Original subtitles

I'M JEREMY WADE.

AND DURING MY ANGLING CAREER,

I'VE CAUGHT DOZENS OF FRESHWATER MONSTERS

FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE.

NORMALLY, I'M TRACKING THEM DOWN IN REMOTE JUNGLES.

HEY!

BUT INCREASINGLY, I'VE BEEN GETTING REPORTS

OF KILLER FISH FROM AN AREA I DIDN'T EXPECT --

THE UNITED STATES.

FROM GIANTS EVERY BIT AS BIG AS THEIR PREHISTORIC ANCESTORS...

Riley: I COULD SEE THE INDIVIDUAL SCALES ON THIS THING.

THAT'S HOW BIG IT WAS.

...TO KILLERS SILENTLY PROWLING,

READY TO ATTACK.

NOW I MEET THE PEOPLE WHO'VE ENCOUNTERED THESE FISH.

I THINK THAT HE WOULD HAVE DROWNED ME.

I WOULD HAVE ATE SUPPER WITH JESUS THAT NIGHT.

THE WATER AROUND ME JUST STARTED FILLING WITH BLOOD.

THEN I RISK MY LIFE GOING AFTER THEM.

WE COULD BE PULLED INTO THE WATER AND NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN.

BOOM! BIT ME ONCE.

OH!

WHAT A STUPID THING TO BE DOING.

COULD ONE OF THE MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ON EARTH...

NOW, THAT IS A BEAST.

...STILL HAVE DEADLY MONSTERS HIDDEN IN ITS RIVERS AND LAKES?

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

HAVING BEEN ON THE TRAIL OF MONSTERS ALL OVER THE WORLD,

I'VE DISCOVERED THAT YOU HAVE TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED,

WHETHER IT'S A HUGE BEAST IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY

OR IN A DRYING-OUT PUDDLE IN SOUTH AMERICA

OR EVEN AT THE BOTTOM OF A RAGING WATERFALL

IN AFRICA.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS,

I'VE BEEN HEARING OF STORIES AND SIGHTINGS

FROM ALL OVER THE STATES,

SUGGESTING THAT THERE ARE FRESHWATER MONSTERS

RIGHT IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS.

SO I'M GOING ON A MONSTER HUNT

TO FIND OUT IF THERE REALLY ARE KILLERS

LURKING IN AMERICA'S FRESHWATERS.

MY JOURNEY BEGINS IN FLORIDA TO INVESTIGATE A DEADLY FISH

THAT'S BEEN SPOTTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND THE REPORTS THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING

SUGGEST THAT THIS POTENTIALLY LETHAL ANIMAL

IS PROWLING UNSUSPECTED

RIGHT UNDER THE NOSES OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

THIS FISH WAS THE INSPIRATION

FOR THE MOST HORRIFYING ATTACK STORY IN MOVIE HISTORY --

"JAWS."

THE FILM IS ABOUT A GREAT WHITE

PROWLING OFF THE COAST OF NEW ENGLAND,

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY BASED ON A SERIES OF BULL-SHARK ATTACKS

IN NEW JERSEY IN 1916.

TWO OF THE ATTACKS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE OCEAN.

THEY TOOK PLACE IN A RIVER 16 MILES INLAND.

BULL SHARKS ARE TOP PREDATORS IN WARM, COASTAL SEAS

AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT THEY ALSO TRESPASS INTO FRESHWATER.

THEY ARE THE ONLY COMMON SHARK WITH THIS ABILITY.

I'M HEARING REPORTS

THAT BULL SHARKS ARE STALKING RIVERS IN FLORIDA.

I WANT TO FIND OUT IF THESE DEADLY ANIMALS

REALLY ARE PROWLING FLORIDA'S INLAND WATERS,

AND IF SO, IS THIS A MODERN-DAY "JAWS" JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN?

ALTHOUGH GREAT WHITES HAVE THE BAD REPUTATION,

BULL SHARKS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE ATTACKS ON HUMANS

THAN ANY OTHER SHARK.

IN RECENT YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HORRIFIC ATTACKS

OFF FLORIDA'S COASTS ALONE.

TWO IN PARTICULAR MIGHT GIVE ME SOME INSIGHTS

INTO BULL-SHARK BEHAVIOR.

ONE HAPPENED OFF PENSACOLA IN 2001.

8-YEAR-OLD JESSIE ARBOGAST

WAS SPENDING THE DAY AT THE BEACH WITH HIS FAMILY.

[ LAUGHTER ]

AS HE PADDLED JUST FEET FROM THE SHORE,

A 6 1/2-FOOT BULL SHARK ATTACKED HIM...

[ SCREAMS ]

...FIRST BITING HIS THIGH AND THEN HIS RIGHT ARM.

JESSIE'S UNCLE DRAGGED THE SHARK

BY ITS TAIL UP ONTO THE BEACH,

BUT BY THEN THE SHARK HAD TAKEN THE BOY'S ARM.

IT TAKES YOUR ARM OFF.

IT CAN TAKE A LEG OFF JUST IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

THAT'S MAJOR TISSUE DAMAGE.

IT'S GONNA SEVER SOME MAJOR ARTERIES AND VESSELS,

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU BLEED OUT QUICK.

WITH NO BLOOD TO PUSH OXYGEN AROUND,

YOU KNOW, THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL IS REAL SLIM.

WITHIN MINUTES OF THE ATTACK,

AN AIR AMBULANCE WAS DISPATCHED WITH CHRIS ON BOARD.

INITIAL CONTACT ONCE OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS JUST TO ASK,

YOU KNOW, WAS HE BREATHING, OR DID HE HAVE A PULSE?

AND, OF COURSE, THEY SAID NO.

