Lady hunter earns Santee Cooper gator

Mark, Bob and Wayne with Maryellen's gator 

On Monday, Sept. 19 the hunting party of Mark Christain, Maryellen Mara-Christian, Bob Parent and Wayne Curry left from Black’s Camp with guide Kevin Davis in hopes of finding a gator. Before long Bob Parent was able to claim a 9-foot gator that weighed 250-pounds. With plenty of other gators sighted this day, Mara-Christian was confident of her chances for some luck the next day.

On Tuesday, September 20 the hunting party returned to the waters of Lake Moultrie and began looking for gators. Using a grappling hook tied to a stout fishing rod Mara-Christian hooked into a gator that was mostly underwater. Shortly after the 10 a.m. encounter the gator lifted most of his head out of the water and Kevin Davis took the photo. (below)

 The lady hunter from Massachusetts kept her rod in hand while friend Wayne Curry set another hook in the gator, and wth good reason. As the gator began to fight, one line would part, and the second line would serve as a back up until a replacement hook could be rigged. Towards the end of the two and a half hour fight, Curry’s rod would be snapped by the pull from the mighty gator.

When the gator came close to the boat, two men used harpoons to grab and steer the swamp monster towards the 24-foot center console boat. At close range, Mara-Christian used a .44-magnum bang stick on the head of the gator, dispatching it quickly. They tied the gator to the side of the boat and motored back to the ramp at Blacks Camp.

The gator would measure 12-feet and 11-inches with a weight of 650-pounds.

When this gator showed his massive head the hunt party knew they had a good one!

Lots of excitement and picture taking ensued from everyone at the camp, because after all, Mara-Christian was a celebrity in these parts now after her 2010 MEGA-gator. “One thing is for sure, I appreciate my 2010 gator a lot more after this one, since it was such a heavy one,” said Mara-Christian. The hunting party had a third day booked with their hunting guide, but after going two for two on alligator hunts, they were all inclined to take that day off.