I grew up in North Florida in the 60’s and we used to swim in the lake with gators. They weren’t that big and they never bothered us. I was more afraid of stepping on a rattlesnake when Coon hunting at night.
Me too in south Mississippi as a boy....Matthews brake setting open water submerged duck blinds in summer
The Pearl waterskiing upriver from Jackson
Lake Bruin Louisiana where we had a lake house
Lots more gators now.....exponentially....we saw them rarely 40 years ago
I don’t purposely swim in gator territory without knowing pretty much where they hang
But even in Florida I swam the Myakka like nobody’s business
Tannic black yet clearish water
Lake Nellie....on the bank
Foolish today
I once had a big bull gator 14 foot or so on a red gravel road at night between Coy and Camden Alabama attack my pickup and tore my bumper and dented fender
He was on the move between ponds looking for some loving....and didn’t want to be teased by my trucks lights
They are awesome on land.....fast.