WHILE FLYING TO THE TRAUMA CENTER, CHRIS FOUND OUT

THAT THE VICTIM'S ARM WAS STILL IN THE SHARK'S MOUTH.

MY COMMENT TO THAT WAS,

"OKAY, IF HE LIVES, HE LIVES WITHOUT AN ARM."

WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS EN ROUTE TO THE HOSPITAL,

A PARK RANGER SHOT THE SHARK FOUR TIMES

AND RETRIEVED JESSIE'S ARM FROM ITS JAWS.

IT WAS PACKED IN ICE AND RUSHED TO THE O.R.

SO SURGEONS COULD ATTEMPT TO SEW IT BACK ONTO JESSIE'S BODY.

AGAINST ALL ODDS

AND DESPITE THE MASSIVE BLOOD LOSS,

JESSIE SURVIVED,

WITH HIS RIGHT ARM SUCCESSFULLY REATTACHED.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

THIS YEAR, HE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS ATTACK TELLS ME

THAT BULL SHARKS CAN STRIKE IN THE SHALLOWS.

UNLIKE MANY BIG FISH, THEY ARE NOT RESTRICTED TO DEEP WATER.

WITH SO MANY HOUSES ON THE CANALS AROUND HERE,

THEY CAN LITERALLY SWIM RIGHT INTO PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS.

THERE'S A SECOND ATTACK VICTIM

WHO'S GOT MORE INFORMATION TO SHARE.

DAWN SCHAUMAN WAS NEARLY KILLED BY A 10-FOOT BULL SHARK

OFF THE FLORIDA COAST IN 1993.

I'M HOPING THAT HER FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT

WILL GIVE ME INSIGHT INTO THE IDEAL CONDITIONS

IN WHICH TO FIND ONE.

I WAS PROBABLY LIKE 25 TO 50 YARDS OUT PAST THE WAVES,

MAYBE IN 15 FEET OF WATER.

AND I JUST FELT SOMETHING SLAM INTO ME.

I FELT THIS BURNING IN MY HAND AND A BURNING IN MY LEG.

I PULLED MY HAND OUT OF THE WATER,

AND IT WAS JUST DRIPPING IN BLOOD.

THE WHOLE WATER AROUND ME JUST STARTED FILLING WITH BLOOD.

DAWN WASN'T JUST WORRIED ABOUT HER OWN LIFE.

SHE WAS 6 1/2 MONTHS PREGNANT AT THE TIME.

AND I DID START PANICKING,

AND I THINK I REMEMBER JUST CALLING OUT FOR MY MOM

AND JUST BEING REALLY WORRIED, LIKE, "I NEED HELP,"

AND THEN NO ONE WAS THERE BUT ME, SO I JUST RELIED ON ME,

AND THAT'S THE POINT WHERE I GATHERED MYSELF TOGETHER.

THE ONLY THING SHE COULD DO WAS TRY TO SWIM TO THE SHORE.

THE WHOLE TIME, SWIMMING BACK, THOUGHT FOR SURE --

ANY MOMENT, I WAS WAITING FOR THAT SLAM AGAIN.

THAT WAS THE LONGEST SWIM OF MY LIFE.

SHE FINALLY MADE IT TO SAFETY.

DAWN WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL,

WHERE HER LIFE-THREATENING WOUNDS WERE TREATED.

HER LEG ALONE NEEDED 85 STITCHES.

2 1/2 MONTHS LATER, SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A BOY.

HE'S NOW 18.

AND HE WAS BORN HEALTHY,

AND WE NAMED HIM MACINTYRE SHARK SCHAUMAN.

SINCE HER NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE,

DAWN HAS GAINED AN EXPERT UNDERSTANDING

AS TO WHAT COULD HAVE LED

TO THE BULL SHARK ATTACKING HER.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR ODDS GO UP

BY DOING SOMETHING LIKE WHAT I DID --

SWIMMING DURING CLOUDY, MURKY WATER, BAIT-FISH SEASON.

IF YOU SWIM IN THE EARLY MORNING OR LATE IN THE AFTERNOON,

EVENING, THAT'S WHEN THE BAIT FISH ARE COMING THROUGH.

IF YOU SEE A LOT OF FISH JUMPING OUT OF THE WATER,

YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN THERE,

BECAUSE SOMETHING BIGGER IS CHASING THEM.

SO YOU CAN DEFINITELY LOWER YOUR ODDS

BY AVOIDING ALL THAT.

THE DETAILS OF THESE TWO ATTACKS ON JESSIE AND DAWN

HAVE GIVEN ME USEFUL INFORMATION.

I NOW FEEL BETTER PREPARED

TO START TRYING TO CATCH A BULL SHARK

AND PROVE THEY'RE PROWLING FLORIDA'S FRESHWATERS.

MY INVESTIGATION IS GOING TO FOCUS

AROUND THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

THIS IS WHERE I'VE BEEN GETTING THE MOST REPORTS

OF BULL SHARKS ROAMING INLAND.

IN 25 YEARS OF FISHING AROUND THE WORLD,

I'VE LEARNED THAT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

IS KEY TO CATCHING ELUSIVE FISH.

SO WHETHER I'M IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA,

THE CONGO, OR IN FLORIDA,

TALKING WITH THE LOCALS IS A MUST.

AFTER SOME ASKING AROUND,

I'VE BEEN PUT IN CONTACT WITH MIKE PALMER,

WHO'S BEEN CATCHING BULL SHARKS FOR OVER THREE DECADES.

HE USED TO CATCH AND KILL, BUT FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS,

IT'S BEEN STRICTLY CATCH AND RELEASE.

MIKE IS GOING TO HELP ME HUNT A BULL SHARK,

BUT HE ONLY FISHES FROM THE SHORE,

WITHOUT THE SECURITY OF A BOAT.

