A hunting team in South Carolina captured an 844-pound, nearly 14-foot-long alligator named “Snaggletooth” in Lake Moultrie on September 28. The reptile’s size and weight rank it as the second-largest alligator ever documented in the state.
Four-Year Pursuit in Lake Moultrie
Cole Poplin and William Ard of Renegade Bowfishing LLC joined hunters Chris Webb and Craig Webb for the late-night hunt in Berkeley County. The group used a harpoon to secure the animal around 11 p.m. after spotting it in the water. Poplin told the Post and Courier that he first tracked the alligator four years prior. While he frequently spotted the animal outside of standard hunting windows, it consistently eluded hunters during the annual season running from early September to early October.
Encounter With a Smaller Target Before the Catch
Chris Webb recounted that the hunting party encountered an 11-foot alligator earlier in the evening but chose to bypass it in search of a larger animal. The decision led them to cross paths with Snaggletooth, named for its irregular teeth. The subsequent encounter involved three successful harpoon strikes after an initial weapon failure during the struggle.
Heavy Machinery Required for Extraction
Moving the 383-kilogram carcass required a tractor after a winch rated for 1,000 pounds failed under the animal’s weight. The state record remains held by a 1,025-pound, 13-foot alligator caught in Lake Moultrie by Maryellen Mara-Christian in 2010.
Details About the Alligator Capture and Previous State Record
When was the alligator captured?
The alligator was caught on the night of September 28, shortly before 11 p.m.
Where was Snaggletooth found?
The reptile was captured in Lake Moultrie, located within Berkeley County, South Carolina.
Who currently holds the record for the largest alligator in South Carolina?
Maryellen Mara-Christian holds the state record for a 1,025-pound alligator caught in Lake Moultrie in 2010.