Original subtitles

[BIRDS SCREECHING] [OWL HOOTS]

>> IN THE FARTHEST CORNER OF AMERICA LIES THE NATION'S

LARGEST SWAMP... >> YOU HEAR NOISES AT NIGHT OUT

HERE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO

KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. >> HEY, LITTLE BIRDIE.

[BIRD SHRIEKS] >> A HIDDEN WORLD WHERE NATURE

RULES... >> IT'S REALLY A DANGEROUS,

DANGEROUS THING WE'RE DOING OUT HERE.

WATCH IT, STEVE! >> AND MAN FIGHTS BACK.

>> SHOOT HIM! SHOOT HIM! HURRY UP AND SHOOT. I CAN'T HOLD

HIM ANYMORE. SHOOT, SHOOT! [GUNSHOT]

>> ONLY THE TOUGHEST CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE.

>> BACK UP, RANDY. BACK UP! >> NOW THEIR HARDEST SEASON IS

ABOUT TO BEGIN. >> GET ANOTHER SHOT ON HIM!

>> GOD! LOOK AT THAT! HE COULD EAT ONE OF THEM KIDS IN A

HEARTBEAT! >> GET READY! GET READY! MAKE

THE ONE SHOT COUNT. >> WELCOME TO THE SWAMP!

[COCKS GUN] THE SWAMPS OF LOUISIANA...

NEARLY ONE MILLION ACRES OF FLOODED FOREST, MARSHLAND, AND

BAYOUS, WHERE THERE ARE NO ROADWAYS, NO MAPS.

>> OUT HERE, THERE'S NO LANDMARKS. NO NOTHING. YOU

DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GOING, YOU IN A BIND.

>> GETTING LOST CAN MEAN DEATH, BUT THE SECRETS OF THE SWAMP

ARE KNOWN TO A SELECT FEW. >> THIS IS WHAT WE CALL HOME.

OUR OWN LITTLE SLICE OF HEAVEN. >> MOST OF THE SWAMPERS ARE

CAJUNS, DESCENDANTS OF CANADA'S FIRST FRENCH SETTLERS.

>> ALMOST ALL YOUR CAJUN FROM SOUTH LOUISIANA WERE SHIPPED

HERE FROM CANADA. WE WERE ALL EXPORTED. WE WERE REJECTS.

>> I CATCH GARFISH, SHRIMP, ALLIGATOR. I'M WHAT YOU MIGHT

CALL A COON-ASS. I LIVE OFF THE LAND.

>> COME ON, BOY. DON'T YOU LOSE THAT FISH!

>> I RELY ON THE LAND TO MAKE MY MONEY.

>> FOR THE LAST 250 YEARS, THEY'VE PROSPERED.

>> WATCH YOUR HANDS! WATCH YOUR HANDS!

>> PASSING DOWN THE RULES OF SURVIVAL FROM GENERATION TO

GENERATION. >> THAT THING RIGHT THERE BITE

YOU, YOU'LL NEVER MAKE IT TO THE HOUSE.

>> BECAUSE OUT HERE, IT'S MAN VERSUS BEAST.

>> SHOOT! SHOOT! >> WHEN YOU FOOLING WITH

ALLIGATORS, HE MIGHT WANT TO CHEW ON YOUR ARM OR PULL YOU

OVERBOARD. YOU NEVER KNOW. >> I AIN'T GONNA LIE TO YOU.

>> WATCH THE TAIL! >> IT'S SOME HARD [BEEP] WE DO

OUT HERE, MAN, BUT THIS IS GONNA BE MY LIFE TILL THE END.

>> IF YOU THINK YOU CAN COME OUT HERE AND DO IT...

GOOD LUCK TO YOU. >> AS SUMMER DRAWS TO A CLOSE,

MOST SWAMPERS HAVE JUST ONE THING ON THEIR MIND.

HUNTING ALLIGATORS. THESE PREDATORS CAN GROW TO

14 FEET AND A THOUSAND POUNDS. WITH THE MOST POWERFUL JAW ON

THE PLANET, THESE MONSTERS ARE HARDWIRED TO KILL.

>> OH! [BLEEP]! >> LEFT UNCHECKED, THE

POPULATION WOULD EXPLODE, PUTTING HUMANS IN TERRIBLE

DANGER. >> RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE! RIGHT

HERE ON THE SIDE! >> THE ONLY SOLUTION--A 30-DAY

SEASON TO HUNT THESE KILLING MACHINES.

THE RISKS FOR HUNTERS ARE HUGE. BUT SO ARE THE REWARDS.

IN ONE MONTH, SWAMPERS CAN EARN HALF THEIR YEARLY INCOME.

BUT ONLY IF NOTHING GOES WRONG. WITH LESS THAN 24 HOURS BEFORE

THE OFFICIAL START OF THE SEASON...

ONE OF THE GREATEST ALLIGATOR HUNTERS ON EARTH IS OUT ON THE

WATER CHECKING HIS TERRITORY. TROY LANDRY'S ROOTS IN THE

SWAMPS STRETCH BACK 3 GENERATIONS.

>> I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE OUT HERE IN THE SWAMPS, JUST LIKE MY

ANCESTORS BEFORE ME. I'VE BEEN HUNTING AND FISHING AND TRAPPING

AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. >> STILL AN APPRENTICE, TROY'S

OLDEST SON, JACOB, IS WITH HIM. >> TO BE AN ALLIGATOR HUNTER, I

THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE WILD SIDE TO YOU.

[GUNSHOTS] AND WHEN YOU'RE PULLING UP A

LINE AND THE ALLIGATOR TAKES OFF AND STARTS SLAPPING YOU AROUND

WITH A TAIL AND...A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULDN'T GO OVER TOO WELL

WITH THAT. >> THAT'S A BIG ONE!

>> BUT IF WE WASN'T CATCHING THESE ALLIGATORS, YOU WOULD HEAR

A LOT MORE INCIDENTS OF PEOPLE BEING EATEN.

>> THEY GET OVERPOPULATED, AND WHEN YOU GET TOO MANY OF THEM IN

AN AREA, THEY RUN OUT OF FOOD. AND THEN THEY START MOVING

CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSES, THE PEOPLE'S CAMPS, WHERE THEY

BRING THE KIDS ON THE WEEKENDS SWIMMING, SO THEN, PEOPLE'S

LIVES ARE IN DANGER. OH, THEY CAN DO A LOT OF DAMAGE. THEY CAN

DO A LOT OF DAMAGE. >> TROY HAS CAUGHT SOME OF THE

BIGGEST GATORS IN LOUISIANA'S HISTORY, BUT EVERY FISHERMAN HAS

HIS WHITE WHALE... THE 800-POUND MONSTER THAT GOT

AWAY. TROY'S NAMED HIS "BIG HEAD."

>> WE GOT A BIG ALLIGATOR WE BEEN TRYING TO CATCH RIGHT HERE

FOR YEARS. WE CALL HIM "BIG HEAD." HE'S HUGE. HE'S AS BIG

AROUND AS THE BOAT ALMOST. HE BEEN AROUND MOST PROBABLY

LONGER THAN WE'VE BEEN AROUND, AND HE KNOWS HOW TO SURVIVE. WE

REALLY NEED TO TRY TO CATCH HIM THIS YEAR.

>> 70 MILES AWAY NEAR THE TOWN OF MYRTLE GROVE, ANOTHER FATHER

AND SON TEAM MAKES LAST-MINUTE PREPARATIONS FOR GATOR SEASON.

>> DON'T START NO [BLEEP], WON'T BE NONE.