ALSO, UNLIKE MOST OF MY NORMAL FISHING,

THE ROD WILL BE ATTACHED TO ME WITH A HARNESS.

IF I FIND MYSELF BEING DRAGGED TOWARDS THE WATER,

IT WON'T BE POSSIBLE TO LET GO.

FOR FISHING ON THE RIVERBANK

AND HOOKING A 500-POUND BULL SHARK,

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT.

SOUNDS VERY, VERY PHYSICAL, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

IS THAT A CORRECT SUMMARY, PERHAPS?

WE'VE ACTUALLY HOOKED FISH AND GOT PULLED DOWN TO OUR KNEES

AND DRUG DOWN TO THE WATER'S EDGE.

AND BY SOME LUCK, THE LINE BROKE.

WHAT COULD BE THE WORST POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HAPPEN

WITH THIS KIND OF FISHING? WE COULD DIE.

WE COULD BE PULLED INTO THE WATER AND NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN.

I'VE FISHED FOR BULL SHARKS BEFORE

IN AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA,

BUT MOSTLY, THIS WAS FROM THE SAFETY OF A BOAT,

WHICH COULD FOLLOW THE SHARK.

SO THE RISK OF BEING PULLED IN WASN'T SUCH AN ISSUE.

HAVING MY FEET ON THE SHORELINE CALLS FOR A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

BECAUSE I COULD HOOK SOMETHING OVER THREE TIMES MY WEIGHT,

I'M USING SOME SERIOUS TACKLE FROM ENORMOUS, FORGED HOOKS

TO THE STRONGEST LINE I'VE EVER USED.

AND WE USE THE BEST HARNESSES

TO TAKE THE LOAD OFF OUR BACK.

HOW'S IT FIT, JEREMY?

IT FEELS GOOD.

WHEN WE HOOK UP ON THESE BIG SHARKS HERE,

WE HAVE A SPOTTER ON THE BACK OF OUR HARNESS. WE USE THE BELTS.

THEY HAVE A LITTLE HANDLE ON THE BACK,

SO WHEN WE HOOK UP, THAT FIRST SURGE,

I MEAN, YOU COULD EASILY GO IN THE WATER.

[ REEL CLICKS ]

DURING THE DAYTIME, PEOPLE USE

THOSE LITTLE STRETCHES OF BEACHES IN THE RIVER.

AND PEOPLE ON RAFTS, PLAYING, THIS AND THAT,

AND WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN,

THE WHOLE LIFE ECOSYSTEM CHANGES.

THAT'S WHEN THE SHARKS MOVE INTO THE SHALLOWS.

THEY FEED ON STINGRAY, THEY FEED ON MULLETS,

AND IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD AT NIGHT.

I WANT TO GET MY BAIT OUT

A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YARDS INTO THE DEEP CHANNEL.

I CAN'T CAST THAT FAR,

SO THE ONLY OPTION IS TO PADDLE OUT

TO WHERE THE SHARKS COULD BE AND DROP IT IN.

ONCE I GET BACK TO SHORE,

IT'S A WAITING GAME TO SEE IF A BULL SHARK WILL BITE.

[ CLICKING ]

[ CLICKING RAPIDLY ]

Wade: [ GRUNTS ] THAT IS A FISH ON.

I'M LEANING INTO THIS.

MY REEL IS NEARLY ON FULL DRAG,

BUT THE FISH IS STILL ABLE TO SWIM OFF WITH EASE.

THIS HAS TO BE A MONSTER.

THANKFULLY, THE HEAVIEST LINE I'VE EVER USED

IS JUST ABOUT HOLDING OUT.

I'VE GOT MIKE HANGING ON THE BACK OF THE HARNESS HERE,

BECAUSE...I'VE GOT VERY TIGHT DRAG,

VERY STRONG LINE.

AND IF THE FISH TAKES OFF,

THE WEAK LINK IS PROBABLY ME ENDING UP IN THE WATER.

AFTER A 20-MINUTE FIGHT,

I HAVE THE FISH CLOSE TO THE SHORE.

WHEN IT FINALLY BREAKS THE SURFACE,

I SEE SOMETHING I DIDN'T EXPECT.

LOOK AT THAT!

I'M TRYING TO CATCH A BULL SHARK

TO SEE IF THESE LETHAL FISH

REALLY ARE PROWLING FLORIDA'S INLAND WATERWAYS,

READY TO ATTACK.

I HAVE SOMETHING WEIGHING IN THE HUNDREDS OF POUNDS

ON THE END OF MY LINE.

THERE IT IS. THERE IT IS. THERE IT IS. THERE IT IS.

THERE IT IS.

AS I WORK IT CLOSE TO THE SHORE,

IT'S CLEAR I'VE HOOKED A GIANT, BUT IT ISN'T A SHARK.

FISH IS BEACHED NOW.

Palmer: LET'S GO IN THERE AND GRAB IT.

IT'S A GOLIATH GROUPER.

THAT IS JUST A MASSIVE -- A MASSIVE GROUPER.

AFTER A 20-MINUTE STRUGGLE, IT SHOULD BE WORN OUT,

BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF FIGHT LEFT IN THIS BEAST.

AS IT THRASHES AROUND,

I HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR THE GIANT-SIZED HOOK

AND BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET IMPALED

BY THE SPIKES ON ITS BACK.

LET'S GET THIS OUT. HOOK'S OUT.

I'M AFTER SOMETHING WITH A MOUTH FULL OF BIG TEETH,

BUT THAT IS A BEAST.

THAT IS A BEAST.

THE LENGTH IS...

83 INCHES.

69 AND 83.

ABOUT 69 INCHES.

