Swamp People

It’s been the best start to alligator season in a decade, and every record has been shattered. Now, the biggest storm since Hurricane Katrina is headed straight for the swamp. Forecasters predict it will make landfall by day’s end so hunters across the bayou are using every second they’ve got to fill as many tags as they can. After days on the sideline with a wrenched back, Joe LaFont can’t stay away any longer. He and his stepson Tommy are reunited on a mission to stay ahead of the storm. Troy Landry is once again running a two-boat operation. Troy wants to catch as many gators as possible before the storm makes landfall–so he’s dividing to conquer multiple territories at once. Over in Pecan Island, Liz and her helper Kristi are also looking to use a two-pronged strategy: running lines and sharp shooting in open water. Rookies Austyn and Blake have five more tags from their buyer. If they fail to fill their tags before the storm arrives, their season could be over.

Tropical Storm Lee is finally making landfall and it’s wrecking havoc, threatening to shut down alligator season altogether. With the season in jeopardy, Troy still has over 300 tags left to be filled. To make matters worse, he’s facing the treacherous conditions short handed. His son Chase is sidelined with an injury. Bruce and his shooter Ron are also braving the storm. But water levels have risen drastically, completely blanketing their boat launch. Bruce will drive the rising water like a highway, powering into a section of the swamp that’s normally unreachable. Joe and his stepson Tommy head out across a lake to run their lines as fast as possible. But soon, the boys find themselves in the worst possible position: in the thick of Lee, in choppy water with lightning closing in. While the veterans push through the worst of the storm, rookies Austyn and Blake are close on their heels. The boys have a handful of tags from their buyer–and once again, their season is on the line.

The worst of the storm has passed, but tidal surge after a storm can spell disaster, as rising waters top levees and flood towns. Joe and Tommy can’t return to the hunt with their home and their community in peril. In Houma, saltwater from the ocean has rushed into the marsh, chasing the gators inland. R.J. and Jay Paul will move their hunt to the place they believe the gators are hiding. For Liz and Kristi, high waters and winds have left their hunting grounds unrecognizable–and they’re forced to start from scratch. Junior Edwards and Malcom are also looking to make up for lost time. They will ride the high waters into a spot that’s normally inaccessible. But there’s a catch: it will only be accessible for a few hours and when they arrive the water level’s already dropping. Glenn and Mitchell were hunkered down during the worst of the weather and ate through everything they had. Today, the brothers are grocery shopping the only way they know how…in the swamp.

It’s the halfway point of the month-long alligator season, and it’s time to rally. Boat traffic is spoiling one of Troy’s go-to hunting grounds, so he and Clint decide to brave a treacherous swamp guarded by the legendary Gates of Hell. Over in Myrtle Grove, the high water levels that remain after the storm have given Joe and Tommy a rare opportunity. Today, the guys are headed to one of Joe’s daddy’s favorite honey holes, located in a flooded drainage ditch they haven’t been able to access in years. In Houma, today is a very special day for R.J. Molinere…it’s his 50th birthday. In keeping with family tradition, the boys set a lofty goal–to catch one gator for each of RJ’s 50 years. Meanwhile, Willie and Randy are facing some serious pressure from their dad, master hunter Junior Edwards. Junior’s tasked his boys with a quota of six gators…and if they don’t fill it, Junior will stop running their boat.

With half the season over, the best hunters are back on track and ahead of last year’s pace. R.J. and Jay Paul are after a nasty gator that’s been wrecking havoc, and the monster’s got a fitting nickname: Pas Tout La. It’s a French saying that means “not all there,” and the vicious nature of this beast’s attacks point to a crazed killer. Troy and his sharpshooter Clint are after a prize of their own. An old adversary he calls King Tut has re-surfaced, and the crew will stop at nothing to end this ancient gator’s reign. As Liz and Kristi head to their first line of the day, Liz spots an enormous gator. She uses her accurate open water shooting skill to put a shot dead on, but this monster’s hard-plated head is so tough it deflects even their best shots. While the legends of the swamp track their behemoths, Glenn and Mitchell are tackling a monster of their own–a houseboat. Today the brothers have agreed to move heir friend Blake’s houseboat.