>> YOU'RE LATE, BUDDY. >> DON'T START NO [BLEEP], WON'T

BE NONE. >> I'M READY TO GO, MAN!

>> DON'T START NO [BLEEP], WON'T BE NONE!

>> GET YOUR WHITE BOOTS ON! LET'S HIT THE ROAD!

>> JOE L'ENFANT HAS BEEN HUNTING GATORS FOR CLOSE TO 30

YEARS. >> MY DAD ALWAYS DID FISH

ALLIGATORS. ME AND HIM WORKED TOGETHER TILL THE DAY HE PASSED

AWAY ON ME, SO... TOMMY IS MY STEPSON. IF I HAD

TO GUESS, HE'S PROBABLY BEEN FISHING ALLIGATOR WITH ME, YOU

KNOW, FROM AGE 6, 7 YEARS OLD. I'M GONNA MAKE YOU A SANDWICH.

>> ♪ GET DOWN TONIGHT ♪ >> TOMMY'S BEEN BY HIS SIDE FOR

THE LAST 20 YEARS, BUT HE STILL HAS A LOT TO LEARN.

>> YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY NEED A LITTLE GUIDING THAT'S GOING ON.

I WAS ALWAYS GUIDED THROUGH. MY DADDY HAD TO GUIDE ME THROUGH

THINGS, YOU KNOW, SO I ALWAYS GOT A EYE ON HIM, WATCHING WHAT

HE'S DOING AND LOOK AFTER HIM. >> JOE, YOU READY TO GO CATCH

SOME GATORS? >> YEAH, TOMMY.

>> FIRST DAY FOR THE GATORS, BOY. LOOKING GOOD.

>> THE MEN ARE ANXIOUS TO GET THEIR BAIT SET SO THEY CAN

START CATCHING GATORS TOMORROW. >> UNTIL WE GET TO THAT FIRST

LINE, I CAN'T WAIT. >> I CAN'T WAIT EITHER. LET'S

GO. >> BECAUSE THE MONSTERS FEED

MOSTLY AT NIGHT, HUNTERS SET ALLIGATOR LINES THE DAY BEFORE.

>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> JOE AND TOMMY WILL SET 30 BAITED HOOKS TODAY, THEN COME

BACK TOMORROW TO CHECK THEIR LINES FOR HOOKED GATORS.

>> ALLIGATOR PULLS DOWN THE BAIT. ONCE HE SWALLOWS THE HOOK

AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY INTO THE STOMACH, YOU REALLY HAVE

HIM SNAGGED. HE'S THERE FOR YOU. >> THE SMELL OF ROTTEN CHICKEN

ATTRACTS THE BEASTS FROM MILES AWAY.

>> WHEN WE HANG THAT CHICKEN, WE WANT THAT GATOR TO SAY,

"OOH! THAT SMELLS GOOD!" HE'S GONNA BEELINE TO THAT CHICKEN.

>> TODAY THE WIND'S COMING OUT THE EAST, SO WE'LL PUT THE BAIT

ON THIS SIDE OF THE MARSH AREA SO THE SMELL WILL DRIFT BACK TO

THE CANAL. IF YOU PUT YOUR LINE ON THIS SIDE RIGHT HERE AND THE

WIND'S BLOWING, YOU'LL JUST CARRY THE SMELL INTO THE MARSH.

YOU WON'T BE DOING ANY FISHING. >> THE SUN RISES ON THE FIRST

DAY OF ALLIGATOR SEASON, AND ALL OVER SOUTHERN LOUISIANA,

THE HUNT IS ON. TROY LANDRY WITH JACOB AND HIS

HIRED GUN, CLINT, SET OUT BEFORE DAWN.

>> [INDISTINCT], THE DAY, NUMBER ONE!

>> ALLIGATOR HUNTING THE CAJUN WAY HASN'T CHANGED MUCH IN A

HUNDRED YEARS. >> YOU GOT THEM CAUGHT ON A

LINE AND HE'S PISSED OFF, AND HE'S VERY POWERFUL, AND HE CAN

HURT YOU. HE CAN HURT YOU VERY EASY. SO YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL.

>> THEY COME UPON A TAUT BAIT LINE--A SURE SIGN THEY'VE CAUGHT

A GATOR. >> LOOK, LOOK, LOOK. YOU SEE

WHERE HE'S AT? >> HE'S HOPEFUL HE'S SNAGGED BIG

HEAD. >> WHOA, WHOA. EASY, EASY, EASY.

>> [INDISTINCT]! >> WHOO! YOU ALL, [INDISTINCT],

WE GOT A BIG ONE. >> WHOO!

>> HE'S DOING THAT ROLL. HE'S TRYING TO GET OFF THE HOOK.

SHOOT HIM, CLINT. SHOOT HIM. HE'S [INDISTINCT] [BLEEP] FIGHT!

>> WHOO! >> THAT'S A BIG ONE!

>> THE LONGER HE FIGHTS, THE GREATER THE RISK THE GATOR'LL

GET OFF THE LINE. >> WATCH HIM!

>> HE AIMS FOR THE ONLY PLACE A A GATOR IS VULNERABLE, A TINY

KILL SPOT AT THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

[GUNSHOT] >> WHOA! THAT'S A SHOOTER.

THAT'S A SHOOTER. YOU SAW THAT? >> COMO CA VA? CA VA BIEN?

>> OH, YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD--WOW. >> OK.

>> WHOO! THAT'S A GOOD ONE. FIRST [INDISTINCT], FIRST

ALLIGATOR, BOY. FIRST ALLIGATOR. OFF TO A GOOD START.

>> IT MAY BE A GOOD START TO THE SEASON, BUT IT'S NOT BIG HEAD.

MEANWHILE, 70 MILES AWAY... JOE AND TOMMY HAVE BEEN HUNTING

FOR 4 HOURS AND HAVEN'T CAUGHT A SINGLE GATOR.

>> THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING OVER HERE, TOMMY. BAIT'S DOWN.

YOU SEE THE LINE'S DOWN, THAT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR YOU. IT

COULD BE ANYTHING. YOU JUST DON'T EVER KNOW WHAT'S AT THE

END. OH, LOOK, HE'S GOING THATAWAY, DUDE. PULL UP ON THE

BACK RIGHT HERE. I'M GOING TO GO WALK TO HIM.

>> HE WENT UNDERNEATH THE TREE. >> HE'S UNDER THE TREE?

>> YEAH, HE WENT UNDER--HE AIN'T ON THE BANK, BUT...[INDISTINCT].

>> TO CATCH THE GATOR, THEY DECIDE TO LEAVE THE RELATIVE

SAFETY OF THE BOAT. >> A LOT OF TIMES, YOU GOT TO

GET ON THE BANK. HE'S DONE CRAWLED UP INTO THE MARSH AND

YOU GOT TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT AND GO CRAWL IN THERE.

>> WITH A LAND SPEED OF 30 MILES PER HOUR, THIS ALLIGATOR IS A

THREAT THAT JOE CAN'T OUTRUN. >> YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S AT.

YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT AREA HE'S IN. I DON'T SEE

HIM YET. BRING THE RIFLE AND GET THE HOOK POLE. THERE YOU ARE

GETTING OUT OF THE BOAT GOING IN FOR HIM AND HE MIGHT DECIDE TO

COME THIS WAY. LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD SIZE, TOMMY. HE MADE

A LITTLE--CAME ON THE BANK RIGHT HERE. TORE THE GRASS A LITTLE

BIT SO... >> YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE

GONNA PULL UP AND GET. YOU GOT A PISSED OFF GATOR SITTING ON

BOTTOM, WHO'S REALLY UPSET. >> OH, LOOK. HE'S RIGHT HERE.