THAT'S JUST SHORT OF 7 FEET LONG

AND MORE THAN 5 1/2 FEET AROUND.

AT THIS KIND OF SIZE,

IT'S GOING TO WEIGH OVER 350 POUNDS.

[ GRUNTS ]

THEY CAN GROW EVEN BIGGER --

TO OVER 600 POUNDS AND 8 FEET LONG.

I COULD FEEL IT WAS A HEAVY FISH,

AND IT WAS ALSO TAKING LINE AGAINST A VERY HEAVY DRAG,

BUT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE WHEN IT CAME IN CLOSE

WAS A BIG DORSAL OF A BULL SHARK.

AND THEN THESE SPIKES BREAK THE SURFACE.

IT'S A PREDATOR.

WHEN THAT MOUTH OPENS, ANYTHING THAT'S SWIMMING AROUND

EVEN IN THE VICINITY JUST GETS SUCKED IN.

THERE ARE STORIES OF GIANT GROUPER

GRABBING DIVERS BY THE ARM AND EVEN BY THE HEAD.

WITH A MOUTH THIS ENORMOUS,

I CAN WELL BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD BE TRUE.

ALTHOUGH THESE ARE VERY TOUGH, RESILIENT CREATURES,

IT'S PROBABLY TIME TO PUT THIS BACK.

I WANT TO GET IT INTO DEEPER WATER TO RELEASE IT,

BUT THIS GIANT ISN'T COOPERATING.

LOOK OUT.

I'M KNEE-DEEP IN WATER.

THIS FISH'S BELLY IS STILL SCRAPING THE BOTTOM.

IF IT'S FEELING ANYTHING LIKE AS TIRED AS I DO,

IT OUGHT TO SINK INTO A CORNER SOMEWHERE

AND JUST RECOVER FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

IT'S NOW 5:00 A.M.,

AND WHILE I HAVE CAUGHT A MONSTER,

IT ISN'T THE BULL SHARK I'M LOOKING FOR.

I'M GOING TO USE MY DAYLIGHT HOURS

TO FIND OUT WHAT I CAN DO

TO INCREASE MY CHANCES OF HOOKING A BULL SHARK

IN FLORIDA'S FRESHWATER.

I'M MEETING UP WITH GRANT GILMORE,

AN EXPERT IN BULL-SHARK BEHAVIOR.

Gilmore: THE FEMALES ARE IN EVERY SPRING,

GIVING BIRTH IN THE LAGOON

OR IN THE DOWNSTREAM FRESHWATER AREAS.

SO THEY'RE 500, 600 POUNDS, 8 AND 12 FEET.

THEN THEY LEAVE.

THE YOUNG STAY FOR THE FIRST FIVE OR SIX YEARS

TILL THEY'RE 5 OR 6 FEET IN LENGTH.

AND THEY'RE A LARGE PREDATOR BY FRESHWATER STANDARDS.

SO, AT ANY TIME, BULL SHARKS COULD BE STALKING THE WATER

JUST FEET FROM THESE SUBURBAN BACKYARDS.

FLORIDA IS CRISSCROSSED WITH CANALS,

WHICH GIVE BULL SHARKS ACCESS

TO JUST ABOUT ANY WATER IN THE STATE.

Wade: HOW MANY OF THEM MIGHT BE SWIMMING AROUND?

ARE WE TALKING DOZENS, HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS, OR WHAT?

OH, IT'S CERTAINLY THOUSANDS.

I THINK THEY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE

WE DO HAVE THESE VERY LARGE PREDATORS

THAT ARE RIGHT OFF YOUR FRONT DOOR

IF YOU LIVE ON THE WATER IN FLORIDA.

THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON IS OVER 150 MILES LONG

AND HAS NUMEROUS RIVERS FEEDING INTO IT.

IT'S ALSO CONNECTED TO THE OCEAN BY THREE INLETS,

ONE OF WHICH IS AT FORT PIERCE.

Wade: RIGHT UP AHEAD THERE

IS THE MAIN WAY IN AND THE MAIN WAY OUT

BETWEEN THE OPEN OCEAN

AND THESE THOUSANDS OF MILES OF FRESHWATER CANALS.

SO THIS IS WHERE, AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,

THE 10- OR 12-FOOT-LONG PREGNANT FEMALES ARE COMING IN

TO DROP THEIR PUPS INLAND.

THIS IS ALSO THE SAME PLACE WHERE THOSE JUVENILES,

THOSE 6-, 7-FOOT-LONG SHARKS,

HAVING SPENT FIVE OR SIX YEARS INLAND,

ARE SWIMMING OUT.

SO THIS HERE -- YOU CAN SEE

IT'S ONLY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YARDS ACROSS --

IS LIKE A HIGHWAY FOR SHARKS.

POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OR EVEN THOUSANDS OF SHARKS EVERY YEAR,

SWIMMING UP AND DOWN, AND IT'S JUST --

YOU KNOW, JUST RIGHT PAST ALL THESE PEOPLE.

MY PLAN IS TO MEET UP WITH MIKE LATER ON

TO FISH THROUGH THE NIGHT FROM LAND.

BUT AFTER HEARING ABOUT THESE BULL-SHARK NUMBERS,

I CAN'T RESIST DROPPING A LINE IN THE WATER WHILE I'M HERE.

BULL SHARKS GO FOR BOTH LIVE AND DEAD BAIT,

SO I'M USING ONE OF EACH.

THERE'S A BALLOON ON THE LINE ABOVE THE LIVE BAIT

TO KEEP IT CLEAR OF THE BOTTOM,

WHERE IT'S MORE VISIBLE TO PREDATORS,

AND TO SHOW ME WHERE IT IS.

