Anybody seen an alligator snapper in TN?

[Robo Duck]

My nephew picked one up and brought it home from Hatchie river bottoms . I made him take it back as they are protected .

 

[WTM]

Curious here.... How do you tell the difference between a snapper and an alligator snapper in the 5 pound range?

aligator snapper will have distinct ridges on the top of its shell and a smooth tail. common snapper will have a smoother shell with a distinct ridge along the top of its tail. plus the head of an alligator snapper is larger with a different shape.

 

[Paul Burns]

Do any of you remember when Mr. Borchard (spelling) at the catfish restaurant in Camden was still commercial fishing. He caught a new state record snapping turtle, then a few weeks later he caught one that beat his own record. I am thinking they weighted over 150 # each. I know for a fact they could snap a big hunk out of a skulling paddle. This was about 1972 or 3.
WTM this is at home for you.

 

[Crosshairy]

I saw an absolute giant while canoeing down the Spring River in AR about 10 years ago. It was as big as the one in the Memphis Zoo. Shell was 3 feet easy!!


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[WTM]

Do any of you remember when Mr. Borchard (spelling) at the catfish restaurant in Camden was still commercial fishing. He caught a new state record snapping turtle, then a few weeks later he caught one that beat his own record. I am thinking they weighted over 150 # each. I know for a fact they could snap a big hunk out of a skulling paddle. This was about 1972 or 3.
WTM this is at home for you.

he used to have one of the shells in the restaurant before he sold it. lol, in her teenage years, my wife used to dress catfish for him as a part time job.

 

[Biggun4214]

Alligator snappers are found in the western portion of the state. Their range would be similar to cottonmouths.
Common snappers are found statewide. They can reach weights of 30-40 pounds and up.

 

[drrxnupe]

I've seen very large snapping turtles on Marrowbone lake. Dont know if they were alligator variety or not but they were HUGE...probably 36 inches or more.

 

[Rob-HC Hunter]

Not sure if I have seen an alligator snapper. But these regular snappers are fun to catch with cut bluegill.

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[RUGER]

Not sure if I have seen an alligator snapper. But these regular snappers are fun to catch with cut bluegill.

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I bet that one took a while to get in!! :shock:

 

[FishnFed]

Taste like chicken.

 

[Mike Belt]

How many on here have fished specifically for turtle? I used to growing up and we caught a bunch. Cut bait or liver and a slow bite gradually ending up with a fight after the turtle swallowed the bait. I also drug a seine through a bunch of ditches and water holes catching bait for trotlines and did so barefoot. Many of those places were where we caught turtles and somewhere in the back of my mind I always thought about stepping on a turtle and the consequences. Never happened but it wouldn't have surprised me.

 

[Yotekiller011]

Many years ago (60s and 70s) I use to see them often on the French broad river. I grew up on a farm along the river and would see one while Bush hogging low spots in our fields. Commons mostly but alligator were there too. They would come from the river get in our ponds/lakes and absolutely kill the fish population and any ducks you had. That's probably what leads to its decline. I had one get a stringer of fish more than once while fishing. Pull your fish up to half of them eaten with the alligator turtle still hanging on feeding.

 

[Kimber45]

Use to be common in the bottom I grew up hunting in West Tn in the 70's.. Havent seen one in many years though

 

[huntintn]

Taste like chicken.

And smells like shat......

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