In Pierre Part, Troy Landry’s sons Jacob and Chase are once again operating their own boat to help their dad fill tags. Jacob is looking for new territory–and he’s bringing along the Landry secret weapon…his grandfather, Troy’s dad…Duffy Landry. Meanwhile, cousins Austyn and Blake are also headed toward new ground. All season, they’ve been filling a daily quota for their buyer Coach…but Coach has leveled a new challenge: to find a honey hole of their own that delivers big results. Junior Edwards prides himself on finding the hidden spots that no one else would think to visit. Today, he’s targeting the most unlikely of all–a pool that’s behind a metal dike. Veteran hunter Bruce is also forging a new road to new grounds. He’s upping the odds of success, stacking the deck with very special bait: blood-injected rotten chicken.

As the sun rises on day 18, it’s already 96 degrees on the bayou. Every hunter knows the heat drives the gators into a feeding frenzy. But the scorching sun can spoil hides and meat once the gators are in the boat. Troy and Clint are targeting Lake Verret to make the most of the voracious gators. Junior Edwards is also expecting a huge day. Five years ago, in 105-degree heat, he had the best day of his career. Today, he’s hoping to repeat past glory. Liz and Kristi are primed to fill the boat by midday, and Liz is on the verge of her best catch all season. But soon, things turn on a dime when the swamp throws Liz a curve she never saw coming. Across the swamp, veteran hunter Bruce, Ron and Tyler are looking to cash in on the heat wave by targeting a hunting ground called “Cypress Graveyard.” It’s part of local lore, and Bruce believes it will deliver, but getting there is difficult–it lies at the end of a maze of canals that can confuse even the most experienced swamper.

Flooding in the Mississippi Delta has raised water levels almost two feet and now the once unreachable corners of the bayou are accessible. Troy is using the high water to his advantage, riding it straight into an area that the Landry family has lived and hunted for generations, and he wants to share the trip with his son Chase. R.J. and Jay Paul will travel the flooded channels into a Houma territory that’s considered sacred in their culture–once used as a burial site. Joe and Tommy are preparing to take a big gamble. The high waters have made a remote canal accessible…and despite its eerie reputation, they’re going in. Back across the swamp, cousins Austyn and Blake have their own plan to make the most of the conditions. The duo head toward an area known as Dead End Bayou. In low water, the territory is blocked and unreachable. But today, high water has flooded the bank, and the rookies can cruise right in.

As the gator season enters the home stretch, swampers are forced to work overtime to protect their livelihoods, defend their turf, and make every dollar they can. Today is the first day of shrimping season, and Joe and Tommy are intent on pulling a double shift on the swamp: gator hunting in the morning and shrimping in the afternoon. Liz and Kristi are also on a mission to protect Kristi’s livelihood. When she isn’t hunting gator, she’s wrangling cattle at the ranch her family owns. Yesterday, Kristi’s grandfather reported a menacing gator that’s threatening cattle. Now, her two jobs are about to collide. Junior’s right-hand man Malcom earns most of his annual income hoop netting for catfish and last night, he discovered a big problem. High water has moved a new gator population into Malcom’s cat fishing hot spot. Glenn and Mitchell are are always up to something to earn extra money, and today is no exception–their friend stopped by with an old motor in serious need of fixing.

Demand for alligator hides has soared, and buyers need more skins to fill their orders. Now, the race begins to get a piece of the action. Troy and his helper Clint have the prefect plan to find the big money gators they need. Five years ago, the duo caught a record-breaking 80 alligators in one day. Now, they’ll return to the place they did it…determined to repeat past glory. R.J. and Jay Paul are after a monster of their own. Crab fishermen in the area have reported that an enormous beast is tearing apart their fishing pots to go after the bait inside. Junior Edwards’ sons Willie and Randy are on a mission for big gators too. Randy spotted a beast the day before, and Willie’s betting he won’t be far. But, as the old saying goes…a gator doesn’t get big by being stupid. Today Austyn and Blake are selling to a new buyer: the same one as Troy Landry. They know that a big catch today will fill their wallet and solidify their growing reputation.

The swampers are facing the toughest stretch. Worn down, the best spots have already been fished, and one unexpected turn can sink the season. In Pecan Island, Liz and Kristi start slow. Liz’s hands have taken a beating. She’s not sure how long they’ll hold on. In Bayou Sorrel, Junior’s right-hand man had a fishing accident. He’s working with his cousin Gerald, an avid hunter new to the gator game. In Pierre Part, Troy’s boys Jacob and Chase have been assigned to a tough fishing area, “the Armpit.” Getting off to a fast start the Armpit lives up to its name. In Myrtle Grove, Joe and his stepson Tommy head to an area saved for the home stretch but there’s a problem–not one bait has been touched. A bully gator has driven every gator from the area.