GET YOUR GUN READY. >> WITH NOTHING SEPARATING THEM

FROM THE GATOR'S BONE CRUSHING JAW, TOMMY NEEDS TO MAKE THE

FIRST SHOT COUNT. >> HE'S COMING TO THE TOP.

>> AS SOON AS HE SEES YOU, HE'S GONNA TAKE OFF. YOU WANT TO

STOP HIM RIGHT THERE IN HIS TRACKS. SO YOU WANT TO GET A

GOOD SHOT. >> AND THE RIGHT SPOT IS--RIGHT

BEHIND THE HEAD IS THE RIGHT SPOT. YOU DON'T WANT TO HIT HIM

ON TOP OF THE HEAD AND CRACK THAT BIG SKULL. LOOK LIKE HIS

HEAD RIGHT THERE. LOOK. ALL YOU DOING IS PISSING HIM OFF, AND

HE'S GONNA START FIGHTING. YEAH, THAT'S THE HEAD. SHOOT IT.

[GUNSHOTS] >> WHOA! MOTHER[BLEEP]

>> GET ANOTHER SHOT ON HIM, TOMMY.

>> IT'S NOT WORKING. >> WHERE'S THE OTHER GUN? GET

THE OTHER GUN! >> THE GUN MISFIRED.

>> WATCH IT! >> WHOA! WATCH THAT!

>> IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF GATOR SEASON, AND JOE'S BEING CHASED

BY AN ANGRY GATOR. >> THE GUN MISFIRED.

>> BUT STEPSON TOMMY'S GUN IS MISFIRING.

>> WHERE'S THE OTHER GUN? GET THE OTHER GUN!

>> IT'S A ROOKIE MISTAKE. >> MAN...

>> THE KIND THAT COULD BE DEADLY.

>> GET ANOTHER SHOT ON HIM, TOMMY. A SMALL ONE GOT REAL

SHARP RAZOR TEETH. HE'S COMING TO THE TOP.

GET READY. GET READY, GET READY. NOW GET HIM.

[GUNSHOT] >> YEAH, HE'S ALL RIGHT.

>> THAT SUCKER WAS MEAN. >> HE WAS A MANIAC.

>> YEAH. >> YOU WAS CLOSE, DUDE.

>> I THINK I FELT HIM GRAZE MY FOOT.

>> HIS MOUTH WAS OPEN ON YOUR FOOT.

>> GETTING READY TO GRAB YOUR FOOT, DUDE. HE WAS RIGHT ON IT.

>> JUST GONNA HAVE TO KEEP THE GUNS LOADED MORE BETTER. GUESS

I'M JUST SLACKING ON MY JOB. >> I DON'T WANT NONE OF THAT

HAPPENING NO MORE, BRO. NO MORE MISFIRE.

>> NO MORE MISFIRES. >> YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE

YOUR [BEEP] READY ALL THE TIME, NEVER MISFIRE. NO MORE MISFIRE.

>> I GOT YOU, BROTHER. JOE LIKES TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT

THINGS. BUST ASS, IT'S TIME TO DO WHAT WE GOT TO DO.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I GO WITH THE FLOW, BUT I STILL HAVE MY

FUN. >> 80 MILES TO THE WEST IN HIS

HOMETOWN OF BAYOU SORRELL, ANOTHER LEGENDARY GATOR HUNTER

IS HITTING THE WATER. JUNIOR EDWARDS IS TROY'S GREATEST

RIVAL. AND HE'S DETERMINED TO BEST HIM

THIS YEAR. >> WHAT DRAWS ME IN THE BASIN

AND BEING A FISHERMAN--BEING YOUR OWN BOSS. AIN'T NOBODY

OVER YOUR BACK TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO. YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE LIKE

YOU WANT TO LIVE IT. >> JUNIOR'S OUT TO BEAT LAST

YEAR'S CATCH OF 189 GATORS. HE'S WITH HIS SON, WILLIE,

WHO'S PROUD TO LEARN THE CRAFT OF GATOR HUNTING FROM ONE OF

THE BEST. >> YOU GO AROUND ASKING PEOPLE

IN TOWN, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO JUST ABOUT SAY THAT HE'S THE

BEST FISHERMAN AROUND. AIN'T NOBODY ELSE BETTER THAN HIM.

>> LIKE MOST SWAMPERS, JUNIOR CATCHES GATORS WITH BAITED

LINES. BUT HE ALSO HAS A SECRET WEAPON.

A 3-PRONGED HOOK HE USES TO SNAG GATORS IN OPEN WATERS.

>> YOU GOT TO PUT SOMETHING UP AROUND THAT BOTTOM. I SEE HOLES

AROUND THAT BOTTOM. >> JUNIOR'S HOOKS ARE 3 TIMES

STRONGER THAN THE STORE-BOUGHT VARIETY.

>> WE TAKE SOME OLD LEAD, PUT IT IN A POT AND PUT IT OVER A

BURNER, AND MELT IT DOWN TILL THE LEAD'S, LIKE, RUNNY. POUR

THAT LEAD DOWN IN THERE, AND AS IT'S HITTING THE GROUND, IT

HARDENS. OH, GETTING A LITTLE HEAVIER.

>> POUR A LITTLE BIT IN THAT FIRST ONE RIGHT THERE.

>> HIS HOOKS LOOK LOW TECH, BUT THEY'RE ABLE TO WITHSTAND 2,000

POUNDS OF FORCE. TO HAVE A GREAT SEASON, HE'LL NEED TO

MAKE AS MANY AS HE CAN. MEANWHILE, ACROSS THE BAYOU,

TROY AND HIS TEAM COME UPON A TAUT BAIT LINE WITH NO IDEA

WHAT'S ON THE OTHER END. >> LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.

YOU GOT ONE? >> YEHOO!

>> DAMN! >> IT MAY BE A FIGHTER...

[GUNSHOT] BUT IT'S SMALL.

>> DAMN, MOTHER FREAKIN'. A LITTLE BABY. A BIG ALLIGATOR'S

WORTH 3 TIMES WHAT A SMALL ONE IS WORTH, SO WE TRY TO CATCH AS

MANY BIG ONES AS WE CAN. THAT'S ABOUT A 5-FOOTER.

[TROY SIGHS] >> THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

ISSUES ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF TAGS. AND ONE MUST BE PLACED ON

EVERY GATOR HOOKED AND KILLED. SINCE GATORS ARE PRICED BY THE

FOOT, CATCHING A SMALL ONE MEANS WASTING A TAG AND LOSING

MONEY. AND ONCE A HUNTER RUNS OUT OF TAGS, HIS SEASON'S OVER.

>> I HATE TO WASTE MY TAG ON THIS LITTLE BABY.

>> THEN MORE PROMISING NEWS ARRIVES.

>> YOU WERE FISHING ALLIGATORS? >> YES. YEAH, I WAS CATCHING A

FEW. >> I SAW A BIG [BEEP] WHEN I

WAS FISHING OVER THE OTHER SIDE THERE.

>> WHERE AT? THE POINT A' JOE.

>> YEAH, THEY HAD A BIG ONE OVER THERE.

