRAG.

WHOA. WHOA. HERE WE GO.

AFTER FIGHTING WITH A LARGE
FISH FOR SEVERAL MINUTES...

HOLD ON. HOLD ON.

THAT FEELS
LIKE IT MIGHT BE OFF.

...MY LINE SUDDENLY GOES SLACK.

THERE'S A CATFISH ON THE BAIT,

BUT WHAT I FELT WAS DEFINITELY
BIGGER THAN A CATFISH.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A SHARK.

I CAN TELL IT'S A SHARK
FROM THE BITE MARKS

AND HOW HALF THE BAIT
IS JUST GONE.

THERE WAS A GOOD FISH ON THERE
THAT WAS TAKING LINE,

BUT...IT GOT OFF THE HOOK.

I'M GUESSING A BULL SHARK
ABOUT 6 FEET LONG

GRABBED THIS BAIT.

NOT A CATCH, BUT IT'S A START.

AND THE HOPE OF ANOTHER ONE
TAKING MY BAIT

SPURS ME TO CARRY ON FISHING
WELL INTO THE EARLY HOURS.

BUT I GET NO FURTHER SUCCESS.

THE NEXT DAY,
I FISH FROM THE BOAT AGAIN,

GRABBING SOME REST
WHENEVER I CAN.

BUT I STILL CATCH NOTHING.

HAVING THE BEST LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
AND THE BEST GEAR

DOESN'T GUARANTEE SUCCESS,

WHICH IS PARTLY WHY
I FIND FISHING SO ADDICTIVE.

THE LOWS MAKE THE HIGHS
SO MUCH MORE EXHILARATING.

AS IS OFTEN THE CASE, TRACKING
DOWN THE MYTH IS ONE THING,

BUT TRACKING DOWN THE FLESH
AND BLOOD BEHIND THE MYTH

IS PROVING
A BIT MORE COMPLICATED.

NOT A SNIFF OF A FISH
AT ALL TODAY.

BEFORE GOING OUT NIGHT-FISHING
WITH MIKE AGAIN,

I PICK UP SOME SPECIAL BAIT

THAT HAS TO BE HANDLED
WITH CARE.

STINGRAYS ARE JUST PERFECT BAIT
FOR BULL SHARKS,

BUT EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE DEAD,

I'M TAKING THE SPINES
OFF THE END

BECAUSE I'VE SEEN
WHAT THESE THINGS CAN DO,

AND EVEN IF I WAS TO JUST GRAZE
MYSELF WITH ONE OF THOSE SPINES,

I COULD END UP WITH SORT OF A --

YOU KNOW, GOING NUMB DOWN MY ARM
OR WHATEVER,

SO BETTER TO PLAY IT SAFE.

I'M HOPING THIS NEW BAIT
WILL GIVE ME AN EDGE.

NIGHTFALL BRINGS WITH IT

ANOTHER CHANCE
TO CATCH A BULL SHARK.

[ REEL CLICKS ]

[ CLICKING RAPIDLY ]

YEP. THAT'S SOMETHING ON.

THIS IS WHERE HE STOPS HARD.

WE'RE ON.

THAT'S A FISH ON.

[ REEL CRANKS ]
OOH. OOH, OOH, YEP.

AND I CAN FEEL A KICKBACK.

YEAH. IT'S KICKING AWAY,
KICKING AWAY, KICKING AWAY.

THERE WE GO. IT'S TAKING --
OH, THAT'S --

IT'S WAKING UP NOW.
IT'S WAKING UP.

IF A BIG FISH PULLS,

THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO IS
I ACTUALLY END UP IN THE WATER.

FINALLY, THE FIN
I'VE BEEN WAITING TO SEE.

DOWN THERE.

AFTER FISHING IN FLORIDA
FOR DAYS...

...I'VE ALREADY CAUGHT
ONE GIANT.

Wade:
THAT IS A BEAST.

BUT NOW I'VE FINALLY HOOKED
MY FIRST CONVICTED KILLER.

YEP. THAT'S SOMETHING ON.

TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT IT,

I NEED TO PUT A ROPE
AROUND ITS TAIL

AND BRING IT UP ONTO THE BEACH
WITHOUT GETTING BITTEN.

THIS IS THE SAME SIZE

AS THE SHARK THAT ATTACKED
JESSIE ARBOGAST.

AND I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL,

AS IT COULD WHIP AROUND
TO BITE ME.

IT TAKES YOUR ARM OFF.

I CAN TAKE A LEG OFF
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

YOU KNOW, YOU BLEED OUT QUICK.

THEY GO BIGGER THAN THIS,

BUT THIS IS
A RESPECTABLE-SIZE FISH.

THIS JUVENILE BULL SHARK
IS ABOUT 6 FEET LONG --

ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZE
TO BE LEAVING

THE FRESHWATERS AROUND HERE
AND HEADING OUT INTO THE OCEAN.

THE HOOK HAS CUT
THE SHARK'S MOUTH,

BUT ONCE IT'S RELEASED,
THIS WILL HEAL VERY QUICKLY.

THIS SHARK'S GUMS

ARE CONCEALING ITS MOUTHFUL
OF RAZOR-SHARP TEETH,

WHICH ARE ONLY REVEALED
WHEN THEY BITE INTO SOMETHING.

YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY SEE
HOW EFFECTIVE THEY ARE,

AND YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY
UNDERSTAND

HOW SOMEBODY EVEN WITH
AN EXPLORATORY BITE, IN A WAY,

FROM AN ANIMAL LIKE THIS,
YOU KNOW, COULD JUST BLEED OUT,

LOSE A LOT OF BLOOD.

AND THAT COULD BE
A FATAL ENCOUNTER.

THIS FISH COULD HAVE SPENT
THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS

ACTUALLY IN THE INLAND WATERWAYS
IN THE CANALS,

ALONG WITH POSSIBLY
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS,

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY
QUITE SOBERING.

YOU KNOW, IF YOUR PATHS CROSSED
WITH A CREATURE LIKE THIS,

IT COULD END VERY BADLY,

BUT I THINK
THE MIRACULOUS THING IS,

IS THAT MOST OF THE TIME,
THE BULL SHARKS GO THEIR WAY,

WE GO OUR WAY, AND, ACTUALLY,
NOBODY'S ANY THE WISER.

THESE BULL SHARKS

WERE SUSPECTED
TO BE IN FLORIDA'S FRESHWATERS.

BUT NOW I'VE CAUGHT ONE,

IT'S CLEAR THEY ARE SWIMMING
AMONGST US IN RIVERS AND CANALS

ONLY FEET
FROM HUMAN HABITATION.

UNTIL NOW, ATTACKS HAVE ONLY
HAPPENED ALONG THE COAST.

AND I THINK THE REASON
THEY HAVE OCCURRED

IS THROUGH MISTAKEN IDENTITY,

NOT BECAUSE BULL SHARKS

ARE SPECIFICALLY
GOING AFTER HUMANS

BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE CONFUSING
HUMANS WITH THEIR USUAL PREY --

FISH AND DOLPHINS.

HORROR FILMS AND NEWS REPORTS
HAVE MADE PEOPLE AWARE

OF THE POTENTIAL
FOR SHARK ATTACK IN THE OCEAN,

BUT IT'S IN THE QUIET
INLAND RIVERS AND WATERWAYS

WHERE DEVASTATING ENCOUNTERS
COULD BE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR.

BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE
AREN'T AWARE

THAT THESE PREDATORS
STALK THESE WATERS.

AND AS MORE AND MORE HUMANS
AND SHARKS

SHARE THE SAME SPACE,

AN INLAND ATTACK
MAY JUST BE A MATTER OF TIME.

BULL SHARKS GROWING UP TO
12 FEET LONG

MAKE FOR A POTENTIALLY
PROLIFIC KILLER.

BUT 1,000 MILES AWAY
FROM FLORIDA,

ANOTHER MONSTER
IS REPORTEDLY STALKING

AMERICA'S FRESHWATERS --

A BEAST SAID TO GROW TO 14 FEET

PROWLING THE WATERWAYS
OF TEXAS.

THIS ARMOR-PLATED
PREHISTORIC BEAST

HAS A GIANT SKULL PACKED
WITH 500 NEEDLE-SHARP TEETH.

RECENT SIGHTINGS
OF THIS MONSTER

HAVE COME IN FROM
THE TRINITY RIVER IN TEXAS.

IT'S A FISH
I'VE INVESTIGATED BEFORE...

THE ALLIGATOR GAR.

THAT TIME, I DOUBTED WHETHER
THE GAR ALIVE TODAY

STILL REACHED THE MASSIVE SIZES
REPORTED IN THE PAST.

BUT NOW I HAVE REASON
TO QUESTION THAT OPINION.

WHEN I CAUGHT
ALLIGATOR GAR BEFORE,

ALONG THE UPPER TRINITY,

I LEARNED HOW DANGEROUS
THEY COULD BE.

AAH!

OH, MY GOD.
YOU GOT BIT, HUH?

THE LARGEST I HOOKED THEN
WAS 6 1/2 FEET LONG.

BUT NOW I'M HEARING ABOUT
A MONSTER GAR

LIVING 400 MILES DOWNSTREAM
IN THE LOWER TRINITY.

I'VE HOOKED UP
WITH EDDIE GARCIA...

MORNING, EDDIE.

...A FISHERMAN WHO KNOWS
THE AREA WELL.

GOOD TO GO.
RIGHTO.