THERE'S ABOUT 6 FOOT OF WATER HERE,

BUT WE'RE RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF TWO CHANNELS.

THERE'S THE MAIN, DREDGED SHIPPING CHANNEL THERE.

THEN THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE CHANNEL HERE,

SO WE'RE IN A BIT OF A "V" BETWEEN THE TWO,

SO THIS BAIT SWIMMING AROUND --

WHAT I'M THINKING IS, FROM TIME TO TIME,

IT'S GOING TO STRAY OVER THE DROP-OFF,

ABOVE THE DEEPER WATER.

THAT'S CLASSIC SORT OF BULL-SHARK AMBUSH TERRITORY.

JUST GIVING THE CHUM A BIT OF A WORK,

JUST GETTING SOME SMELLY, OILY FRAGMENTS INTO THE WATER.

THIS WILL CREATE A SCENT TRAIL HUNDREDS OF YARDS LONG

TO ATTRACT THE SHARKS ONTO MY BAIT.

AFTER THREE HOURS, I GET MY FIRST BITE.

SOMETHING ON THE END OF THE ROD.

IT'S 'ROUND THE OTHER PROP.

[ REEL CLICKING ]

HEY!

IT'S A TARPON, A FISH FAMED FOR ITS FIGHT,

AND IT JUST SPAT MY HOOK OUT.

BUH, BUH, BUH, BUH!

THAT ONE WAS ABOUT 40 POUNDS,

BUT THEY CAN GROW TO 8 FOOT LONG

AND WEIGH NEARLY 300 POUNDS.

A FISH THAT SIZE IS CAPABLE OF CAUSING SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE.

JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW THAT TARPON

THREW ITSELF OUT OF THE WATER,

JUST THE STRENGTH AND THE ENERGY THAT THEY HAVE.

THERE HAVE BEEN STORIES OF PEOPLE IN BOATS BEING KILLED

AFTER BEING HIT BY A LARGE TARPON

AS IT JUMPS OUT OF THE WATER.

AS NIGHT FALLS, IT'S TIME TO MEET UP WITH MIKE

AND BRACE MYSELF FOR ANOTHER SESSION

GOING AFTER BULL SHARKS FROM LAND.

THERE ARE SHOALS OF BAIT FISH SWIMMING THROUGH HERE --

JUST THE THING THAT WOULD ATTRACT A LARGE PREDATOR --

AND SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE CHASING THEM.

I HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED.

THE TAKE COULD COME AT ANY MOMENT.

A LAPSE IN CONCENTRATION COULD MEAN LOSING A CATCH.

[ REEL CLICKING ]

IT'S THE FISH.

THE ANSWER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

THE ANSWER...

I'M FISHING THE FRESHWATERS OF THE U.S.

TO FIND OUT WHETHER THERE REALLY ARE LETHAL FISH

LURKING BENEATH THE SURFACE.

I'M CURRENTLY IN FLORIDA,

AND I'M HOPING THIS IS A BULL SHARK.

[ GRUNTS ] THERE'S A WEIGHT THERE.

IT'S JUST SORT OF PULSATING. IT'S NOT RUNNING.

BUT IT'S A SOLID OLD WEIGHT.

BUT I HAVE GOT ABOUT A GOOD 150 YARDS OF LINE OUT HERE.

THIS FEELS LIKE A GOOD FISH.

IT'S BEEN TAKING LINE OFF THE DRAG.

WHOA. WHOA. HERE WE GO.

AFTER FIGHTING WITH A LARGE FISH FOR SEVERAL MINUTES...

HOLD ON. HOLD ON.

THAT FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT BE OFF.

...MY LINE SUDDENLY GOES SLACK.

THERE'S A CATFISH ON THE BAIT,

BUT WHAT I FELT WAS DEFINITELY BIGGER THAN A CATFISH.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A SHARK.

I CAN TELL IT'S A SHARK FROM THE BITE MARKS

AND HOW HALF THE BAIT IS JUST GONE.

THERE WAS A GOOD FISH ON THERE THAT WAS TAKING LINE,

BUT...IT GOT OFF THE HOOK.

I'M GUESSING A BULL SHARK ABOUT 6 FEET LONG

GRABBED THIS BAIT.

NOT A CATCH, BUT IT'S A START.

AND THE HOPE OF ANOTHER ONE TAKING MY BAIT

SPURS ME TO CARRY ON FISHING WELL INTO THE EARLY HOURS.

BUT I GET NO FURTHER SUCCESS.

THE NEXT DAY, I FISH FROM THE BOAT AGAIN,

GRABBING SOME REST WHENEVER I CAN.

BUT I STILL CATCH NOTHING.

HAVING THE BEST LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE BEST GEAR

DOESN'T GUARANTEE SUCCESS,

WHICH IS PARTLY WHY I FIND FISHING SO ADDICTIVE.

THE LOWS MAKE THE HIGHS SO MUCH MORE EXHILARATING.

AS IS OFTEN THE CASE, TRACKING DOWN THE MYTH IS ONE THING,

BUT TRACKING DOWN THE FLESH AND BLOOD BEHIND THE MYTH

IS PROVING A BIT MORE COMPLICATED.

NOT A SNIFF OF A FISH AT ALL TODAY.

BEFORE GOING OUT NIGHT-FISHING WITH MIKE AGAIN,

I PICK UP SOME SPECIAL BAIT

THAT HAS TO BE HANDLED WITH CARE.

STINGRAYS ARE JUST PERFECT BAIT FOR BULL SHARKS,

BUT EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE DEAD,

I'M TAKING THE SPINES OFF THE END

BECAUSE I'VE SEEN WHAT THESE THINGS CAN DO,

AND EVEN IF I WAS TO JUST GRAZE MYSELF WITH ONE OF THOSE SPINES,

I COULD END UP WITH SORT OF A --

YOU KNOW, GOING NUMB DOWN MY ARM OR WHATEVER,

SO BETTER TO PLAY IT SAFE.