>> THERE'S ONLY ONE BIG GATOR AT THE POINT A' JOE. AND TROY

SUSPECTS WHO IT IS--BIG HEAD. >> FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS

NOW, WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THE LOCAL FISHERMAN THAT

THERE'S A BIG GATOR ON POINT A' JOE. THEY SAID HE'S STILL

AROUND. THEY'VE BEEN SEEING HIM LATELY. THE POINT A' JOE,

THAT'S A PLACE OVER HERE WHERE EVERYBODY LIKES TO

GO, BRING THEIR HOUSEBOATS OUT TO THE LAKE, AND THEY TIE UP

USUALLY FOR THE WEEKENDS AND SPEND THE WHOLE WEEKEND AND ALL

THAT. BUT IT'S FUNNY, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE CATCH A LOT OF

BIG ALLIGATORS. THE FAMILIES GO OUT SWIMMING AT POINT A' JOE,

AND THEY REALLY KNOW THEY'RE THERE. IT'S JUST, FOR SOME

REASON, THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH. BUT THEY'RE RIGHT

THERE. ALLIGATOR LOVES TO WATCH SOMETHING GO BACK AND FORTH.

THEY THINK IT'S AN EASY MEAL AND THEY'LL GO WAIT FOR THEM.

>> HE'S BIG. HE'S REAL BIG. HE COULD EAT A KID LIKE NOTHING.

SO WE NEED TO TRY TO CATCH HIM BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS

OUT HERE. >> MEANWHILE, JUNIOR'S OUT ON

THE WATER HUNTING WITH HIS HOMEMADE TREBLE HOOK.

>> DADDY? >> WHAT?

>> THAT'S HIM GOING UP THE BAYOU RIGHT THERE.

LOOK AT HIM ON THAT POINT RIGHT THERE.

>> HE SPIES A BIG GATOR SWIMMING IN THE WATER.

>> I SEE HIS TAIL STICKING OUT OF THE WATER RIGHT THERE.

>> GET READY TO THROW THE HOOK ON HIM AND CATCH HIM.

>> SO JUNIOR TRIES SOMETHING FEW WOULD DARE.

SNAGGING THE GATOR IN OPEN WATER MEANS USING HIS SECRET WEAPON,

THE TREBLE HOOK. >> I GOT 3 14-AUGHT HOOKS

TOGETHER IN A BRASS PIECE OF PIPE, AND I'LL FLIP IT OVER HIM

AND CATCH HIM. HE WENT DOWN. >> YEAH, HE WENT DOWN.

>> GET ON THE OTHER SIDE. I'M GOING TO TURN.

>> SNAGGING ALLIGATORS--WE'RE ABOUT THE ONLY ONES THAT DO IT.

>> DOING IT RIGHT IS ANOTHER MATTER.

>> HE'S BUBBLING WAY UP THERE, WILLIE. THROW IT RIGHT THERE.

RIGHT THERE. THERE HE IS RIGHT THERE. RIGHT HERE! RIGHT HERE

ON THE SIDE, WILLIE! OH, MAN, [BEEP]. YOU DONE LOST

HIM. HOW CAN [BEEP] THE [BEEP] ROPE?

AH, I SEE THE TAIL PART. QUIT CHOKING THAT ROPE. THROW IT

ACROSS HIM NOW. RIGHT THERE. RIGHT UP THERE. RIGHT THERE.

[BEEP]. OH, MAN, YOU CHOKED THAT [BEEP] ROPE SO BAD, IT'S

PITIFUL. IT'S TOO BIG A GATOR TO BE SCREWING UP ON. WHEN YOU

SEE HIM, YOU BETTER KILL HIM RIGHT AWAY, BECAUSE YOU MESS

WITH HIM A LITTLE BIT AND LOSE HIM, YOU AIN'T MIGHT NOT NEVER

GET A CHANCE TO KILL IT. THROW IT UP THERE. THROW IT WAY UP

THERE AND LET IT DRIFT DOWN. OH, [BEEP]. WILLIE, THE GATOR'S

RIGHT THERE, SON. YOU GOT TO THROW IT OUT OVER THERE. YOU'RE

WAY OFF OF IT. >> WHEN YOU THROW YOUR HOOK

OVERBOARD, YOU DRAG IT BACK SLOW. AND AS THE HOOK STOPS,

IT'S LIKE A LITTLE CUSHION YOU'RE PULLING AGAIN. WHEN YOU

PULL IT, YOU CAN FEEL HIS SKIN SINK IN EVERY TIME YOU PULL IT.

I SEE HIM. >> BE QUIET. LET THIS BOAT

DRIFT IN ON HIM. >> I GOT IT TURNED.

>> THROW IT UP. THROW IT UP RIGHT AHEAD OF THEM BUBBLES.

THROW IT. THROW IT UP YONDER, UP YONDER!

OH! [BEEP] DAMN! YOU DONE [BEEP] UP NOW. THAT GATOR'S

GOING OUT TO DEEP WATER. HE AIN'T STAYING BY THIS BANK NOW.

>> A GATOR'S INSTINCT IS TO HIDE OUT IN DEEP WATER.

>> WAITING ALL DAY? >> I GUESS THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.

>> IT COULD BE AN HOUR BEFORE THE BEAST COMES BACK UP FOR

AIR. SO NOW, IT'S A WAITING GAME.

>> COME ON, ALLIGATOR, STICK YOUR HEAD UP THERE, BOY.

[BIRDS CAWING] >> TROY AND HIS TEAM ARE

DETERMINED THAT THIS IS THE YEAR THEY'LL CATCH THE BEAST

KNOWN AS "BIG HEAD." THEY SCAN THE WATER FOR THIS

MONSTER-SIZED GATOR. >> IS THAT HIM UNDERNEATH THEM

TREETOPS? GOD. LOOK AT THAT.

>> FINALLY, THEIR DETERMINATION PAYS OFF.

>> THAT'S BIG HEAD. >> THEY CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE

LEGENDARY BIG HEAD. THIS MIGHT BE THEIR ONLY CHANCE TO CATCH

HIM, BUT SHOOTING A GATOR OUT IN THE OPEN IS EXTREMELY

DIFFICULT. [COCKS GUNS]

[GUNSHOT] THE SHOT GOES WIDE.

>> LORD HAVE MERCY. >> AND THE GATOR DIVES FOR DEEP

WATER. >> WE NEED TO CATCH HIM BEFORE

HE EATS ONE OF THEM KIDS SWIMMING OUT HERE OR SOMETHING

BAD HAPPENS. >> THE MORE LINE YOU PUT OUT,

THE BETTER CHANCE YOU HAVE OF CATCHING HIM.

>> TO FORCE ANOTHER SHOWDOWN WITH BIG HEAD, THEY'RE SETTING

EXTRA LINES IN ONE OF HIS FAVORITE HAUNTS.

>> OK, ARE WE READY? >> GIVING THIS HUNGRY GATOR

PLENTY OF BAIT, THEY COULD LURE BIG HEAD STRAIGHT TO THEIR HOOK.

>> HE'S COMING UNDERNEATH THE BOAT.

>> COMING UP, JUNIOR AND WILLIE GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO SNAG

THEIR MONSTER GATOR. >> WHOO!

[BIRDS SCREECHING] [OWL HOOTS]

>> IT'S DAY ONE OF ALLIGATOR SEASON, AND HUNTERS ALL OVER

LOUISIANA HAVE BEEN GOING NONSTOP FOR THE LAST 8 HOURS.

WITH THOUSANDS OF GATORS STILL LEFT TO BE CAUGHT, EVERY SECOND

COUNTS. >> ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO.

>> JOE AND TOMMY CHECKED OVER 20 LINES THIS MORNING.

>> ROUND TWO. >> YEAH.

>> MOST OF WHICH WERE EMPTY HOOKS.