EDDIE HAS FISHED HERE
NEARLY HIS WHOLE LIFE,

CATCHING HIS FIRST GAR
WHEN HE WAS 10.

HE'S EXPERIENCED THE SHARP END
OF THE GAR'S TEETH.

ALMOST LOST
THE POINTER FINGER THERE.

I DIDN'T HAVE
ANY GLOVES ON.

I REACHED DOWN
AND GRABBED THE LEADER,

AND WHEN I PULLED IT UP,

THERE WAS A 6-FOOTER
ON THE END OF IT.

AND WHEN HE COME UP,
HE COME ACROSS THE SIDE OF IT,

HUNG THE SIDE OF MY FINGER
AND CUT IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

Wade: THIS SCAR HERE?
OH, YEAH.

IT WENT ALL THE WAY
TO THE BONE.

ALLIGATOR GAR
ARE PARTICULARLY HARD TO CATCH

BECAUSE OF THEIR BONY MOUTHS,

MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT
TO SET THE HOOK.

ALSO, IF YOU DO GET A HOOK IN,
THEY PUT UP A STRONG FIGHT.

[ GRUNTS ]

CATCHING ONE IS GOING TO BE
A CHALLENGE.

ONLY GOT TWO RODS OUT --

ONE WITH A BIT OF CUT
BUFFALO CARP ON IT.

NICE THING ABOUT THIS --
IT'S FAIRLY FRESH.

SO IT'S GONNA BE GIVING OFF
SCENT, SMELL INTO THE WATER.

SO I GOT ABOUT 18 INCHES
OF WIRE,

A BIT OF LEAD TO HOLD IT
DOWN ON THE BOTTOM.

IT'S A RUNNING LEAD
SO THAT THE FISH CAN MOVE OFF

WITHOUT FEELING THE RESISTANCE.

AND I'VE GOT HERE
JUST A BIT OF 30-POUND LINE ON

WITH NOT VERY GOOD KNOTS.

NORMALLY I'LL TRY AND TIE
GOOD KNOTS.

THESE ARE NOT VERY GOOD KNOTS.

THE IDEA IS IF THAT GETS HUNG UP
ON ANYTHING, THAT'S GONNA BREAK.

THE MAIN LINE, WHICH IS
150-POUND BREAKING STRAIN,

WON'T BREAK.

SO, SIMPLE RIG, BUT I'M HOPING
IT'LL BE EFFECTIVE.

A STRONG WIND
IS BUFFETING THE BOAT,

CAUSING THE ANCHOR TO DRAG.

MAYBE THESE ONES UP HERE?
Garcia: OKAY.

GOOD.

WE DECIDE TO TIE UP
NEXT TO THE BANK,

WHERE THE AIR IS CALMER.

AROUND HERE, ALLIGATOR GAR
ARE CONSIDERED TRASH FISH.

THEY'RE BELIEVED TO DEPLETE
THE STOCKS OF OTHER FISH.

AND THEY'RE POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS,

SO SOME PEOPLE STILL KILL THEM.

BUT EDDIE SEES SOMETHING
IN THESE FISH

THAT MOST
OTHER FISHERMEN DON'T.

Garcia: YOU HEAR PEOPLE
CALLING IT A TRASH FISH,

AND NOBODY REALLY GRASPS
THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW,

IT'S A TOP PREDATOR IN THE RIVER
AS FAR AS THE FISH.

AND WE DO, HERE IN TEXAS,

HOLD SOME OF THE WORLD'S
LARGEST GAR.

IT'S NOT EVERY DAY
THAT YOU CAN GET OUT IN A BOAT

AND COME DOWN HERE
INTO THE RIVER

AND SEE A FISH THAT'S ALMOST
AS LONG AS YOUR BOAT,

THAT WEIGHS
MORE THAN YOU DO.

[ SPLASH ]

WHILE I'M FISHING, I'M ACTUALLY
LOOKING AT THE WATER

JUST TO SEE IF I CAN SEE
ANY FISH ROLLING.

BUT THERE WAS A --
NOT AN ALLIGATOR GAR

BUT AN ALLIGATOR PROBABLY ABOUT
10 YARDS BEHIND ME JUST NOW.

[ REEL CLICKS ]

SOMETHING HAS PICKED UP
MY BAIT.

THERE WAS JUST A PULL
ON THIS LINE.

I'VE GOT SOMETHING
TAKING LINE NOW.

LET'S PAUSE NOW.

THE EXACT MOMENT
TO SET THE HOOK WITH A GAR

IS HARD TO JUDGE.

YEAH.

TOO SOON,
AND IT'LL DROP THE BAIT

BECAUSE IT'S ONLY HOLDING IT
LIGHTLY IN ITS MOUTH.

TOO LATE,
AND IT'LL SWALLOW THE HOOK.

YEAH, YEAH.

THIS MAKES IT
LIKE NO OTHER FISH.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

I THINK -- NO.

I'VE TRIED SETTING THE HOOK
TOO SOON.

I BAIT AND RECAST IMMEDIATELY.

[ SPLASH ]

MAYBE THE SAME FISH
HAS COME BACK FOR MORE,

AS I GET ANOTHER BITE
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

YEAH, THIS ONE'S GOING.
THIS ONE'S GOING. OH.

I'M IN TEXAS,
INVESTIGATING REPORTS

THAT MONSTER KILLERS
ARE PROWLING AMERICA'S WATERS.

I'VE ALREADY CAUGHT
ONE POTENTIAL KILLER --

A BULL SHARK

THAT'S BEEN STALKING
FLORIDA'S FRESHWATER CANALS.

NOW I'M TRYING TO CATCH
AN ALLIGATOR GAR

THAT'S LARGE ENOUGH
TO BE LETHAL.

YEAH, THIS ONE'S GOING.
THIS ONE'S GOING.

[ REEL CRANKING ]

IT FEELS GOOD.
IT'S -- THERE WE GO.

THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT.
THAT'S THE FISH.

THERE'S STILL A RISK
IT COULD SPIT THE HOOK OUT,

SO EDDIE SNAGS IT WITH A LASSO.

THIS ONE IS 4 1/2 FEET LONG.

I'VE BEEN BITTEN BEFORE,

SO I'M TAKING NO CHANCES
WITH THIS GAR'S TEETH.

I'M WEARING KEVLAR GLOVES
FOR PROTECTION.

HAVING A CLOSER LOOK,

I THINK THE ALLIGATOR GAR
IS FAR FROM UGLY.

IN FACT, ITS ANCIENT DESIGN
IS ACTUALLY QUITE BEAUTIFUL.

INTERESTING MARK ON HERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS HAS ACTUALLY
BEEN ATTACKED BY AN ALLIGATOR

AT SOME POINT.

THAT'S AN INDICATION

OF THE STRENGTH
OF THIS GAR'S ARMOR.

IT CAN WITHSTAND BEING ATTACKED
BY A LARGE ALLIGATOR

AND STILL CARRY ON AS NORMAL.

IT'S NOT A BAD START,
BUT I'M LOOKING FOR A MONSTER.

AAH!

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE --
FISH GOING BACK NICE AND LIVELY.

I CARRY ON FISHING.

BUT THE MONSTER IS PROVING
MORE ELUSIVE THAN I EXPECTED.

THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE
FISHING THE LOWER TRINITY...

AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT A GAR
WOULD LIVE LONG ENOUGH

TO GROW INTO A REAL MONSTER
IS LOOKING PRETTY SLIM.

I NEED TO EXPLORE
SOME OTHER OPTIONS.

I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL
FROM A MICROLIGHT PILOT

WHO SAID HE SPOTTED A GIANT GAR
WHILE FLYING OVER A CANAL

THAT WAS ONCE CONNECTED
TO THE LOWER TRINITY.

BUT FOR THE PAST 44 YEARS,

THIS CANAL HAS BEEN CUT OFF
FROM THE RIVER

AND, I'M TOLD,
HASN'T BEEN FISHED SINCE.

A GATOR GAR SIMILAR TO THE ONE
I CAUGHT EARLIER

COULD HAVE SWUM INTO THE CANAL
AND BECOME TRAPPED

WHEN IT WAS SEALED OFF.
AAH!

ALLIGATOR GAR CAN LIVE
FOR OVER 50 YEARS

AND IN THAT TIME
CAN GROW MONSTROUS.

THIS UNFISHED, QUIET CANAL
COULD BE THE IDEAL PLACE

FOR A MONSTER GAR TO HIDE.

EVER SINCE HUMANS
TOOK TO THE AIR,

MONSTER SIGHTINGS HAVE BEEN
ON THE RISE.

LOOKING DOWN ON THE WATER
OFFERS THE IDEAL VANTAGE POINT

FOR SPOTTING
EXTRAORDINARY FISH.

I'M REMINDED OF MY SEARCH
FOR A LAKE MONSTER IN ALASKA.

THAT'S WHERE WE SAW IT.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
THE GIANT-GAR SIGHTING,

I'M MEETING THE PILOT
WHO SAW IT, CODA RILEY.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

I'VE BEEN FLYING
FOR ABOUT 22 YEARS,

AND I'VE SEEN LOTS OF THINGS
FROM THE AIR.

AND I KNOW WHAT THINGS
LOOK LIKE.

IT'S VERY DISTINCTIVE.

HE GOES ON TO TELL ME
EXACTLY WHAT HE SAW.