I'M HOPING THIS NEW BAIT WILL GIVE ME AN EDGE.

NIGHTFALL BRINGS WITH IT

ANOTHER CHANCE TO CATCH A BULL SHARK.

[ REEL CLICKS ]

[ CLICKING RAPIDLY ]

YEP. THAT'S SOMETHING ON.

THIS IS WHERE HE STOPS HARD.

WE'RE ON.

THAT'S A FISH ON.

[ REEL CRANKS ] OOH. OOH, OOH, YEP.

AND I CAN FEEL A KICKBACK.

YEAH. IT'S KICKING AWAY, KICKING AWAY, KICKING AWAY.

THERE WE GO. IT'S TAKING -- OH, THAT'S --

IT'S WAKING UP NOW. IT'S WAKING UP.

IF A BIG FISH PULLS,

THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO IS I ACTUALLY END UP IN THE WATER.

FINALLY, THE FIN I'VE BEEN WAITING TO SEE.

DOWN THERE.

AFTER FISHING IN FLORIDA FOR DAYS...

...I'VE ALREADY CAUGHT ONE GIANT.

Wade: THAT IS A BEAST.

BUT NOW I'VE FINALLY HOOKED MY FIRST CONVICTED KILLER.

YEP. THAT'S SOMETHING ON.

TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT IT,

I NEED TO PUT A ROPE AROUND ITS TAIL

AND BRING IT UP ONTO THE BEACH WITHOUT GETTING BITTEN.

THIS IS THE SAME SIZE

AS THE SHARK THAT ATTACKED JESSIE ARBOGAST.

AND I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL,

AS IT COULD WHIP AROUND TO BITE ME.

IT TAKES YOUR ARM OFF.

I CAN TAKE A LEG OFF IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

YOU KNOW, YOU BLEED OUT QUICK.

THEY GO BIGGER THAN THIS,

BUT THIS IS A RESPECTABLE-SIZE FISH.

THIS JUVENILE BULL SHARK IS ABOUT 6 FEET LONG --

ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZE TO BE LEAVING

THE FRESHWATERS AROUND HERE AND HEADING OUT INTO THE OCEAN.

THE HOOK HAS CUT THE SHARK'S MOUTH,

BUT ONCE IT'S RELEASED, THIS WILL HEAL VERY QUICKLY.

THIS SHARK'S GUMS

ARE CONCEALING ITS MOUTHFUL OF RAZOR-SHARP TEETH,

WHICH ARE ONLY REVEALED WHEN THEY BITE INTO SOMETHING.

YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY SEE HOW EFFECTIVE THEY ARE,

AND YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND

HOW SOMEBODY EVEN WITH AN EXPLORATORY BITE, IN A WAY,

FROM AN ANIMAL LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, COULD JUST BLEED OUT,

LOSE A LOT OF BLOOD.

AND THAT COULD BE A FATAL ENCOUNTER.

THIS FISH COULD HAVE SPENT THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS

ACTUALLY IN THE INLAND WATERWAYS IN THE CANALS,

ALONG WITH POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS,

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY QUITE SOBERING.

YOU KNOW, IF YOUR PATHS CROSSED WITH A CREATURE LIKE THIS,

IT COULD END VERY BADLY,

BUT I THINK THE MIRACULOUS THING IS,

IS THAT MOST OF THE TIME, THE BULL SHARKS GO THEIR WAY,

WE GO OUR WAY, AND, ACTUALLY, NOBODY'S ANY THE WISER.

THESE BULL SHARKS

WERE SUSPECTED TO BE IN FLORIDA'S FRESHWATERS.

BUT NOW I'VE CAUGHT ONE,

IT'S CLEAR THEY ARE SWIMMING AMONGST US IN RIVERS AND CANALS

ONLY FEET FROM HUMAN HABITATION.

UNTIL NOW, ATTACKS HAVE ONLY HAPPENED ALONG THE COAST.

AND I THINK THE REASON THEY HAVE OCCURRED

IS THROUGH MISTAKEN IDENTITY,

NOT BECAUSE BULL SHARKS

ARE SPECIFICALLY GOING AFTER HUMANS

BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE CONFUSING HUMANS WITH THEIR USUAL PREY --

FISH AND DOLPHINS.

HORROR FILMS AND NEWS REPORTS HAVE MADE PEOPLE AWARE

OF THE POTENTIAL FOR SHARK ATTACK IN THE OCEAN,

BUT IT'S IN THE QUIET INLAND RIVERS AND WATERWAYS

WHERE DEVASTATING ENCOUNTERS COULD BE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR.

BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE

THAT THESE PREDATORS STALK THESE WATERS.

AND AS MORE AND MORE HUMANS AND SHARKS

SHARE THE SAME SPACE,

AN INLAND ATTACK MAY JUST BE A MATTER OF TIME.

BULL SHARKS GROWING UP TO 12 FEET LONG

MAKE FOR A POTENTIALLY PROLIFIC KILLER.

BUT 1,000 MILES AWAY FROM FLORIDA,

ANOTHER MONSTER IS REPORTEDLY STALKING

AMERICA'S FRESHWATERS --

A BEAST SAID TO GROW TO 14 FEET

PROWLING THE WATERWAYS OF TEXAS.

THIS ARMOR-PLATED PREHISTORIC BEAST

HAS A GIANT SKULL PACKED WITH 500 NEEDLE-SHARP TEETH.