>> HOW THIS LOOK? >> RIGHT HERE. LET'S GET THAT

ONE, TIED TO THAT WILLOW IF EVERYTHING'S RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> THEY NEED THEIR LUCK TO

CHANGE. >> CHECK IT OUT.

>> LET'S GET IN THERE, IN THAT SPOT HERE.

>> LET'S GO SEE. >> ALL RIGHT, TOMMY. WHY DON'T

YOU GO AHEAD AND BE CAPTAIN, HUH?

>> ROGER THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL LET YOU BE

CAPTAIN. I'M GONNA DO THE SHOOTING. MAKE SURE WE'RE GONNA

HAVE SOME SHOTS READY. WE DON'T WANT NO MISFIRE IN THE

BEGINNING. WHEN YOU UNLOAD THE TRUCK, YOU MAKE SURE YOU GET

EVERYTHING OUT OF THERE. GET IT IN GEAR, TURKEY. HOOK IT UP!

GIVE IT THE JUICE! >> AFTER DECADES IN THE SWAMP,

JOE KNOWS HOT SPOTS THAT TOMMY HAS NEVER SEEN.

>> NICE LITTLE SPOT. >> I TOLD YOU, THIS IS A LITTLE

HONEY HOLE. >> THEY SET OUT FOR A LOCATION

THAT'S BEEN GOOD TO JOE IN THE PAST.

>> I DECIDED TO COME ON IN HERE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> HEY, HEY. WHAT KIND OF ACTION WE GOT GOING ON HERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T SEE THE STRING.

>> YOU GOT THE BAIT? >> WE DIDN'T GET THE CHICKEN?

>> I PUT THE CHICKEN IN--HA HA! >> COME ON, NOW. DID YOU LEAVE

THE BAIT? >> I LEFT THE BAIT.

>> OH, UH, IT CAN'T BE. NOW YOU SLIPPING BAD. NOW DIDN'T I ASK

YOU WHEN WE WAS AT THE DOCK TO GET THE BAIT? I TOLD YOU TO GET

EVERYTHING LINED UP. >> MAN, I LEFT THE BAIT.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER "F" TOWARDS YOUR DAY.

TOMMY'S ALREADY COME UP EMPTY ONCE, FIRING AN UNLOADED GUN AT

AN ANGRY GATOR. >> THE GUN MISFIRED.

>> WHERE'S THE OTHER GUN? GET THE OTHER GUN!

>> FORGETTING THE BAIT IS STRIKE TWO.

>> NEVER LEFT THE BAIT BEFORE. NEVER.

>> FARTHER TO THE WEST, JUNIOR AND HIS SONS AREN'T HAVING MUCH

BETTER LUCK. THEY'RE IN A STANDOFF WITH A MONSTER GATOR

WHO'S BEEN UNDERWATER FOR THE LAST HOUR.

>> WE'RE GETTING CLOSE. SEE HIM OUT THERE? I KNEW WHEN YOU

HOOKED HIM AND HE GOT OFF, HE WAS GOING WAY OUT.

>> IT FINALLY COMES UP FOR AIR. >> I HAD HIM ON, BUT, UH, HE

PULLED THE HOOK OUT. >> GET THERE AND BEND THEM

HOOKS WHERE THEY CURL THE HOOK. BOY, OH, BOY, OH BOY.

>> JUNIOR HOPES TO SNAG THE GATOR WITH OF HIS HOMEMADE

TREBLE HOOKS, AND WILLIE'S IN THE HOT SEAT.

>> HE'S RIGHT THERE, WILLIE. HE'S PASSING RIGHT THERE.

>> BUT ONCE THE GATOR IS BOAT-SIDE, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

>> THERE HE IS. RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE!

GIVE IT SOME SLACK! >> WATCH OUT, WILLIE. DON'T LET

HIM ROLL UP IN THERE WITH YOUR HANDS.

>> OH, [BEEP] >> A CREATURE THIS SIZE COULD

EASILY FLIP THE BOAT OR DRAG ONE OF THE MEN OVERBOARD.

>> GET THAT OTHER HOOK. >> IT'S A TUG-OF-WAR BETWEEN A

150-POUND MAN AND AN 800-POUND BEAST.

>> LET HIM ROLL UP IN IT. >> THE ROPE'S MOVING SO HARD,

IT'S UNRAVELING. THE NYLON IS BRAIDED WHEN IT FIRST STARTS.

WHEN YOU GET THROUGH WITH A 12-FOOTER, HE'LL HAVE IT

UNBRAIDED, HE'S PULLING IT SO HARD.

>> AS LARGE AS THIS GATOR IS... >> HOLD ON!

>> THE TARGET IS STILL JUST THE SIZE OF A QUARTER.

>> HOW MUCH ROPE YOU GOT? >> I AIN'T GOT MUCH. COME AHEAD.

>> WHOO! ROLL ON UP THERE. LET HIM ROLL UP.

WE NEED A HOOK. WE NEED ANOTHER HOOK ON HIM.

GET THAT OTHER HOOK. >> COMING UNDERNEATH THE BOAT.

>> IT'S NOW OR NEVER. JUNIOR NEEDS TO GET A SHOT OFF BEFORE

THE MONSTER BREAKS LOOSE. >> WHOO!

>> WHOO! >> HANG ON.

>> THE GATOR NEARLY GETS ITS JAWS AROUND JUNIOR'S GUN.

>> WHOA! [GUNSHOT]

[GROWLING] >> NOW, DON'T LET HIM UNROLL

NOW. >> I GOT HIM.

>> DON'T LET HIM UNROLL. [GROWLING]

WHOO! YEAH, WE GOT HIM. RANDY, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GET OVER IN

HERE. YOU GOT TO GET IN HERE. >> DADDY, LOOK WHERE HE BROKE

HIS TEETH OFF AND STUFF. >> HE GRABBED MY BOAT. THIS

AIN'T NO BABY. >> IT TOOK NEARLY 3 HOURS, BUT

THEY FINALLY TAMED THE BEAST. EVEN SO, THE CHALLENGE ISN'T

OVER. NOW THEY HAVE TO HOIST 800 POUNDS OF DEADWEIGHT

WITHOUT SWAMPING THE BOAT OR FALLING INTO THE DEADLY WATERS.

>> YOU GOT TO GET IN HERE. THIS AIN'T NO BABY.

>> WHEN YOU GET READY TO PUT THE ALLIGATOR IN THE BOAT, YOU

GOT TO GET HIS HEAD IN THE BOAT. >> GET THAT HEAD.

>> IF YOU CAN GET HIS HEAD OVER IN THE BOAT, THAT'S LIKE

COUNTERWEIGHT. >> PULL UP ON HIM. PICK UP,

PICK UP ON HIM, WILLIE. WE GONNA PICK UP STRAIGHT UP ON

HIM. >> BUT IF YOU DON'T DO IT

RIGHT... >> YOU GOT TO ROLL HIM NOW.

>> GRAB THE TAIL AND THEN GRAB THE HEAD, IT AIN'T GONNA

HAPPEN, NOT ON A 12-FOOTER. IF YOU CAN'T GET HIS HEAD UPSIDE

THAT BOAT, YOU IN TROUBLE. >> YOU AIN'T NEVER GONNA ROLL

HIM IF YOU DON'T PULL HIS LEG UP OUT OF THERE. GOD. STUCK

THAT HOOK IN MY HAND. >> YOU GOT HIS HEAD THERE? I'M

TRYING TO GET HIS TAIL OVER. >> ROLL HIM, ROLL HIM.