IT WAS A NICE, STILL AFTERNOON,
AND I WAS IN THE MICROLIGHT,

AND I WAS BACK
ON SOME IRRIGATION CANALS,

PROBABLY ABOUT A MILE OUT
ACROSS THE FIELDS OVER THERE,

AND I WAS FLYING PROBABLY
50 FEET OFF THE CANALS,

WATCHING FISH SHOOT OUT
INTO THE DEEP, INTO THE MIDDLE,

AND...

AS I START CLIMBING UP,
I SEE SOMETHING SILVER IN COLOR.

I'M LOOKING DOWN,
AND I SEE THIS ALLIGATOR GAR.

AND IT'S STRETCHING ACROSS
A GOOD THIRD OF THE CANAL.

IT WAS REALLY LARGE.

WHAT KIND OF LENGTH
WOULD THAT FISH BE?

I WOULD SAY 14 FOOT.

GAR HAVE BEEN PROVED
TO BE THIS BIG BEFORE,

BUT THAT IS FROM
THE FOSSIL RECORD,

BACK IN PREHISTORIC TIMES.

I COULD SEE THE INDIVIDUAL
SCALES ON THIS THING.

THAT'S HOW BIG IT WAS.

I ACTUALLY SAT THERE
AND ORBITED AROUND THIS GAR

UNTIL HE SLOWLY
SANK OUT OF SIGHT.

CODA FEARED THE GIANT FISH
WOULD BE CAUGHT AND KILLED,

SO HE REFUSED TO TELL ANYONE
EXACTLY WHERE HE SAW IT.

BUT HE DID TELL ME.

AND BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY OTHER
PERSON WHO KNOWS,

I'VE PROMISED TO KEEP
THE EXACT LOCATION A SECRET.

SO YOU SAY YOU SPOTTED IT
IN A CANAL.

I MEAN, IS THERE VERY FAR
IT CAN GO?

I THINK ALL IN ALL,

IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND
4 TO 6 MILES OF CANAL.

HE'S LANDLOCKED.
HE'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.

IT'S VERY OBVIOUS
HE'S BEEN THERE A WHILE.

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO CHECK OUT,

SO I'M GOING TO INVESTIGATE
THIS FURTHER.

BUT FIRST, I NEED THE LAYOUT
OF THE LANDLOCKED CANAL.

...TO THE MAIN FEED CANAL,
WHICH IS LOCKED OFF WITH GATES,

HERE'S A ROAD HERE.
HERE'S A ROAD HERE.

RIGHT HERE
IN THIS CROOK AREA

IS WHERE I SPOTTED
THE ALLIGATOR GAR.

THIS IS EXCITING,

BECAUSE CODA'S SIGHTING WAS
ONLY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

AND WITH NO WAY
OUT OF THE CANAL,

THE GAR CAN'T HAVE GONE FAR.

I WANT TO GET IN THE AIR
TO LOOK FOR IT MYSELF.

A HELICOPTER WILL OFFER
AN ADVANTAGE

OVER CODA'S MICROLIGHT

BECAUSE I'LL BE ABLE TO HOVER
OVER ONE SPOT

IF I SEE ANYTHING.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT

ALL THE MONSTER SIGHTINGS
I'VE HEARD ABOUT,

THIS ONE REALLY STANDS OUT.

NORMALLY, IT WOULD BE A BIT
OF A WASTE OF TIME

TO GO BACK TO THE EXACT SPOT
OF A SIGHTING,

BUT THIS FISH LIVES
IN SUCH A CONFINED SPACE

THAT FROM A GOOD VIEWPOINT
SUCH AS THIS,

THERE'S A VERY REAL CHANCE THAT
I COULD SEE SOMETHING MYSELF.

I CAN SEE --
I THINK IT MIGHT BE A LOG.

I CAN SEE SOMETHING.

I CAN SEE SOMETHING
IN THE CORNER.

UNFORTUNATELY,
IT IS JUST A LOG.

THE PROBLEM WITH MANMADE CANALS
IS THAT THEY TEND TO BE

THE SAME WIDTH,
THE SAME DEPTH EVERYWHERE.

IN OTHER WORDS, NO REAL FEATURES
TO ATTRACT THE FISH,

SO WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING
A LINE IN THE WATER,

IT TENDS TO BE A BIT
OF A RANDOM AFFAIR,

WHICH I DON'T LIKE.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING
ABOUT CODA'S SIGHTING

IS THAT THIS FISH
WAS LYING RIGHT NEXT TO

ABOUT THE ONLY FEATURES
THERE ARE DOWN THERE --

A JUNCTION AND A CULVERT.

I HAVEN'T SPOTTED ANYTHING
FROM THE AIR,

SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HUNT
FOR THIS MONSTER

THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY --

BY GETTING BACK ON THE GROUND

AND PUTTING A BAIT
IN THE WATER.

THE LEVELS ARE A FEW FEET DOWN
AT THE MOMENT,

SO I'VE MET UP
WITH LOCAL FISHERMAN MIKE

TO PUT A BOAT ON THE WATER
AND CHECK WHETHER THIS DEPTH

COULD ACTUALLY HOLD
A MONSTER-SIZE GAR.

MIKE'S PROPELLER IS IN THE MUD.

CLEARLY,
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WATER HERE

TO SUPPORT A MONSTER.

IT'S HALF A FOOT.

A LARGE FISH THERE,

I THINK HALF ITS BACK
WOULD BE OUT OF THE WATER,

AND IF IT SUNK
OUT OF SIGHT,

EVEN IF IT'S ON THE BOTTOM,
YOU'RE STILL GONNA SEE IT.

SO I THINK, WITH THE WATER
THE WAY IT IS NOW,

I POSSIBLY HAVE TO MOVE THAT WAY
A LITTLE BIT

UNTIL I'VE GOT
SUFFICIENT DEPTH FOR,

YOU KNOW, A LARGE FISH
TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.

AFTER POLING ALONG THE CANAL,

WE FINALLY LOCATE A STRETCH
OF WATER DEEP ENOUGH

TO HOLD A GIANT.

THIS MAY BE A MANMADE
AND MANICURED CANAL,

BUT DANGEROUS WILDLIFE
IS EVERYWHERE.

JUST KEEPING A BIT OF AN EYE OUT

TO THIS STRIP OF WOODLAND HERE
AS WELL.

IT'S NOT JUST THE LARGE CREATURE
IN THE WATER

I'VE GOT TO KEEP IN MIND.

THERE'S ALSO WILD HOGS IN HERE.

THERE ARE ALLIGATORS.

THE FACT THAT I CAN'T SEE THEM
DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT HERE.

THEY'VE BEEN SPOTTED HERE,
INCLUDING ONE QUITE BIG ONE --

ABOUT 10 FOOT.

I FISH FOR THREE DAYS ALL ALONG
THE 4-MILE STRETCH OF CANAL

WHERE THE MONSTER GAR
COULD BE TRAPPED.

BUT I CATCH NOTHING.

FINALLY, ON MY LAST NIGHT,
I GET A BITE,

BUT IT'S A TINY ONE.

THERE WE GO.
HOOK'S COME OUT.

OOH. THAT'S A GAR.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF GAR
FROM THE ONE I'M SEARCHING FOR.

THIS IS A LONG-NOSED GAR.

THE ALLIGATOR GAR I'M PURSUING

IS WELL OVER 10 TIMES
THE LENGTH OF THIS FISH.

NICE TO SEE THIS.
THERE ARE GAR IN HERE, THEN.

THIS COULD POSSIBLY EVEN BE FOOD
FOR THE BIG ONE.

THAT'S A RESULT OF SOME SORT.

SO I'VE CAUGHT A GAR
FROM THIS CANAL.

I'M DISAPPOINTED TO BE LEAVING
HERE EMPTY-HANDED,

BUT I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT

THAT CODA SAW A MONSTER GAR
IN THIS CANAL.

MAYBE IT HAS DIED
SINCE IT WAS SPOTTED.

BUT ALL IS NOT LOST.

EVIDENCE THAT THEY CAN STILL
GROW MONSTROUS

MAY INSTEAD LIE
IN A TAXIDERMIST'S FREEZER.

YEAH, THERE'S THE SKIN.

THIS IS THE SKIN AND HEAD
OF A GATOR GAR

NETTED FROM
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

SO, WHAT ACTUALLY WERE
THE FIGURES FOR THIS?

THE FISH WEIGHED 327 POUNDS
AND IS 8 1/2 FEET LONG.

ONE THE SIZE THAT CODA SAW

WOULD BE ADDING NEARLY 6 FEET
TO THIS LENGTH,

AND ITS WEIGHT
COULD BE NEARLY 3/4 OF A TON.

THE GAR I CAUGHT A FEW DAYS AGO

SURVIVED BEING ATTACKED
BY AN ALLIGATOR.

WITH THIS SKIN IN MY HANDS,

I CAN REALLY SEE HOW IMPRESSIVE
THEIR ARMOR PLATING IS.

THAT LOOKS
QUITE A THICKNESS THERE.

HOW DID YOU OPEN IT UP?

USED A SAWZALL, AN ELECTRIC
OR BATTERY-POWERED SAW.

YOU CAN'T CUT THROUGH IT
WITH A KNIFE.

WE USED THE SHARPEST KNIFE
WE HAD.

I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T EVEN
GO INTO THE SKIN,

LET ALONE CUT THROUGH IT.

IT'S NOT THE SIZE
OF THE MONSTER CODA SAW,

BUT IT SHOWS ME
THEY CAN STILL GROW MASSIVE.

THE TEETH ON THIS GAR
ARE BIG ENOUGH

TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY
TO A HUMAN.

ON A 14-FOOT MONSTER,

I BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE
THE POTENTIAL TO KILL.