With only 5 days left in the season, the swamp is blindsided by a cold front sweeping across Louisiana, bringing a punishing frigid rain. When temperatures drop, gators run for cover, and the hunters will have to chase them down. R.J. and Jay Paul are at a spot where R.J.’s betting gators will be on the move. But the front brings strong high winds, and their airboat isn’t equipped to handle them. All season Junior Edwards has run a two-boat operation, but today he’s reuniting the Edwards “A” Team. Willie is back at his father’s side, and the duo is hoping their combined experience will help them track down gators. Bruce is anxious about the weather because his hunting grounds border Lake Pontchartrain. Even a few inches of rain can cause the lake to overflow, and force the gators to look for freshwater further inland. Troy’s sons are hoping they can have a big day despite the cold front. They’ve got a secret weapon–a special bait to lure gators from hiding.

It’s down to the final 4 days and Troy’s road to the crown takes an unexpected turn. A good friend and fellow hunter has passed away. When his long-time helper asks Troy to help fill their remaining tags, Troy has a dilemma. If he helps, he will have to put his own tags on hold and with so little time left in the season, it could mean that he doesn’t tag out. R.J. and Jay Paul are working tirelessly to fill their bayou-best 500 tags this season. As the season enters its final days, R.J. is more focused than ever before. Willie and Randy are embarking on their last day as partners this season. Starting tomorrow, Randy has to move onto the next commercial hunting season, fishing for buffalo fish. Determined to go out with a bang, the brothers are hunting in a favorite childhood spot. Bruce’s longtime sidekick Tyler isn’t feeling well. With the season ticking away quickly, Bruce has no choice but to focus on the hunt, but it isn’t long before worry for Tyler becomes too great to ignore.

Troy is in a tough situation. After a fellow hunter passed away, Troy agreed to help fill his tags for the community, putting Troy’s on hold. Now, the reigning king faces an uphill battle to finish his new tags and get back to his own before time runs out. R.J. and his son Jay Paul are gunning for the best season on record, and the duo’s been moving at a hectic pace. Now, it seems the grind has finally caught up with them. With only 3 days left to hunt, exhaustion sets in for R.J. Joe and Tommy are in great position as they enter the home stretch. With only 25 tags to fill in 3 days, the crew is focusing on big gators. As they run their lines, they quickly discover that a monster gator is lurking nearby–one with prime waterfront property. Glenn and Mitchell are busy doing what they do best. Today, the boys are looking for garfish…but as things often go with the brothers, the day leads to unexpected places.

It’s the home stretch and swampers have the finish line in sight. Joe and Tommy are in a good position. At the end of the season, Joe usually hunts a reliable honey hole to get him across the finish line. But this year Tommy wants to lead the way to a new spot…and for the first time, Joe’s willing to follow. Troy is looking to make up for lost time. If he hopes to retain his crown as King of the Swamp, he has no choice but to fill 45 tags in 48 hours. R.J. and his son Jay Paul have endured a grueling pace, but with so many tags already filled, the boys have run out of fresh territory. Now, they’re forced to fish depleted hunting grounds for a second time. Liz and Kristi are feeling optimistic about the final days of the season and Liz has a plan to maximize the time she has left. To fill their remaining tags, the gals are returning to Liz’s daddy’s favorite hot spot. All season, they have operated different boats, but now Junior and Willie have reunited to close out the hunt.

As the last day of the month-long alligator season dawns, the moment of truth arrives. Today is about one thing: tagging out before the season ends at sundown. Troy is determined to hold on to his crown. He’s got only 14 tags to go, but to cement his reputation Troy wants one more monster gator…one that will make a statement to the competition. R.J. and his son Jay are down to their final tags. For this father-son duo, tagging out will mean that they’ve filled a bayou-best 500 tags this season. Bruce, Ron and Tyler are facing a daunting final day. The elements have wreaked havoc on Bruce’s territory all season, and after Lake Pontchartrain overflowed during a storm, brackish water has chased most gators from the area. With so few tags left, Liz and Kristi are determined to finish fast, but soon, the mood sours. A fish kill from dropping oxygen levels in the water poisons the honey hole, and with so many dead fish around, gators aren’t biting.