>> HOLD HIS HEAD. YOU GOT TO HOLD HIS HEAD.

>> I GOT HIS HEAD. GO AHEAD, ROLL HIM.

I SHOVED MY HAND DOWN ON A HOOK. BOY, I STUCK THAT THING

DEEP. >> OH, HE GOT A HOOK IN HIS

HAND. >> YEAH. I DIDN'T LOOK DOWN,

AND THEM HOOKS WERE POINTING UP, AND I SHOVED DOWN ON ONE OF

THEM. >> THIS GUY'S STILL ALIVE, MAN.

>> THAT GUY IS NOT ALIVE. >> HE'S LOOKING ALIVE, THOUGH.

>> I PUT ENOUGH HEAT ON HIM, SON.

THING STILL ALIVE? YEAH. >> YEAH, YEAH. HE'S STILL

MOVING. >> THINK I NEED TO SHOOT HIM

AGAIN, BOY? >> HE'S LOOKING AT ME, YEAH!

[GUNSHOT] >> TROY HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR

BIG HEAD FOR THE LAST TWO HOURS, BUT HIS WHITE WHALE

HASN'T RESURFACED. >> CAN YOU SEE?

>> IT GOES STRAIGHT IN FRONT THE TREE.

>> STRAIGHT IN FRONT THE TREE? >> YEAH.

>> THEY ARRIVE AT THEIR LAST LINE OF THE DAY ONLY TO FIND

BOTH THE BAIT AND THE GATOR MISSING.

>> OH, WE HAD ONE HERE. THE BANK'S ALL TORE UP. HE

STRAIGHTENED THE HOOK OUT. >> THIS IS NOT THE FIRST

STRAIGHTENED HOOK THEY'VE FOUND IN THIS AREA.

>> MOTHER-FRICKER. WE LOST HIM. >> THIS APPEARS TO BE THE WORK

OF BIG HEAD. >> THE BIG ONE GOT AWAY AGAIN.

>> HE TOOK OUR BAIT AND HAULED ASS AND JUST SAT RIGHT THERE

AND WATCHED US, AND THAT'S LIKE A EVERY YEAR THING. SO HE'S

THERE--BIG HEAD. EVERY YEAR, IT STRAIGHTENS OUT OUR HOOKS. IT

STRAIGHTENS OUR HOOKS, AND WE NEVER CAUGHT IT. WE GONNA TRY

TO REPLACE THOSE SMALLER HOOKS WITH THE BIGGER ONES, AND

HOPEFULLY WE'LL CATCH HIM THIS YEAR.

>> HE'S PROBABLY JUST SITTING THERE ON THE BOTTOM, WAITING ON

US TO LEAVE. >> BACK NEAR HIS BAYOU SORREL

HOMESTEAD, JUNIOR HEADS TO THE MARKET TO SELL THE FIRST DAY'S

CATCH. >> THAT'S A DANGEROUS JOB RIGHT

THERE. >> ALLIGATORS ARE SOLD FOR

MEAT, BUT THE SKINS ARE WHAT BRING IN THE BIG MONEY.

CONSIDERED EXOTIC LEATHER, ALLIGATOR SKINS ARE BOUGHT BY

TANNERIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. >> THAT'S A BIG ANIMAL.

>> IT TOOK NEARLY 3 HOURS TO CATCH, BUT THIS BIG ONE IS

WORTH A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN THE SMALLER ONES. TANNERIES ARE

WILLING TO PAY MORE MONEY FOR THE BIGGER SKINS, AND THE PRICE

PER FOOT FOR LARGER GATORS CAN BE UP TO 3 TIMES MORE.

>> WHAT HE GONNA BE? >> 12'2".

>> JUNIOR'S LARGEST CATCH OF THE DAY IS 12'2" AND WEIGHS 760

POUNDS. >> HE GAVE US A WORKOUT, THAT

ONE. HA HA HA! >> AT LAST, JUNIOR WILL FIND

OUT HOW MUCH MONEY HE MADE FOR THE DAY.

>> HOW MUCH? >> $1,430.

>> SO FAR SO GOOD FOR JUNIOR. AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF GATOR

HUNTING, HE'S RIGHT ON TARGET TO MATCH LAST YEAR'S PACE.

>> COMING UP. >> HE'S HOOKED ON THE FRONT

LEG. >> JOE AND TOMMY BATTLE A BIG

ONE. >> HO! TREE SHAKER! TREE SHAKER!

>> AND TROY COMES FACE TO FACE...

>> I THINK THAT'S BIG HEAD. >> WITH HIS WHITE WHALE.

>> MY ROOST AREA DIDN'T TURN OUT LIKE I THOUGHT.

>> FOR JOE AND TOMMY, IT'S TIME TO GET

SERIOUS. AFTER 30 SEASONS OF SUCCESSFUL GATOR HUNTING, JOE

IS OFF TO A DISMAL START. >> TOMMY?

>> WHAT? >> SEEM LIKE THAT ENGINE GIVING

YOU A LITTLE PROBLEM, HUH? >> JUST A LITTLE BIT.

>> JOE'S FIRST MATE AND STEPSON TOMMY IS GIVING HIM BIG

HEADACHES. >> THE GUN MISFIRED.

>> WHERE'S THE OTHER GUN? GET THE OTHER GUN!

>> AFTER TRYING TO KILL A CHARGING GATOR WITH AN UNLOADED

GUN, HE FORGOT TO PUT GATOR BAIT ON THE BOAT.

>> COME ON NOW. DID YOU LEAVE THE BAIT?

>> I LEFT THE BAIT. >> THAT'S ANOTHER "F" TOWARDS

YOUR DAY. TOMMY'S A GOOD HARD WORKER, AND HE'S A FUN-LOVING

GUY, BUT WHEN YOU GO GATOR HUNTING, YOU GOT TO BE SERIOUS

AND GO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. IT'S TIME TO GET TO BUSINESS.

WE GATOR HUNTING. >> JOE WAS GETTING ON ME. HE

WANTS ME TO DO IT HIS WAY. THAT'S ONE THING ABOUT JOE.

IT'S HIS WAY OR NO WAY. >> I WANT TO SHOW HIM THE RIGHT

WAY. KEEP LIKE ME, THE WAY I'VE BEEN DOING.

>> I WANT HIM TO KNOW THAT I'M ABLE TO STAND ON MY OWN TWO

FEET AND I CAN DO IT. >> THEY NEED A MONSTER CATCH TO

GET THEM BACK ON TRACK. >> I DON'T SEE THE BAIT POLE OR

ANYTHING. THIS IS WHERE I BEEN SEEING THIS BIG ONE AT.

>> JOE LEADS THEM TO ANOTHER GATOR HIDEAWAY.

>> HE'S THE ONE I TOLD YOU THAT LIVES IN THAT PIPE. HE LIVES IN

THAT CULVERT. >> THE STOMPING GROUNDS OF A

9-FOOTER. >> WELL, HE GONNA BE LIVING IN

OUR BOX HERE SOON, HUH? >> HA HA HA!

>> LOOK, TOMMY. HE'S BEEN ALL OVER THE BANK. LOOK! TOLD YOU!

OH, OH BOY! >> THIS COULD BE THEIR BIGGEST

CATCH OF THE SEASON. >> HE'S 9 FOOT. GET IN THERE!

>> RIGHT NOW, IT'S THEIR MOST DANGEROUS.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. >> JOE, THE STRING'S RIGHT HERE.

>> THE BEST PLACE TO CONTROL THE ROPE IS ON LAND, BUT IT

LEAVES JOE TOTALLY EXPOSED IF THE GATOR RUSHES THE BANK.