THIS SKULL AND SKIN
WAS USED AS A MOLD FOR THIS,

AN EXACT MODEL
OF THE OUTSIZE GAR.

JUST LOOK AT THE LENGTH
OF THIS ANIMAL.

JUST ENORMOUS.

AND NOT JUST THE LENGTH --
THIS MASSIVE GIRTH.

SO WHAT I'VE GOT HERE --
I MEAN, IT'S NOT A STORY.

IT'S NOT AN OLD
BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTOGRAPH.

THIS IS REAL, CONCRETE PROOF
THAT THE MONSTERS STILL EXIST.

THIS GATOR GAR IS HUGE.

BUT IF LEFT UNTOUCHED
IN A SECLUDED WATER,

IT MIGHT HAVE REACHED
14 FEET IN LENGTH.

MAYBE SUCH MONSTERS
ARE STILL OUT THERE,

JUST WAITING TO BE FOUND.

LIKE CANALS, DAMS CAN GIVE FISH
THE OPPORTUNITY,

IF LEFT UNDISTURBED, TO GROW
TO MONSTROUS PROPORTIONS.

JUST LIKE
THE GIANT WELS CATFISH

I CAUGHT FROM A DAM IN SPAIN.

RECENTLY, I'VE BEEN GETTING
LOTS OF REPORTS

ABOUT ONE DAM
IN SOUTH-CENTRAL MISSOURI,

THE BAGNELL DAM,

WHICH IS AT ONE END
OF THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS.

I'M TOLD COMMERCIAL DIVERS

HAVE SEEN CATFISH BIG ENOUGH
TO SWALLOW A MAN,

FISH SO LARGE

THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE REFUSED
TO GO BACK IN THE WATER.

IT'S A TREACHEROUS PLACE.

THE LAKE BEHIND THE DAM IS,

ACCORDING TO THE U.S.
COAST GUARD,

THE THIRD MOST DANGEROUS
STRETCH OF WATER

IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S A DEEP, LIQUID BLACK HOLE,

WHERE BODIES
REGULARLY GO MISSING.

COULD THE GIANT CATFISH

AND THE HIGH NUMBER
OF UNEXPLAINED DISAPPEARANCES

BE LINKED?

I BEGIN MY INVESTIGATION

BY MEETING UP WITH LOCAL
HISTORIAN MICHAEL GILLESPIE.

NO ONE REALLY KNOWS
HOW MANY BODIES HAVE BEEN LOST

IN THE LAKE
AND NEVER RECOVERED,

BUT THE BEST KNOWN INCIDENT
INVOLVING THAT SORT OF THING

WAS BACK IN 1954.

[ LAUGHTER ]

THERE WAS A BOATING ACCIDENT
INVOLVING AN EXCURSION BOAT

CALLED THE GRAND GLAIZE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

THE GRAND GLAIZE LEFT
BAGNELL DAM

JUST IN FRONT
OF A LARGE THUNDERSTORM

THAT WAS MOVING IN.

IT WAS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

THE BOAT WENT OUT
ACROSS THE LAKE

AND ABOUT TWO OR THREE MILES
UP THE LAKE

WHEN IT HIT THE LEADING EDGE
OF THAT STORM.

JUST AS IT TURNED INTO A COVE
TO ESCAPE THE WORST OF IT,

A STRONG GUST OF WIND
CAPSIZED THE BOAT.

[ GASPS ]

15 PEOPLE WENT INTO THE WATER.

AND OF THOSE 15, 8 WERE DROWNED.

THREE OF THOSE EIGHT BODIES
WERE NEVER RECOVERED.

ONE OF THE VICTIM'S FATHERS,
ACTUALLY OUT OF HIS OWN EXPENSE,

CONTRACTED TO HAVE DIVERS SEARCH
FOR HIS DROWNED DAUGHTER.

THEY NEVER DID FIND HER.

IT'S POSSIBLE THE BODIES
SANK TO THE BOTTOM

AND WERE CONSUMED
BY CATFISH.

IT'S A GRISLY SCENARIO
I'VE ENCOUNTERED BEFORE.

THE GOONCH CATFISH IN INDIA IS
THOUGHT TO HAVE GROWN GIGANTIC

BY EATING SEMI-CREMATED BODIES
IN THE KALI RIVER.

MAYBE SOMETHING SIMILAR
IS HAPPENING HERE.

I KNOW THERE ARE
LARGE CATFISH IN HERE,

BUT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY

THERE ARE SOME GIANT CATFISH
IN HERE.

BY GIANT, I MEAN FISH
AS LARGE AS MYSELF,

MAYBE MORE SO.

DROWNED CORPSES
BEING EATEN BY CATFISH

COULD EXPLAIN WHY SOME PEOPLE
HAVE NEVER BEEN FOUND,

BUT NOT WHETHER
THEY WERE KILLED BY THEM

IN THE FIRST PLACE.

TO FIND THAT OUT,
I'VE GOT TO CATCH ONE.

I'M HOPING THE LOCAL FISHERMEN
CAN OFFER SOME ADVICE,

BUT IN THIS TACKLE SHOP,

I'M TOLD A STORY CONFIRMING
WHAT I'VE HEARD

ABOUT SCUBA DIVERS SEEING
MAN-EATING-SIZED CATFISH

IN THE DAM.

I WAS ACTUALLY FISHING
ON THE UPPER SIDE OF THE DAM,

UNDER A BRIDGE,

AND SOME INSPECTORS
WERE DOWN THERE, DIVING.

AND I ENDED UP TALKING
TO THESE GUYS MYSELF.

THEY SAID THERE'S FISH
DOWN THERE

THAT I WOULD NEVER
BRING IN,

AND ONE OF THE GUYS THOUGHT
HE WOULD NEVER DIVE THERE AGAIN.

AND SPEAKING OF CATFISH.

AND THAT'S A STORY
THAT I KNOW FIRSTHAND

FROM THE GUY
THAT WAS IN THE WATER.

NORMALLY, THESE STORIES,
IT'S ALWAYS AT SEVERAL REMOVES.

YOU KNOW,
WHO WERE THESE DIVERS?

BUT YOU ACTUALLY SPOKE
TO A DIVER

WHO SAID
HE WOULD THINK TWICE

ABOUT GETTING BACK IN
THAT SPOT?

YES.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

IT REALLY DOES SEEM AS IF
THERE ARE SERIOUSLY LARGE FISH

IN THE WATER BEHIND THAT DAM.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME

IS THAT THIS IS NOT
SOME TROPICAL JUNGLE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
A BODY OF WATER HERE

THAT IS RIGHT IN THE HEART
OF THE DEVELOPED WORLD.

I WANT TO START FISHING
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I MEET UP WITH STEVE BROWN,

WHO KNOWS THESE POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS WATERS WELL.

THE DAM HERE IS KNOWN
TO CONTAIN

THREE TYPES OF CATFISH --

THE FLATHEAD, BLUE,
AND CHANNEL --

NONE OF WHICH
I'VE CAUGHT BEFORE.

TWO OF THEM CAN GROW
TO WELL OVER 100 POUNDS

AND COULD POTENTIALLY
BE MAN-EATERS.

BOTH THOSE FISH ARE PREDATORY,

SO TWO OF THE BAITS
ARE LIVE BAITS --

SHAD, ABOUT SORT OF
6, 7 INCHES LONG --

AND ALSO A COUPLE OF BITS
OF FRESH-CUT SHAD ON THE BOTTOM.

MOST FISH ARE OPPORTUNISTIC.

I'VE TAKEN THE UNUSUAL STEP
OF FANNING OUT FOUR RODS

TO MAXIMIZE MY CHANCE
OF CATCHING A MONSTER.

AT THIS SPOT,
THE LAKE BED IS FLAT

AND THE WATER IS ONLY
6 FEET DEEP,

BUT THAT'S STILL PLENTY
DEEP ENOUGH TO HOLD A MONSTER.

I'VE ACTUALLY
GOT INTEREST ALREADY,

WHICH IS A GOOD SIGN.

SOME OF THE RODS
STARTING TO KICK.

IT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S THE DEAD-BAIT RODS
THAT ARE GOING.

THAT'S REALLY BOUNCING, THAT.

I THINK THAT'S --
THAT'S COMING THIS WAY.

THE ANSWER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

TO CREATE
THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS,

OVER 60 CEMETERIES
WERE FLOODED,

HOLDING A TOTAL
OF SOME 2,800 GRAVES.

ONLY AROUND HALF THE BODIES

WERE ABLE TO BE EXHUMED
AND RELOCATED.

THE REST ARE NOW UNDERWATER.

I'VE FISHED FOR MONSTERS IN THE
MOST REMOTE PARTS OF THE WORLD.

[ BELL JINGLING ]
BUT NOW I'M IN AMERICA

TO FIND OUT IF FRESHWATER
KILLERS ARE HERE, TOO.

I'VE ALREADY BEEN ON THE HUNT
FOR LETHAL SHARKS

AND MONSTER-SIZED GATOR GAR.

NOW I'M IN MISSOURI TO SEE
IF THERE ARE GIANT CATFISH HERE

THAT HAVE GROWN FAT
ON THE BODIES OF PEOPLE

WHO'VE INEXPLICABLY
DISAPPEARED.

[ SCREAMING ]

AND I MAY HAVE ONE
ON THE END OF MY LINE.

NOT A GIANT, BUT IT'S THE FIRST
BLUE CATFISH I'VE EVER CAUGHT.