RECENT SIGHTINGS OF THIS MONSTER

HAVE COME IN FROM THE TRINITY RIVER IN TEXAS.

IT'S A FISH I'VE INVESTIGATED BEFORE...

THE ALLIGATOR GAR.

THAT TIME, I DOUBTED WHETHER THE GAR ALIVE TODAY

STILL REACHED THE MASSIVE SIZES REPORTED IN THE PAST.

BUT NOW I HAVE REASON TO QUESTION THAT OPINION.

WHEN I CAUGHT ALLIGATOR GAR BEFORE,

ALONG THE UPPER TRINITY,

I LEARNED HOW DANGEROUS THEY COULD BE.

AAH!

OH, MY GOD. YOU GOT BIT, HUH?

THE LARGEST I HOOKED THEN WAS 6 1/2 FEET LONG.

BUT NOW I'M HEARING ABOUT A MONSTER GAR

LIVING 400 MILES DOWNSTREAM IN THE LOWER TRINITY.

I'VE HOOKED UP WITH EDDIE GARCIA...

MORNING, EDDIE.

...A FISHERMAN WHO KNOWS THE AREA WELL.

GOOD TO GO. RIGHTO.

EDDIE HAS FISHED HERE NEARLY HIS WHOLE LIFE,

CATCHING HIS FIRST GAR WHEN HE WAS 10.

HE'S EXPERIENCED THE SHARP END OF THE GAR'S TEETH.

ALMOST LOST THE POINTER FINGER THERE.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY GLOVES ON.

I REACHED DOWN AND GRABBED THE LEADER,

AND WHEN I PULLED IT UP,

THERE WAS A 6-FOOTER ON THE END OF IT.

AND WHEN HE COME UP, HE COME ACROSS THE SIDE OF IT,

HUNG THE SIDE OF MY FINGER AND CUT IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

Wade: THIS SCAR HERE? OH, YEAH.

IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE BONE.

ALLIGATOR GAR ARE PARTICULARLY HARD TO CATCH

BECAUSE OF THEIR BONY MOUTHS,

MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SET THE HOOK.

ALSO, IF YOU DO GET A HOOK IN, THEY PUT UP A STRONG FIGHT.

[ GRUNTS ]

CATCHING ONE IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

ONLY GOT TWO RODS OUT --

ONE WITH A BIT OF CUT BUFFALO CARP ON IT.

NICE THING ABOUT THIS -- IT'S FAIRLY FRESH.

SO IT'S GONNA BE GIVING OFF SCENT, SMELL INTO THE WATER.

SO I GOT ABOUT 18 INCHES OF WIRE,

A BIT OF LEAD TO HOLD IT DOWN ON THE BOTTOM.

IT'S A RUNNING LEAD SO THAT THE FISH CAN MOVE OFF

WITHOUT FEELING THE RESISTANCE.

AND I'VE GOT HERE JUST A BIT OF 30-POUND LINE ON

WITH NOT VERY GOOD KNOTS.

NORMALLY I'LL TRY AND TIE GOOD KNOTS.

THESE ARE NOT VERY GOOD KNOTS.

THE IDEA IS IF THAT GETS HUNG UP ON ANYTHING, THAT'S GONNA BREAK.

THE MAIN LINE, WHICH IS 150-POUND BREAKING STRAIN,

WON'T BREAK.

SO, SIMPLE RIG, BUT I'M HOPING IT'LL BE EFFECTIVE.

A STRONG WIND IS BUFFETING THE BOAT,

CAUSING THE ANCHOR TO DRAG.

MAYBE THESE ONES UP HERE? Garcia: OKAY.

GOOD.

WE DECIDE TO TIE UP NEXT TO THE BANK,

WHERE THE AIR IS CALMER.

AROUND HERE, ALLIGATOR GAR ARE CONSIDERED TRASH FISH.

THEY'RE BELIEVED TO DEPLETE THE STOCKS OF OTHER FISH.

AND THEY'RE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS,

SO SOME PEOPLE STILL KILL THEM.

BUT EDDIE SEES SOMETHING IN THESE FISH

THAT MOST OTHER FISHERMEN DON'T.

Garcia: YOU HEAR PEOPLE CALLING IT A TRASH FISH,

AND NOBODY REALLY GRASPS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW,

IT'S A TOP PREDATOR IN THE RIVER AS FAR AS THE FISH.

AND WE DO, HERE IN TEXAS,

HOLD SOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST GAR.

IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT YOU CAN GET OUT IN A BOAT

AND COME DOWN HERE INTO THE RIVER

AND SEE A FISH THAT'S ALMOST AS LONG AS YOUR BOAT,

THAT WEIGHS MORE THAN YOU DO.

[ SPLASH ]

WHILE I'M FISHING, I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE WATER

JUST TO SEE IF I CAN SEE ANY FISH ROLLING.

BUT THERE WAS A -- NOT AN ALLIGATOR GAR

BUT AN ALLIGATOR PROBABLY ABOUT 10 YARDS BEHIND ME JUST NOW.

[ REEL CLICKS ]

SOMETHING HAS PICKED UP MY BAIT.

THERE WAS JUST A PULL ON THIS LINE.

I'VE GOT SOMETHING TAKING LINE NOW.

LET'S PAUSE NOW.

THE EXACT MOMENT TO SET THE HOOK WITH A GAR

IS HARD TO JUDGE.

YEAH.

TOO SOON, AND IT'LL DROP THE BAIT

BECAUSE IT'S ONLY HOLDING IT LIGHTLY IN ITS MOUTH.

TOO LATE, AND IT'LL SWALLOW THE HOOK.

YEAH, YEAH.

THIS MAKES IT LIKE NO OTHER FISH.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

I THINK -- NO.

I'VE TRIED SETTING THE HOOK TOO SOON.