>> NOT SURE WHERE HE'S AT. >> SEE IF WE CAN SHAKE IT UP

AND MAKE HIM COME OUT. MAKE A LITTLE ACTION.

>> THE LINE'S COVERED IN VEGETATION, PROVIDING THICK

CAMOUFLAGE FOR THE GATOR BELOW. >> HOPE I CAN GET HIM AWAY TO

COME OUT OF THIS GRASS HERE. >> OH, I SEE BUBBLES. OH!

>> THERE HE IS! THERE HE IS! THAT'S THE ONE!

>> THAT'S THE ONE! WOW!

>> MAKE THE ONE SHOT COUNT. >> THERE'S NO MARGIN FOR ERROR.

>> I'M BRINGING HIM TO YOU. YOU GETTING READY TO SEE THE HEAD.

I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE EVERYTHING RIGHT. GET READY. GET READY!

I THINK YOU JUST PUT SALT ON HIM. WE NEED SOME PEPPER.

>> I'LL PUT A LITTLE CAYENNE ON HIS ASS. LET'S DO IT.

CAN'T SEE. PULL UP. >> LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET

HIM TO GO OUT A LITTLE BIT. >> I JUST GOT SOME GREEN.

>> LET HIM GET OUT. LET HIM GET OUT. WATCH. HERE HE GO.

HE'S HOOKED ON THE FRONT LEG! HE'S NOT EVEN HOOKED IN THE JAW.

>> OH, WOW. >> GO TO THE FRONT. HE'S NOT

EVEN HOOKED IN THE MOUTH. >> THE HOOK COULD BUST LOOSE AT

ANY MOMENT. >> GET A HEAD SHOT. GET READY.

GET READY. GET READY. DON'T SEE? >> DON'T SEE NOTHING.

>> THIS IS TOMMY'S CHANCE TO MAKE UP FOR HIS EARLIER ROOKIE

MISTAKES IF HE GETS THE KILL SHOT.

>> WATCH HIM. >> SALT AND PEPPER, BABY.

>> SALT AND PEPPER? >> SALT AND PEPPER.

>> HE MIGHT NOT BE NINE FOOT, BUT HE'S CLOSE TO IT.

>> LOOK WHERE HE'S HOOKED. >> YEAH, HE DIDN'T EVEN

SWALLOW. HOOKED HIM IN THE FRONT SHOULDER. ALL RIGHT,

TOMMY. I'M READY. TOMMY'S SHOWING SOME IMPROVEMENT. YOU

KNOW, HE'S WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON. HE'S PICKING UP WHAT

I'M DOING. MAKES ME FEEL GOOD TO KNOW THAT I SHOWED HIM THE

RIGHT WAY OF DOING THINGS. >> 80 MILES AWAY IN BAYOU

SORREL... >> OH, LET'S GO TO THE HOUSE.

>> IT'S THE END OF A GREAT DAY ONE FOR JUNIOR AND WILLIE, AND

NOW IT'S TIME TO HEAD HOME. >> OH, MAN. REST OUR BONES FOR

A LITTLE WHILE. JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

>> REMEMBER THAT TIME I FRIED THE BACON FIRST IN THE ONIONS?

>> MM-HMM. >> THAT'S HOW I MADE THEM FOR

YOU THIS TIME. >> ALL RIGHTY, MAMA.

>> HIP'S HURTING ME. DOGGONE LEVEE'S SO ROUGH, YOU BEAT YOUR

DEATH COMING DOWN THE LEVEE. >> ME AND JUNIOR'S BEEN MARRIED

FOR 28 YEARS. WHEN HE'S HAD A HARD DAY IN THE BOAT, HE

EXPECTS FOOD COOKED. >> TODAY, SUPPER IS MARSH HEN

THAT JUNIOR SHOT AND KILLED HIMSELF.

>> LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THAT SAME STUFF I ATE YESTERDAY.

>> IT AIN'T GOOD? >> SOMEBODY WENT AND WASTED MY

DOGGONE CHEESE, I BET YOU. >> HOW DOES IT TASTE?

>> IT'S PRETTY GOOD. >> WE'LL BUY GROCERIES AT

PLAQUEMINE OR WHATEVER, BUT MOST OF THE TIME, WE LIKE

EATING THE WILDLIFE. WATCH, THEY GOT HAIR BONES IN THEM.

WHATEVER IS LEGAL, WHATEVER HE CAN KILL, THAT'S WHAT WE'D

ENJOY EATING. >> THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL SOME

GOOD WILDLIFE FOOD. PRETTY GOOD. >> IT WAS PRETTY GOOD. PRETTY,

PRETTY GOOD. EAT LIKE THAT, THEN YOU WANT TO GO TO SLEEP. I

NEED SOME COFFEE, MAMA. GETTING UP, MAKING COFFEE YET?

>> I AM TRYING TO FINISH MY DINNER.

>> GO AHEAD, DEAR. I WON'T BOTHER YOU.

>> WOULD YOU GET UP AND PUT THAT ON?

>> NOT REALLY. >> WHY?

>> I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. >> BEING A FISHERMAN'S WIFE IS

NOT EASY. JUNIOR IS VERY DEMANDING, AND, YEAH, YOU

WORRY. WHEN JUNIOR'S OUT IN THE BOAT, HIM AND MY BOYS, WILLIAM,

RANDY, IT'S A WORRY BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW. THERE'S A LOT OF

THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN IN THIS SWAMP THAT CAN EASILY TAKE YOUR

LIFE. >> BACK IN LAKE VERRET...

>> HO! TREE SHAKER, TREE SHAKER! >> TROY MAY HAVE THE MONSTER

HE'S BEEN CHASING FOR YEARS. HIS TEAM HAS A TREE SHAKER ON

THE LINE. ONLY THE BIGGEST, MEANEST GATORS CAN MOVE A TREE

LIKE THAT. >> WHEN WE CAN SEE A TREE

SHAKING FROM DOWN THE BAYOU, WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO IT BECAUSE

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A GOOD ALLIGATOR.

>> WE GOT A TREE SHAKER! WE GOT A TREE SHAKER!

>> IT'S JUST INTERESTING WITH THE BIG ONES. THEY IN CONTROL.

YOU NOT IN CONTROL. >> OH! THAT'S A TREE SHAKER.

LOOK AT THAT. >> IT'S ON A LINE THEY BAITED

ESPECIALLY FOR BIG HEAD. >> I THINK THAT'S BIG HEAD.

>> IF IT IS BIG HEAD, MAN AND BEAST WILL FINALLY FACE OFF.

>> HURRY UP, CLINT! SHOOT! SHOOT HIM! SHOOT HIM!

>> BACK IN LAKE VERRET, TROY HAS A MASSIVE GATOR ON THE LINE.

>> SHOOT! SHOOT HIM! SHOOT HIM! SHOOT HIM! BRO, HURRY UP AND

SHOOT BEFORE HE GETS OFF! I THINK THAT'S BIG HEAD.

>> HE'S LIVE! >> SHOOT, SHOOT! THAT [BEEP]

SPLASH. HE'S GONNA GET OFF! SHOOT, SHOOT! PUMP HIM!