THAT'S A VERY SORT OF
FIT-LOOKING, FAT FISH.

THEY GO A LOT BIGGER THAN THIS.

THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO WEIGH
CLOSE TO 150 POUNDS

AND ARE ONE OF THE STRONGEST
FRESHWATER FISH IN AMERICA,

SO BRINGING A BIG ONE IN
WILL BE A REAL STRUGGLE.

UGH.
[ CHUCKLES ]

AFTER MY FIRST CATCH,
IT ALL GOES QUIET.

SO I MOVE TO A LOCATION

WHERE THE UNDERWATER LANDSCAPE
IS DIFFERENT.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A PLACE WHERE
LARGE CATFISH COULD BE LURKING.

THE FISH CERTAINLY SEEM TO BE
IN ABUNDANCE HERE,

AS IT'S NOT LONG
BEFORE I GET ANOTHER BITE.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

SO THIS IS A CHANNEL CATFISH.

THIS IS ACTUALLY
QUITE A GOOD DAY FOR ME.

I'VE NOT CAUGHT
A CHANNEL CATFISH BEFORE.

AND APPARENTLY,
THIS IS NOT A BAD SIZE FOR HERE

FOR A CHANNEL CATFISH.

THE LARGEST THESE GROW
IS AROUND 50 POUNDS.

ALTHOUGH SMALLER
THAN THE BLUES,

THEY MAKE UP FOR THAT
WITH AGGRESSION AND ENERGY.

OH!

THAT WAS A CHANNEL CATFISH.

ASIDE FROM POTENTIALLY
GIANT CATFISH,

THERE ARE LARGE PADDLEFISH
IN THE DAM HERE AS WELL.

AND EVERYBODY ON THE WATER
AROUND ME

IS TRYING TO CATCH ONE.

BECAUSE THEY ONLY FEED
ON PLANKTON,

THEY CAN'T BE CAUGHT
WITH A BAIT.

INSTEAD, THE METHOD
FOR CATCHING THEM

IS TO DRAG A LINE
WITH VERY LARGE, BARE HOOKS

THROUGH THE WATER,

THE IDEA BEING THAT
YOU'LL EVENTUALLY SNAG ONE.

ALTHOUGH THEY AREN'T
MY TARGET SPECIES,

I STILL WANT TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS STRANGE FISH.

AMERICAN PADDLEFISH
FIRST APPEARED

AROUND 400 MILLION YEARS AGO
AND CAN GROW TO 7 FEET LONG.

THEY'RE RELATED TO THE
NOW-EXTINCT CHINESE PADDLEFISH

THAT WAS THE LARGEST
FRESHWATER FISH IN THE WORLD,

GROWING TO 23 FEET.

OVERALL LENGTH OF THAT
IS ABOUT WHAT, 5 1/2 FOOT,

SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

YEAH.
YEAH?

DESPITE THE SIZE
OF THAT MOUTH,

THERE'S NO TEETH IN THERE.

THIS FISH ACTUALLY FEEDS
ON MICROSCOPIC...

FOOD ITEMS IN THE WATER.

AND IT JUST FILTERS THEM
THROUGH THE GILLS THERE.

SO IT'S NOT ACTUALLY HARMFUL.

IT SORT OF LOOKS
PRETTY OUTLANDISH,

BUT IT'S NOT GONNA
BE ANY DANGER AT ALL TO PEOPLE.

THIS IS A REALLY SORT OF UNUSUAL
AND SPECIAL BEAST, THIS.

ANCHORING UP AND FISHING HASN'T
YIELDED A GIANT CATFISH YET,

SO I'M GOING TO TRY
DRIFTING INSTEAD.

THIS CONSTANT WIND
THAT'S BLOWING

WILL PUSH THE BOAT ALONG,
AND I CAN COVER A LOT OF WATER.

WE'VE GOT 150 FEET
OUT ON THESE CENTER RODS,

125 ON THE OTHER ONES.

THEY'RE FANNED OUT.

IT'S A BIT LIKE A FARMER
PLOWING A FIELD.

AND WE GOT A DROGUE
OUT THE BACK OF THE BOAT.

IT'S A BIT LIKE A PARACHUTE.

IT'S SLOWING US DOWN AND DOING
ABOUT ONE MILE AN HOUR,

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THE IDEA IS, WE'RE COVERING
A LOT OF THE WATER,

HOPING THAT THIS WILL BRING US
A BIGGER FISH.

USING THIS METHOD,
I GET A BARRAGE OF BITES.

BUT KEEPING TRACK OF FOUR
ACTIVE RODS IS A CHALLENGE.

WE JUST WANT TO FIND
A BIGGER ONE. THAT'S ALL.

SEE HOW GREEDY THESE THINGS ARE?

STILL WELL SHORT
OF THE SIZE WE WANT.

I'M GONNA CALL IT A DAY.

IT'S JUST ONE FISH
AFTER ANOTHER THE SAME SIZE.

THESE BLUE CATFISH GO A LOT
BIGGER -- OVER 100 POUNDS --

BUT THEY'RE NOT
ON THE MOVE TODAY,

SO I'M GONNA GET
A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP

AND COME OUT AGAIN TOMORROW.

I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON MY SEARCH
FOR A MAN-EATING CATFISH,

BUT AFTER SEEING THE PADDLEFISH
AND ITS CAPACIOUS MOUTH,

IT MAKES ME WONDER
IF SOME OF THE DIVERS

WHO HAVE SEEN MONSTERS ACTUALLY
WITNESSED ONE OF THESE INSTEAD.

I'M HOPING TO GET
AN ANSWER TO THIS

AND TO THE QUESTION

OF WHETHER CATFISH
ARE EATING HUMAN BODIES

FROM A SALVAGE DIVER

WHO'S GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE
WITH THE FISH IN THIS WATER.

TIM McNITT HAS CLOCKED UP
THOUSANDS OF HOURS

DIVING AROUND HERE.

MOST PEOPLE WHO DIVE, THEY'RE
DIVING IN NICE, CLEAR WATER.

YOU CAN SEE FOR A NICE,
LONG DISTANCE.

WHAT'S IT LIKE HERE
ON THE BOTTOM?

McNitt: IT'S A COLD, DARK,
LONELY PLACE TO BE.

3 1/2 FEET VISIBILITY.
THAT'S ABOUT AS BEST IT GETS.

I'VE DIVED IN CLAUSTROPHOBIC
CONDITIONS LIKE THIS BEFORE,

WHERE IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
TO IDENTIFY A BIG FISH

LOOMING OUT OF THE DARKNESS.

SO, AS WELL AS BOATS AND THINGS
THAT PEOPLE HAVE DROPPED,

ARE YOU SOMETIMES RETRIEVING
BODIES OUT OF THE WATER HERE?

I'VE RECOVERED EIGHT BODIES
IN MY LIFETIME.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE IN BRANCHES
OR TREES UNDERWATER.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE IN VEHICLES
UNDERWATER.

HAVE ANY OF THE BODIES
RETRIEVED

EVER HAD ANYTHING
PARTIALLY FEEDING ON THEM?

I HAVE SEEN BODIES
OF THAT NATURE.

MANY CATFISH ARE SCAVENGERS AND
WILL EAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

ALL OVER THE WORLD,

THERE ARE STORIES OF THEM
INGESTING HUMANS.

TIM CONFIRMS THAT SOME OF
THE BODIES DISAPPEARING HERE

COULD BE BECAUSE OF CATFISH.

BUT IT STILL DOESN'T PROVE

THEY'RE ALSO BIG ENOUGH
TO KILL.

AND SO FAR, I DON'T HAVE
A RELIABLE FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT

OF A MAN-SIZED CATFISH
LIVING IN THIS LAKE.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CATFISH
YOU'VE SEEN HERE?

OH, PROBABLY AT LEAST
A 6-FOOTER, 6- TO 7-FOOTER.

CLOSE TO 280, 300 POUNDS.

HEAD ON HIM
ABOUT THAT BIG.

BIGGER THAN ME.
HEAVIER THAN ME.

THIS IS A BREAKTHROUGH --

A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT

FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS SEEN
A GIANT CATFISH IN THE DAM.

MORNING.

AND IF IT WAS THIS SIZE,
IT COULD EASILY BE A MAN-EATER.

AFTER HEARING
WHAT TIM HAS SAID,

I HAVE RENEWED ENTHUSIASM.

I GET BACK ONTO THE WATER AND
START FISHING FOR A MONSTER.

THAT'S A GOOD FISH.
THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

SHALLOW WATER -- IT'S DASHING.

IT CAN'T GO DOWN,
SO IT'S GOING SIDE TO SIDE.

THAT WAS WITHIN MINUTES,
SECONDS EVEN, ALMOST,

OF PUTTING THE BAIT OUT.

KEEP IT AWAY FROM
THAT OTHER LINE THERE.

GET SOME SIDE STRAIN ON IT.

UNLIKE YESTERDAY,

IT SEEMS THAT THE BIG FISH
ARE NOW ON THE MOVE.

THIS FEELS EXCITING.

THIS IS GOOD SIZE.

OH, I SEE THE FLANK.
OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

I'M TRAVELING THROUGH AMERICA,
LOOKING FOR FRESHWATER KILLERS.

AND NOW I'M IN MISSOURI,

INVESTIGATING WHETHER
THERE ARE MAN-EATING CATFISH

IN THE DAM HERE.

YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD FISH.
THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING BIG
ON THE END OF MY LINE.

THIS FEELS EXCITING.

THIS IS GOOD SIZE.

OH, I SEE THE FLANK.

OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
LOVELY, LOVELY.

SLACK OFF THE DRAG A LITTLE BIT.

WHERE'S THE NET?

[ SIGHS ]

LOVELY.

IN THE NET.
IN THE NET.

THIS ONE WEIGHS IN
AT 58 POUNDS.

[ GRUNTS ]

OH, YES. OH, GOSH.

PEOPLE THINK CATFISH
ARE UGLY, SLIMY SCAVENGERS,

BUT, I MEAN, THIS FISH
IS JUST A MUSCULAR PREDATOR.

THIS FISH TOOK WITHIN A COUPLE
MINUTES OF GETTING THE BAIT OUT.

AND IN SHALLOW WATER.
THAT'S INTERESTING.

PEOPLE THINK "BIG FISH,
DEEP WATER."

NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
I'M SO PLEASED WITH THAT.

THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SEE --
A BIG CATFISH.

AND THERE'S A BIG MOUTH ON HERE.

VERY CAPACIOUS MOUTH.

AND THERE'S NO TEETH AS SUCH,
BUT I CAN FEEL --

WELL, IT'S LIKE LOTS
AND LOTS AND LOTS

OF VERY CLOSE-SET POINTS.

THEY'RE FOR GRIPPING.

IF THEY DO GRIP SOMETHING,
THEY DON'T LET GO.

BUT YEAH.
LOVELY FISH.

THESE ROWS OF TINY TEETH
WOULD BE IDEAL

FOR GRIPPING ONTO
A HUMAN CORPSE UNDERWATER.

AND, LIKE ALLIGATORS,
CATFISH CAN SPIN,

WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM
TO RIP FLESH

OR EVEN LIMBS OFF THE BODY.

IF WE WENT OVER THE BACK..

YEAH.
CLOSE TO 4 FEET.

8 INCHES ACROSS THE HEAD.

A GOOD 6 INCHES.

SCALING THIS UP TO THE SIZE
OF CATFISH THAT TIM SAW,

THE MOUTH WOULD BE BIG ENOUGH
TO TAKE IN SOMEBODY'S HEAD.

THERE ARE BIG FISH IN THIS LAKE.

THAT WOULD BE FRIGHTENING
TO ACTUALLY BUMP INTO THAT

IN LOW VISIBILITY.

YOU LITERALLY DON'T SEE IT UNTIL
YOU'RE A COUPLE OF FEET AWAY.

FROM WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED
AT THE BAGNELL DAM,

I'M CONVINCED THAT DIVERS HERE
HAVE BEEN SEEING GIANT CATFISH

THAT WOULD BE ABLE
TO EAT HUMAN FLESH

FROM DROWNED BODIES.

[ MUFFLED SHOUTING ]

BUT I HAVE TO TRY
SOMETHING ELSE

TO CONCLUDE WHETHER OR NOT
THEY CAN KILL.

IN MY QUEST FOR ANSWERS,

I SOMETIMES FIND MYSELF
DOING THINGS

THAT MAKE ME REALLY UNEASY,

LIKE THE TIME I SAT
IN A POOL OF PIRANHAS

TO PROVE THEY DON'T ALWAYS
ATTACK HUMANS.

THIS CASE CALLS FOR SOMETHING
THAT MAKES ME EQUALLY NERVOUS,

BUT IT'S THE ONLY WAY
I'LL TRULY EXPERIENCE

THE FULL FORCE OF A CATFISH.

I'M GOING NOODLING.

THIS IS AN ANCIENT FORM
OF FISHING

FROM BEFORE WHEN ROD
AND REEL WERE INVENTED.

IT'S DONE WHEN CATFISH
ARE SPAWNING,

BUILDING NESTS IN HOLES
ALONG THE RIVERS

AND IN THE LAKES.

TO CATCH THE CATFISH,
YOU DIVE UNDERWATER,

PUTTING YOUR ARM
OR EVEN YOUR WHOLE BODY

INTO THE NESTING HOLE.

THIS IS TO GET THE CATFISH
TO ATTACK YOU

AS IT PROTECTS ITS EGGS.

THE THEORY IS THAT
WHEN IT BITES YOUR HAND,

YOU GRAB HOLD OF ITS JAW
AND HAUL IT OUT.

TO PUT MY MONEY WHERE
THE CATFISH'S MOUTH IS,

I'M TRAVELING TO OKLAHOMA,
WHERE NOODLING IS POPULAR.

I FEEL EXPOSED
WITHOUT ANY FISHING GEAR

AND WILL BE WAY OUTSIDE
MY COMFORT ZONE.

I'M NORMALLY HAPPY USING BAIT
TO LURE A MONSTER,

BUT WHEN I'M THE BAIT,
IT'S A DIFFERENT MATTER.

I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE

WHEN FISHING FOR EELS
IN NEW ZEALAND,

AND I WAS TERRIFIED.

LOOK AT THAT!
LOOK AT THAT! AAH!

NOODLING, LIKE MANY SPORTS,

IS ENTERTAINMENT MIXED WITH
AN ELEMENT OF DANGER.

TO FIND OUT
JUST HOW MUCH DANGER,

I'M MEETING UP
WITH NOODLER BOBBY SPARKS.

Sparks: AND WE WERE GOING ALONG,
TWO BUDDIES OF MINE,

AND THEY WERE QUITE A WAYS
IN FRONT OF ME,

AND I STUMBLED OVER THIS HOLE,
AND I THOUGHT,

"HEY, MAN. THIS IS GOOD,"
WHEN I STARTED INTO THIS HOLE.

I GOT KIND OF ABOUT
HALF THE WAY DOWN IN IT,

AND HE COME UP
AND HIT ME REAL HARD.

THIS FISH WAS POSSIBLY
BREAKING 100 POUNDS.

HE COME UP COMPLETELY
OVER MY ARMY BOOT, SIZE 12...

...ALL THE WAY UP
TO NEARLY MY KNEE.

THE FISH HAD THE BOTTOM HALF
OF BOBBY'S LEG IN ITS MOUTH

AND WOULDN'T LET GO.

AND HE CLAMPED DOWN, AND HE
STARTED SHAKING AND SPINNING.

I DIDN'T KNOW
WHETHER I WAS UP OR DOWN.

I WAS ALMOST TO THE TOP.

I COULDN'T GET MY NOSE
ABOVE THE WATER,

AND HE WAS PULLING ME DOWN.

I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA PULL
MY LEG COMPLETELY OFF...

...THAT LAST PULL BECAUSE HE WAS
PULLING ME DOWN IN

WHEN MY FRIENDS
FINALLY GOT TO ME

AND CAUGHT ME AND PULLED ME OUT.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF I HAD
THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT BACK

ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THAT HOLE.

IF YOUR FRIENDS HADN'T BEEN
WITH YOU ON THAT DAY,

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD
OR COULD HAVE HAPPENED?

I THINK THAT HE WOULD HAVE
HELD ME THERE AND DROWNED ME.

I REALLY FEEL THAT...

I WOULD HAVE ATE SUPPER
WITH JESUS THAT NIGHT.

THERE'S SO MUCH
POWER THERE,

SO MUCH STRENGTH
IN THAT FISH'S BODY.

THAT'S THEIR DOMAIN,

AND I HAVE FULL RESPECT FOR THEM
IN THEIR HOME.

CLEARLY, I NEED TO LEARN
HOW TO NOODLE CORRECTLY.

I WON'T ATTEMPT TO DO THIS
ON MY OWN.

PLUS, IF I GET INTO ANY TROUBLE
WHILE I'M UNDERWATER,

I'LL NEED PEOPLE
TO HELP ME BACK TO THE SURFACE.

I'VE MANAGED TO HOOK UP
WITH NATE WILLIAMS

AND HIS FRIEND DILLON,
BOTH VERY EXPERIENCED NOODLERS.

I'M ALREADY APPREHENSIVE
ABOUT THE DANGERS,

BUT ADDING TO THIS IS THE FACT
THAT I'M JOINING THEM

HALFWAY THROUGH
A NOODLING CONTEST,

WHEN ONLY THE BIGGEST CATCHES
WILL DO.

EACH TEAM HAS ITS OWN
NOODLING SPOTS,

AND THE GROUP WITH THE HIGHEST
COMBINED WEIGHT

OF ITS TOP THREE FISH WINS.

AFTER THE CONTEST,

WE'LL RELEASE THE FISH
BACK INTO THE WATER.

NATE'S SPOT IS A STRETCH
OF ISOLATED RIVER.

I HAVE TO KEEP
THE EXACT LOCATION SECRET

IN CASE OTHER NOODLERS
MUSCLE IN.

HERE, I'LL HAVE THE CHANCE
OF CATCHING A FLATHEAD CATFISH,

THE TYPE I FAILED TO GET
BACK AT BAGNELL DAM

AND ONE THAT'S CAPABLE
OF GROWING

TO MAN-EATING PROPORTIONS.

I'VE DONE EXTREME FISHING,
NORMALLY WITH A ROD.

[ REEL CRANKS ]
FISH ON!

AND IT NORMALLY FEELS LIKE

YOU'RE IN PRETTY DIRECT CONTACT
WITH THE FISH.

WHOA! AAH!

BUT THIS IS REAL HANDS-ON,
ISN'T IT?

AND I CAN IMAGINE THAT GETS
PRETTY INTENSE.

YEAH. THIS IS A VERY
DIFFERENT FORM OF FISHING.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME
AND DANGEROUS

METHODS OF FISHING
THAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND.

