South Florida Teen Catches 800-Pound Gator

19-year-old St. Lucie man fishes out 12-foot alligator

A South Florida teen who went fishing over the weekend got a little more than he bargained for when he hauled in a 12-foot, 800-pound alligator.

Tim Stroh, 19, was fishing with his family in the St. Lucie County Canal when he hooked the massive gator with his line.

"I've never seen a gator that size," Stroh told WPTV. "I had adrenaline pumping through me and I was just like, 'Oh, my god!'"

Stroh, who has an alligator hunting permit, managed to pull the immense reptile near his boat, where he hit it with a .44 caliber bang stick.

With the help of his family, Stroh pulled the gator into the boat and left the canal with his trophy.

Stroh's dad, a taxidermist, said he'd mount the head for his room.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said Stroh's catch wasn't the biggest in the state. The longest gator caught measured over 14 feet and the heaviest over 1,000 pounds.

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