[GUNSHOTS] OH, YEAH. WE GOT HIM. GO! WE

GOT HIM! THIS IS A BIG ONE! THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S BEEN

STRAIGHTENING OUT OUR HOOKS. BEEN TWO YEARS WE BEEN TRYING

TO CATCH THIS ALLIGATOR, TWO YEARS. FINALLY GOT HIM. 1, 2,

3. WHOO! THE BOAT'S SINKING! WE'RE TAKING ON WATER! PHEW.

[GRUNTING] PHEW. YOU'RE NOT PUTTING OUT,

CLINT. OH, HE'S NOT ALL THE WAY IN. THIS IS THE KING OF LAKE

VERRET! WE JUST CAUGHT HIM. THAT'S THE BULLY, THE BULLY OF

LAKE VERRET. >> WE KNOCKED IT OUT RIGHT

THERE. >> I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A TAG.

THAT WAS A JOB, EH? LORD, HAVE MERCY! YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!

WE GOT THE BIG ONE! I WEAR A 13, AND LOOK AT THAT BOOT NEXT

TO THAT. AND RIGHT THERE AT THAT POINT, PEOPLE COME WITH

THEIR KIDS ALWAYS SWIMMING. RIGHT THERE, COUPLE OF HUNDRED

YARDS FROM HERE. WE FINALLY CAUGHT THAT SUCKER. HE ALWAYS

WAS ON THE LUCKY END OF THE DEAL. WE GOT HIM NOW. WAS OUR

LUCKY DAY! >> IT TOOK HIM TWO YEARS, BUT

TROY'S FINALLY BRINGING BIG HEAD TO MARKET.

>> [HISSING] >> ALREADY, AN ADMIRING CROWD IS

GATHERING. >> LOOK AT THE HEAD!

>> THAT'S UNREAL. THAT'S THE BIGGEST I'VE EVER SEEN.

>> OH! LOOK HOW BIG IT IS! >> THAT'S BIG, HUH, BROTHER?

COME ON. LOOK AT THAT. GOD! ONE INCH MISSING FROM

13 FOOT. ONE INCH MISSING FROM 13 FOOT.

>> [BEEP] YEAH. >> 12'11" IS A RECORD, EVEN FOR

THESE PARTS. >> SIGN RIGHT HERE.

>> WE HAD 39. YUP, WE HAD A GOOD DAY TODAY.

VERY SATISFIED. THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE WE'VE CAUGHT

SO FAR. >> WHILE TROY HEADS HOME FOR

THE DAY, JOE AND TOMMY AREN'T QUITE DONE. THEY HAVE A

TRADITION INVOLVING THE FIRST BIG CATCH OF THE SEASON.

THEY SKIN IT. >> I TRY TO DO ALL THE WORK I

CAN MYSELF WHEN I GO TO DO SOMETHING.

>> JUST LIKE LOUISIANA'S FIRST SETTLERS, JOE CUSTOM-CRAFTS HIS

OWN TOOLS. >> IT'S NOT ABOUT SAVING THE

MONEY, YOU KNOW. IT'S JUST ABOUT MAKING SOMETHING YOU OWN,

AND I JUST LIKE DOING IT MYSELF. IF I COULD BUILD IT,

I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE IT INSTEAD OF RUNNING UP THE ROAD

AND GET IT. >> ALL RIGHT, JOE. I'M ABOUT TO

GET STARTED. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> OUT HERE, TRADITIONS DIE HARD.

>> WHAT YOU WORKING ON, TOMMY? >> OH, I'M GETTING THE TAIL

GOING. >> I AIN'T NEVER MISSED A

ALLIGATOR SEASON YET, YOU KNOW? SO IT'D BE A BIG PART OF ME

MISSING. IT'S A TRADITION THING, YOU KNOW? I LEARNED IT

WITH MY DAD. SO I'M HOPING TOMMY'LL GO AHEAD ON, AND I

THINK HE'LL BE THE NEXT GUY IN LINE. IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S

STARTING TO GET INTO IT PRETTY GOOD BIT, AND I THINK IT'S

ALREADY IN HIM. >> LOOK. CHECK THAT OUT, JOE.

>> OH, THE BAIT'S STILL ON IT? >> BAIT'S STILL ON IT, JOE.

>> LOOK. THIS IS A LUCKY HOOK. PUT IT IN THE BUCKET, AND WE'RE

GONNA USE IT AGAIN TOMORROW. IT'LL BE OUR SPECIAL ONE.

>> I'LL GO AHEAD AND THROW THIS...

>> OH, LEAVE THAT WITH IT, HUH? DON'T THROW THE BAIT AWAY!

THE BAIT'S JUST GETTING RIPE! >> ALL RIGHT! WHATEVER YOU SAY,

BUDDY. >> LOOK. YOU SAVE THE HOOK, AND

YOU ALREADY HAVE THE BAIT. I MEAN, WE CAN'T THROW THE BAIT

AWAY. >> ME AND JOE'S LIKE BEST

FRIENDS, YOU KNOW? WE DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER. CUT THE

GRASS TOGETHER, WASH THE HOUSE TOGETHER. EVERYTHING'S

TOGETHER. SOMETIMES, I QUIT A JOB TO GO ALLIGATOR HUNTING.

THAT'S HOW--THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ME TO GO,

YOU KNOW? >> BACK IN PIERRE PART, TROY'S

HOSTING ANOTHER CAJUN TRADITION, A FAMILY PARTY TO CELEBRATE

THE START OF GATOR SEASON. >> I WANT TO KNOW RIGHT NOW. ON

3, WHO WANTS TO CATCH ALLIGATORS TOMORROW?

>> ME! >> YEAH!

>> TON AMI! CA C'EST BON! MMM! WE GOT A LITTLE GET-TOGETHER

THIS EVENING. WE GOT ALL THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS IS HERE.

>> THERE'S NO ROOM AT THE TABLE, SO IT'S STANDING ROOM

ONLY NOW. EVERYONE IN TOWN KNOWS MY

OLD MAN. THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO TO HIM WHENEVER THEY

NEED SOMETHING. >> THIS IS ABOUT $15 A POUND

FOR THIS LUMP CRABMEAT RIGHT HERE. TRY IT. YOU TRY THE FIRST

BITE. I'LL GET THE NEXT ONE. >> HE WOULD GIVE YOU THE SHIRT

OFF HIS BACK. >> HE SURE WOULD.

>> HE REALLY WOULD. >> WHAT, MY BABY? WHAT THEY

GOT? WHAT IS IT? >> LOOK! LOOK AT THE SNAKE!

LOOK AT THE SNAKE ATTACKING A FISH.

>> OH! I WANT MY KIDS TO LEARN THE SAME THING AND GROW UP THE

SAME WAY WE DID. RIGHT, MY BABY? EVEN THE SNAKE'S GOT TO

EAT. TO ME, FAMILY'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY GOT.

FAMILY COMES FIRST. THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN

FAMILY, NOTHING. WE CATCH THE MOST, HUH, AND WE CATCH WHAT?

>> THE BIGGEST! >> THE BIGGEST! IF EVER

SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME AND THEY GIVE MY HEART TO A GUY

FROM NEW YORK UP THERE, I PROMISE YOU, HE'S GONNA COME

DOWN HERE AND FISH ALLIGATORS. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

WHOO-HOO! BRENT! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

HE AIN'T GONNA KNOW WHY, BUT HE'S GONNA WANT TO BE DOWN HERE

AND DO IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I AM, THAT'S WHAT I DO, AND I

DON'T THINK THAT'S EVER GONNA CHANGE.

I JUST HEARD A BIG ALLIGATOR. YA'LL HEARD IT? YOU HEARD IT?

YEAH, OVER THERE. Y'ALL DIDN'T HEAR IT? WHOA, WHOA, WHOA,

WHOA, WHOA! YOU HEARD IT?