Four Florida hunters capture 11ft and 375lbs alligator

  • Nick Naylor, John Booker, Kenny Way and Casey Shields caught and killed an 11ft, 375lbs reptile on Wednesday morning in Blackwater Bay near Pensacola, Florida 
  • The long battle started late Tuesday night and went into the early hours the next day 
  • They used a 40lbs test from a spinning reel to help capture the animal
  • Baited hooks, firearms or bang sticks are all prohibited when hunting alligators 

Four Florida hunters got quite the reward after embarking in an intense three-hour long battle with an enormous alligator.

Nick Naylor, John Booker, Kenny Way and Casey Shields caught and killed an 11ft, 375lbs reptile on Wednesday morning in Blackwater Bay near Pensacola, Florida. 

The long battle started late Tuesday night and went into the early hours the next day.

Nick Naylor, John Booker, Kenny Way and Casey Shields caught and killed an 11ft, 375lbs reptile on Wednesday morning in Blackwater Bay near Pensacola, Florida

They used a 40lbs test from a spinning reel to help capture the animal. 

Baited hooks, firearms or bang sticks are all prohibited when hunting alligators.

Hunters are also only allowed to take two non-hatchling alligators.

The season for alligator hunting kicked off on Tuesday as the plan, first launched in 1988, helps partially control the state’s 1.3million gator population, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The long battle started late Tuesday night and went into the early hours the next day

The long battle started late Tuesday night and went into the early hours the next day

The long battle started late Tuesday night and went into the early hours the next day

They used a 40lbs test from a spinning reel to help capture the animal. Baited hooks, firearms or bang sticks are all prohibited when hunting alligators

They used a 40lbs test from a spinning reel to help capture the animal. Baited hooks, firearms or bang sticks are all prohibited when hunting alligators

Hunters are also only allowed to take two non-hatchling alligators

Hunters are also only allowed to take two non-hatchling alligators

This year alone has seen lots of gator sightings. 

Back in January, a colossal beast was filmed making its way along a path, a video that was shared thousands of time of social media. 

There have been 16 bite incidents so far this year, according to officials, which equals the stateside record set in 2001. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk