Moving into the Dallas area from the west coast (yea I know...) and never been in an area with these dinosaurs. Most guides say avoid sunup/sundown but that cuts out alot of prime fishing time. Is there some more info I should be aware of or am I worrying about something that's not really a major issue? I mostly fish bank or from a kayak for sturgeon but plan on targeting cats and carp. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Leave 'em alone. If one is aggressive it means you are too close to it's nest. Don't pick up little alligators or the mother will come have a few words with you. In other words, leave 'em alone.

Yea my main plan is stay the hell away from them at any size. I'm more wondering should I stay back from the bank while fishing a good distance and if I take a dunking from a kayak just how bad a situation I'm in.

There's about zero risk of being attacked by a gator in Texas lakes. I would go kayak wherever you can with no worries.

Thanks for the advice gents! I truly appreciate it.

If they see ya, you’re a goner. They WILL EAT YOU. I have heard of the gators in DFW tearing boats to pieces, just to drag a man down with its death roll.

If you’re from Cali, the gators here are nothing. Liberals, gangbangers, and black bears are far more deadly and far more common in Cali, but you still survived. You’ll likely NEVER see a gator in the wild within two to three hours drive of DFW.

Pepper spray does wonders for bears and libs, the ones you really need to watch out for are the homeless druggies. Only thing that stops them is a job application.

Around the Dallas area you should be fine unless you have really bad luck. Caddo :Lake is a different story, between the gators, and also the snakes falling into the boat from the trees it can be exciting!

fork has gators. in 8 yrs. tho I have yet to see them although I know they are there.

carry about a # of 407 bbq and if ya see a gator toss them a snack while you make your getaway, they love Q.

if you don't see any gators then ya got lunch.

win/win!

They won’t bother you.. there are some big ones on some of the lakes in east Texas. Only had one get even close to me in all my years. She had a nest I wasn’t aware of. Just go fish!
When I was working in California I fished the Delta. Those seals scared the [censored] out of me the first time I ran into one. In the dark. I wasn’t aware they were in there. Lol

Oh yes those sea lions are alot bigger than you expect. Kayaking off the coast I was more afraid of them than any shark and they are smart enough to check your boat for fish they can steal.

Don't listen to these other guys. Texas gators are very friendly. They love to have there heads rubbed.

Mind showing me how it's done? I don't want to rub them the wrong way.

I would worry much more about cottonmouth snakes than gators. It is very rare to see a gator in the metroplex.