YOU REEL IN A FISH
FOR 45 MINUTES ON A POLE,

EVEN IF HE'S VERY LARGE,
THE SAME SIZE AS THESE FISH,

HE'S GONNA BE TIRED BY THE TIME
YOU GET HIM IN YOUR HANDS.

THESE FISH HAVE EVERY BIT
OF FIGHT IN THEM RIGHT NOW.

[ GRUNTS ]

YOU'RE GONNA STICK YOUR HANDS
IN THERE.

YOU'RE GONNA FEEL THE FULL FORCE
STRAIGHT ON YOUR HANDS

WITHOUT EVER
WEARING HIM DOWN.

SO, I MEAN,
IT'S PRETTY INTENSE.

RIGHT. OKAY.

I'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED
THAT CATFISH,

WITH THEIR PADS OF TEETH,

CAN RIP THE FLESH
OFF DROWNING VICTIMS.

BUT WHAT WILL ONE DO TO MY ARM
IF IT GETS HOLD OF IT?

YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT GRIP
AS TIGHT AS YOU CAN

BECAUSE THEY CAN SENSE
WEAKNESS,

AND WHEN THEY FEEL YOU
JUST LOOSEN IT,

THAT'S WHEN THEY'LL TRY TO DO
THEIR DEATH ROLL.

YOU GOT THAT BOTTOM JAW --
IT'S A BIG HANDLE.

IF THEY SLIP PAST THAT,
THEY'LL GET UP HERE,

AND THEY'LL JUST GO
TO SPINNING,

AND THEY'LL KIND OF WEAR GROOVES
IN YOUR ARMS.

SEE? LIKE THAT. SOMETIMES
THEY'LL COME WAY UP HERE.

THEY CAN REALLY GET YOU
ANYWHERE IN HERE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
THEY JUST WEAR AROUND YOUR ARM.

HIS MOUTH IS CLOSED,

AND HE'S BOLTED HISSELF UP
WHERE HE CAN'T ACTUALLY FIT OUT,

THEN YOU'RE
JUST GONNA BE STUCK,

AND THEY CAN HOLD YOU
DOWN THERE.

EVERY YEAR, PEOPLE DIE NOODLING
BY DROWNING.

SOMETIMES THEIR HEAD'S
CLOSE TO THE SURFACE,

AND THEY JUST CAN'T
QUITE GET THERE.

CLEAR HEAD AND DON'T PANIC,
ISN'T IT?

RIGHT. OKAY.

LET'S GO
AND DO THIS, THEN.

BEFORE HAVING A GO MYSELF,

I'M CONTENT TO LET THE EXPERTS
TRY IT FIRST.

WE'VE FOUND A CONCRETE TUBE

THAT IS A PERFECT PLACE
FOR A CATFISH TO NEST IN.

THE OPENING UNDER THE WATER
IS SILTED UP,

LEAVING ONLY A TINY GAP
FOR ENTERING.

THE PLAN IS FOR DILLON TO STICK
BOTH HIS LEGS INTO THE HOLE.

WHEN THE CATFISH ATTACKS,
HE'LL PIN IT AGAINST THE SIDE,

BUT TO DO THIS,
HE HAS TO BE TOTALLY SUBMERGED.

SEEING DILLON ABOUT TO OFFER
HIS BODY AS BAIT

IN PART MAKES ME UNDERSTAND

WHY AMERICA IS CALLED
"THE LAND OF THE BRAVE."

THERE'S DEFINITELY
A BIG CATFISH IN THERE.

GOT HIM?
HE'S IN BETWEEN MY LEGS.

DILLON HAS A CATFISH
PINNED AGAINST THE OPENING,

BUT HE'S NOW WEDGED IN.

LUCKILY, HE CAN GET HIS HEAD

JUST ABOVE THE WATER
TO BREATHE.

GO UNDER HIS LEGS.

I'M GONNA GET THE HEAD UNDER
AND TRY TO GET THAT GILL.

OKAY.

I'VE GOT TO PUT MY FEARS ASIDE.

IT'S TIME TO GO DOWN THERE
AND GET IT.

I'M IN AMERICA,

INVESTIGATING
WHETHER THERE REALLY ARE

LETHAL FISH IN ITS WATERS.

RIGHT NOW I'M IN OKLAHOMA,

SEEING JUST HOW DANGEROUS
A BIG CATFISH CAN BE.

I'M ATTEMPTING TO NOODLE

TO DETERMINE IF THE FISH ARE
POWERFUL ENOUGH TO BE LETHAL.

I'VE GOT MY FIRST CATFISH
ON THE END OF MY ARM.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

IT'S A REAL TEAM EFFORT.

AS SOON AS I GET IT
TO THE SURFACE,

NATE PUTS A STRINGER
THROUGH ITS MOUTH

AND OUT THROUGH ITS GILL FLAP
SO IT CAN'T ESCAPE.

[ GRUNTS ]

THIS IS A FLATHEAD CATFISH.

WHO COULD SUSPECT A RIVER
LIKE THIS --

SO SHALLOW, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK
THERE'S NOTHING IN IT --

MAYBE THERE'S STUFF
A FOOT LONG.

BUT THERE'S SOME REAL MONSTERS
IN HERE,

AND THEY'RE HIDING
VERY, VERY CLOSE.

BUT, BOY,
IT'S WORK TO GET THEM OUT.

IT'S SHORT,
BUT IT'S VERY INTENSE.

BUT YOU'VE GOT
THIS PROTRUDING LOWER JAW,

AND YOU'VE GOT THESE
NEEDLE-LIKE TEETH

FORMING VERY BIG PADS,

AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'M
TRYING TO GET HOLD OF THERE.

YOU'VE ALSO GOT CRUSHING PADS
AT THE BACK OF THE THROAT.

YOUR HAND CAN EVEN GO
BEYOND THOSE.

IT'S A BIT LIKE A SPHINCTER.

YOUR HAND CAN GO RIGHT PAST,
INTO THE GUT.

THE OTHER THING YOU GOT TO WATCH
OUT FOR ON THESE IS,

YOU'RE TRYING TO REACH IN
AND JUST GET ON THE GILL FLAP,

BUT THE GILLS ARE PROTECTED
BY THOSE VERY SHARP GILL RAKERS,

AND IF YOU GET ONE OF THOSE
GETTING NEAR YOUR FINGERS

AND THE FISH STARTS TO THRASH
AND TRY TO SPIN,

THOSE ARE GONNA SORT OF CREATE
A BIT OF AN INJURY AS WELL.

SO IT'S QUITE A FORMIDABLE MOUTH
THAT CAN DO A BIT OF DAMAGE.

THIS ONE WEIGHS
AROUND 40 POUNDS --

A BIG FISH
BY ANYBODY'S STANDARDS,

BUT NATE THINKS IT'S TOO SMALL
TO ENTER INTO THE CONTEST,

SO WE LET IT GO.

I'M NOT SURE I'M READY
TO CATCH SOMETHING BIGGER.

TRAINING IS OVER,

AND I'M TAKING THE LEAD
ON THE NEXT ONE.

WE MOVE FURTHER DOWNRIVER.

ALONG THE WAY, WE KEEP
AN EYE OUT FOR FOOTPRINTS,

SIGNS THAT A RIVAL TEAM
HAS GOT HERE FIRST,

TAKING ANY POTENTIAL
PRIZE-WINNING FISH.

WE ARRIVE AT A HOLE

WHERE NATE HAS NOODLED
SOME MASSIVE CATFISH BEFORE.

Williams: TRY TO GET YOU
A LITTLE MENTAL IMAGE OF IT

REAL QUICK HERE.

BASICALLY, WE'RE GONNA
COME UP TO THIS HOLE,

AND SAY THIS IS THE SURFACE
OF THE WATER HERE.

BOTTOM OF THE RIVER IS GONNA BE
ABOUT 4 FOOT,

AND THE SAND AT THE BOTTOM IS
WHERE THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLE IS.

THE CLAY BANK IS ATE AWAY
LIKE THIS.

IT'S ABOUT TWO PEOPLE WIDE.

YOU'RE GONNA BE ABOUT
CHEST-DEEP WATER.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE YOUR FEET
IN THE HOLE

WHEN WE FIRST GET THERE,
KEEP THE FISH FROM SWIMMING OUT.

ME AND DILLON ARE GONNA GET
ON EACH SIDE OF YOU.

WE'RE GONNA PUT OUR FEET IN THE
HOLE AND BASICALLY MAKE A WALL.

HE'S GONNA COME UP,
AND HE'S GONNA FIND YOU.

YOU'RE NOT EVEN GONNA HAVE TO
FIND HIM.

THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE
COMPLICATED THAN THE FIRST HOLE

BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO BLOCK THE OPENING.

OTHERWISE, ANY CATFISH IN THERE
COULD ESCAPE.

TIME FOR DISCUSSING TACTICS
IS OVER.

BEFORE GOING UNDERWATER,

IT'S ESSENTIAL TO BUILD
A MENTAL PICTURE

OF THE LAYOUT
BELOW THE SURFACE.

A LITTLE FARTHER DOWN.

IF I DON'T, I COULD PANIC

IF I COME ACROSS
SOMETHING UNEXPECTED.

AFTER FEELING AROUND,

I'VE WORKED OUT
THAT THERE'S A FLAT SHELF

THAT THEN DROPS DOWN
TO THE RIVERBED.

IN THIS VERTICAL FACE
IS AN OPENING

THAT GOES BACK INTO THE BANK.

