[music playing]
NARRATOR: In Bayou Sorrel, solo hunter Willie Edwards
got an early start and has already been on the water
for two hours.
Got 100 tags by myself this year.
We'll see if we can fill them.
NARRATOR: With the price per foot for gators the lowest
in over a decade, Willie's determined to rake in bigger
gators with bigger payouts.
Oh, my goodness.
I do push myself to the limits a lot,
but that's the way that commercial fishing is.
You're gonna push yourself to the limit every year,
every day of the year.
And, I mean, that's the way that you
gotta do it to make a living.
[suspenseful music]
Ah!
NARRATOR: By the way this gator's pulling,
Willie's certain that it's the beast that stole
his treble hook one year ago.
That is the gator that took my line.
When I hooked him the first time, I felt how he pulled
and everything, and it was just like deja vu.
I mean, he's lost no power.
He might have gained a little bit.
NARRATOR: Last season, the strength of this colossus
was so powerful, it took the hook and line
right out of his hands.
Ooh, yeah.
We got a big one.
Rope going.
Oh, we lost him!
He took the [bleep] whole thing and everything!
I'd like to have another hook right now.
Oh!
Ah!
You'll never forget it.
Ah!
[coughs]
You know, I'm sick to my stomach, but--
hey.
Man, man, man.
Oh, my god.
[suspenseful music]
[gunshot]
And we had one.
We went-- I mean, it was either me or him.
[panting]
Yeah, boy.
NARRATOR: After an entire year, Willie's determination
has paid off.
He's finally bagged the monster that stole his hook
and raked in almost $200.
NARRATOR: After being pushed to the brink of collapse,
Willie arrives at the bayou with the heaviest gator
he's ever caught on his own.
That's the one that took my treble hook last year.
Pulled the same way?
The same place.
Guarantee you.
Man.
Fishing by yourself and on your own is rough.
If you ain't 100% in it, I mean, it ain't for you,
and, I mean, you might as well get a desk job.
But you struggle through it and you make it.
I mean, I done had rough times where
I done think about giving up and everything like that,
but you just don't give up.
Keep your head up, and things will turn around right quick.
That's a good one.
3 inches off from being 12 foot.
Oh, I bet you it weighs 4-something.
For sure, it should.
Oh, yeah.
That is a big ol' alligator.
522.
That's the biggest gator I've bought--
11' 10".
--ever under 12 foot that weighs that much.
Yeah.
I mean, he's solid.
He's built for a war.
He's like a machine.
Heavy duty equipment.
Caught a good 11-footer.
And, I mean, you can't ask for no better.
I'll be here in the morning at 6 o'clock, starting it again.
[birds chirping]