When I lived in LA. I fished toledo bend alot hooked up with a couple of gators on top water in lillypads. When I went down towards the gulf for some redfish I would see some gators every trip at least 10 to 15 in the cannals right where I would see people using cast nets for shrimp on the shore. They would have there kids playing around in the grass next to the water and on the other bank about 50 feet away a big gator sunning himself. I always kept a pistol on me when I went down there After I saw one come out of the water after a adult cow.