IN HERE IS WHERE
A CATFISH COULD BE HIDING.

AT THE MOMENT, I CAN'T TELL
HOW FAR THE HOLE GOES BACK.

I'LL ONLY FIND THAT OUT
BY STICKING MY ARM IN THERE.

YOU'RE JUST GONNA
FEEL HIM UP.

IF YOU GET IN THERE FAR ENOUGH,
HE'S GONNA BE RIGHT HERE.

YOU'RE JUST GONNA BE ABLE TO
MANEUVER HIM HOWEVER YOU WANT.

IF YOU GET IN THERE FAR ENOUGH,
IT'LL BE NO PROBLEM.

KNOW THAT YOU GOT PEOPLE HERE
TO HELP YOU

IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG.

BASICALLY, AS SOON AS YOU HEAR
ANYTHING GOING,

YOUR SIGN TO PULL ME OUT ANYWAY,
AREN'T YOU?

IF THERE IS A CATFISH IN THERE,

I'M GOING TO FEEL
THE FULL FORCE

OF WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO BE ATTACKED BY ONE

AS IT DEFENDS ITS NEST.

I FEEL AROUND
FOR WHAT SEEMS AN ETERNITY,

BUT THERE DOESN'T APPEAR
TO BE ANYONE HOME.

MY LUNGS ARE STARTING TO BURN.

I GET THE FEELING I'M MAYBE
NOT IN THERE FAR ENOUGH.

IS THAT THE IDEA?

YEAH, YOU GOT TO GO IN THERE
AS FAR AS YOU CAN.

I HAVEN'T REACHED FAR ENOUGH
INTO THE HOLE.

AS WE FEEL AROUND THE OPENING,
SOMETHING RAMS OUR LEGS.

OH, OH!
HE'S IN THERE. KEEP IT BLOCKED.

HE JUST SWALLOWED
MY WHOLE FOOT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE HOLE IS TOTALLY BLOCKED

SO IT CAN'T ESCAPE.

I SUBMERGE AGAIN.

THIS TIME, I GO HEADFIRST
INTO THE HOLE,

WHICH JUST KEEPS ON GOING
AND GOING.

WHEN I'M IN IT AS FAR
AS MY THIGHS,

SOMETHING BITES ME -- HARD.

I'VE TRAVELED THE WORLD

SEARCHING FOR
FRESHWATER KILLERS.

NOW I'M IN AMERICA,

HUNTING A MONSTER IN A WAY
I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

I'M NOODLING IN OKLAHOMA,

AND I'VE JUST DIVED
INTO A HOLE HEADFIRST.

VISIBILITY IS ZERO,
AND AS I FEEL AROUND,

SOMETHING BITES MY HAND --
HARD.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

I MANAGE TO GET
A GOOD HOLD OF IT

AND BRING IT TO THE SURFACE.

I'VE LANDED MY FIRST CATFISH,
NOODLING-STYLE.

[ LAUGHS ] OH!

WELL, THAT FISH
WAS LYING THERE.

BOOM!
BIT ME ONCE AND LET GO.

AND THEN I
SORT OF FUMBLED AROUND

AND THEN ACTUALLY REACHED
INTO ITS MOUTH.

IT'S A CREEPY FEELING.
I'M PUTTING MY BODY IN THERE.

DILLON'S FEEDING ME IN,
PUSHING ME IN

HEADFIRST INTO A HOLE
UNDER THE WATER.

THEN SOMETHING IS GONNA
BITE ME IN THERE.

IT'S DARK. I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
WHAT A STUPID THING TO BE DOING.

YOU KNOW, JUST RIDICULOUS,

BUT, I MEAN, AS FISHING GOES,

IT DOESN'T GET
MUCH MORE MAD THAN THAT.

AS NATE PROMISED, THE CATFISH
IS STILL FULL OF FIGHT.

IT TRIES TO DO
A CHARACTERISTIC ROLL.

IF WE CAN'T CONTROL IT,

IT HAS THE STRENGTH
TO BREAK MY WRIST.

OOH!

THAT'S DOUBLING MY --
OH!

LUCKILY,
IT DECIDES TO LET ME GO.

BIG FLATHEAD CATFISH.
I MEAN, WELL NAMED.

THAT HEAD IS FLAT.

THAT LOWER JAW POKING UP
AS WELL.

BUT JUST WHAT A BEAST.

IT LOOKS A BIT SORT OF TORN UP.

IT'S GOT SOME BATTLE SCARS.

THAT ADIPOSE FIN HERE SHOULD
JUST BE A NORMAL, CLEAN LOBE,

AND THAT'S BEEN SPLIT.

IT'S GOT A BIT OF A LUMP ON IT.
TAIL'S A BIT TORN.

ONE POSSIBILITY IS THESE THINGS
MOVE INTO BEAVER HOLES,

AND IF THERE'S A BEAVER
ALREADY IN RESIDENCE,

THE BEAVER PROBABLY
TAKES EXCEPTION,

AND SO THESE THINGS HAVE
A BIT OF A TOUGH TIME.

THEY'VE GOT TO COMPETE
FOR REAL ESTATE DOWN THERE.

AT OVER 50 POUNDS,

IT'S A STRONG CONTENDER
FOR THE CONTEST.

ALSO, HAVING FELT
THE FULL FORCE

OF ONE OF THESE
ON THE END OF MY ARM,

I NOW COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND

HOW CLOSE BOBBY CAME
TO BEING KILLED.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD PEOPLE

TALKING ABOUT
NORTH AMERICAN CATFISH

AS BEING FISH THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY KILL PEOPLE,

MY FIRST REACTION WAS,
"THIS IS A BIT UNBELIEVABLE.

THIS IS SOMETHING
I'VE GOT TO LOOK INTO."

BUT NOW, HAVING ACTUALLY TRIED
THIS FORM OF FISHING

WHERE WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING

IS TRYING TO PROVOKE THE FISH
TO BITE YOU

AND THEN HANG ON TO YOU
WHILE YOU'RE UNDER THE WATER,

IN THE DARK,
WITH JUST ONE LUNGFUL OF AIR,

I CAN REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE

HOW THESE FISH CAN POTENTIALLY
CAUSE HUMAN FATALITIES.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT
FOR THE CONTEST.

WE HAVE TO LOAD UP
OUR THREE BIGGEST CATFISH

AND GET TO THE WEIGH-IN.

ALL THE TEAMS ARE COMING BACK

FROM THEIR VARIOUS
NOODLING LOCATIONS

FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

[ APPLAUSE ]

IT'S A TENSE TIME AS EVERYBODY
GETS THEIR CATCHES WEIGHED.

Woman:
OH, MY.

PRESSURE MOUNTS, AS LOTS
OF PEOPLE HAVE RECOGNIZED ME.

MY REPUTATION FOR CATCHING
MONSTERS IS ON THE LINE.

IT'S OUR TURN TO WEIGH
OUR CATCHES.

HOPEFULLY, OUR THIRD FISH
WILL BE AT LEAST 50 POUNDS.

LAST TO BE WEIGHED IS THE
CATFISH I PULLED OUT OF A HOLE.

Man:
I'D SAY 53. IT'S 53 POUNDS.

ARE WE READY
TO TAKE HIM DOWN?

THIS GIVES US A COMBINED WEIGHT
OF 155 POUNDS.

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE

IF THIS IS ENOUGH TO WIN
THE CONTEST.

THIRD PLACE GOES TO THE TEAM
OF MICHAEL GILL.

[ APPLAUSE ]

THE SECOND PLACE WAS THE TEAM
OF DAVID WALKER.

FIRST PLACE GOES TO THE TEAM
OF NATHAN WILLIAMS.

[ APPLAUSE ]

THANKS TO THE SKILL OF NATE
AND DILLON,

MY INEXPERIENCE AS A NOODLER
HAS PASSED UNNOTICED.

AND MY REPUTATION AS A MONSTER
CATCHER REMAINS INTACT.

AFTER TAKING OUR PRIZE,

IT'S TIME TO RELEASE
THESE THREE CATFISH

BACK INTO THE RIVER.

I CAME TO AMERICA

TO SEE IF THERE ARE KILLERS
IN ITS FRESHWATERS.

[ REEL CRANKS ]

I FOUND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
BULL SHARKS

PROWLING FLORIDA'S CANALS

RIGHT UNDER THE NOSES
OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

AN EXPLORATORY BITE COULD JUST
BLEED OUT, LOSE A LOT OF BLOOD,

AND THAT COULD BE
A FATAL ENCOUNTER.

I SEARCHED FOR LETHALLY LARGE
ALLIGATOR GAR IN TEXAS

AND LANDED A PREHISTORIC GIANT
I HADN'T EXPECTED TO SEE.

AND I UNCOVERED THAT THERE ARE
MAN-SIZED CATFISH

IN A MISSOURI DAM

WHICH COULD BE FEASTING
ON HUMAN CORPSES.

HEAD ON HIM ABOUT THAT BIG.
BIG OLD FLATHEAD.

BIGGER THAN ME.
HEAVIER THAN ME.

AND AFTER GOING NOODLING,
I'M IN NO DOUBT

THAT A CATFISH OF THAT SIZE

WOULD ALSO BE CAPABLE
OF DROWNING SOMEBODY.

AS I WRAP UP MY ADVENTURE,
I LEAVE CONVINCED,

EVEN IN THE 21st CENTURY,

AMERICA'S RIVERS, LAKES,
AND CANALS

ARE STILL HOME
TO POTENTIAL KILLERS.