I BAIT AND RECAST IMMEDIATELY.

[ SPLASH ]

MAYBE THE SAME FISH HAS COME BACK FOR MORE,

AS I GET ANOTHER BITE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

YEAH, THIS ONE'S GOING. THIS ONE'S GOING. OH.

I'M IN TEXAS, INVESTIGATING REPORTS

THAT MONSTER KILLERS ARE PROWLING AMERICA'S WATERS.

I'VE ALREADY CAUGHT ONE POTENTIAL KILLER --

A BULL SHARK

THAT'S BEEN STALKING FLORIDA'S FRESHWATER CANALS.

NOW I'M TRYING TO CATCH AN ALLIGATOR GAR

THAT'S LARGE ENOUGH TO BE LETHAL.

YEAH, THIS ONE'S GOING. THIS ONE'S GOING.

[ REEL CRANKING ]

IT FEELS GOOD. IT'S -- THERE WE GO.

THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT. THAT'S THE FISH.

THERE'S STILL A RISK IT COULD SPIT THE HOOK OUT,

SO EDDIE SNAGS IT WITH A LASSO.

THIS ONE IS 4 1/2 FEET LONG.

I'VE BEEN BITTEN BEFORE,

SO I'M TAKING NO CHANCES WITH THIS GAR'S TEETH.

I'M WEARING KEVLAR GLOVES FOR PROTECTION.

HAVING A CLOSER LOOK,

I THINK THE ALLIGATOR GAR IS FAR FROM UGLY.

IN FACT, ITS ANCIENT DESIGN IS ACTUALLY QUITE BEAUTIFUL.

INTERESTING MARK ON HERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ATTACKED BY AN ALLIGATOR

AT SOME POINT.

THAT'S AN INDICATION

OF THE STRENGTH OF THIS GAR'S ARMOR.

IT CAN WITHSTAND BEING ATTACKED BY A LARGE ALLIGATOR

AND STILL CARRY ON AS NORMAL.

IT'S NOT A BAD START, BUT I'M LOOKING FOR A MONSTER.

AAH!

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE -- FISH GOING BACK NICE AND LIVELY.

I CARRY ON FISHING.

BUT THE MONSTER IS PROVING MORE ELUSIVE THAN I EXPECTED.

THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE FISHING THE LOWER TRINITY...

AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT A GAR WOULD LIVE LONG ENOUGH

TO GROW INTO A REAL MONSTER IS LOOKING PRETTY SLIM.

I NEED TO EXPLORE SOME OTHER OPTIONS.

I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM A MICROLIGHT PILOT

WHO SAID HE SPOTTED A GIANT GAR WHILE FLYING OVER A CANAL

THAT WAS ONCE CONNECTED TO THE LOWER TRINITY.

BUT FOR THE PAST 44 YEARS,

THIS CANAL HAS BEEN CUT OFF FROM THE RIVER

AND, I'M TOLD, HASN'T BEEN FISHED SINCE.

A GATOR GAR SIMILAR TO THE ONE I CAUGHT EARLIER

COULD HAVE SWUM INTO THE CANAL AND BECOME TRAPPED

WHEN IT WAS SEALED OFF. AAH!

ALLIGATOR GAR CAN LIVE FOR OVER 50 YEARS

AND IN THAT TIME CAN GROW MONSTROUS.

THIS UNFISHED, QUIET CANAL COULD BE THE IDEAL PLACE

FOR A MONSTER GAR TO HIDE.

EVER SINCE HUMANS TOOK TO THE AIR,

MONSTER SIGHTINGS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE.

LOOKING DOWN ON THE WATER OFFERS THE IDEAL VANTAGE POINT

FOR SPOTTING EXTRAORDINARY FISH.

I'M REMINDED OF MY SEARCH FOR A LAKE MONSTER IN ALASKA.

THAT'S WHERE WE SAW IT.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE GIANT-GAR SIGHTING,

I'M MEETING THE PILOT WHO SAW IT, CODA RILEY.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

I'VE BEEN FLYING FOR ABOUT 22 YEARS,

AND I'VE SEEN LOTS OF THINGS FROM THE AIR.

AND I KNOW WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE.

IT'S VERY DISTINCTIVE.

HE GOES ON TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT HE SAW.

IT WAS A NICE, STILL AFTERNOON, AND I WAS IN THE MICROLIGHT,

AND I WAS BACK ON SOME IRRIGATION CANALS,

PROBABLY ABOUT A MILE OUT ACROSS THE FIELDS OVER THERE,

AND I WAS FLYING PROBABLY 50 FEET OFF THE CANALS,

WATCHING FISH SHOOT OUT INTO THE DEEP, INTO THE MIDDLE,

AND...

AS I START CLIMBING UP, I SEE SOMETHING SILVER IN COLOR.

I'M LOOKING DOWN, AND I SEE THIS ALLIGATOR GAR.

AND IT'S STRETCHING ACROSS A GOOD THIRD OF THE CANAL.

IT WAS REALLY LARGE.

WHAT KIND OF LENGTH WOULD THAT FISH BE?

I WOULD SAY 14 FOOT.

GAR HAVE BEEN PROVED TO BE THIS BIG BEFORE,

BUT THAT IS FROM THE FOSSIL RECORD,

BACK IN PREHISTORIC TIMES.

I COULD SEE THE INDIVIDUAL SCALES ON THIS THING.

THAT'S HOW BIG IT WAS.

I ACTUALLY SAT THERE AND ORBITED AROUND THIS GAR

UNTIL HE SLOWLY SANK OUT OF SIGHT.

CODA FEARED THE GIANT FISH WOULD BE CAUGHT AND KILLED,

SO HE REFUSED TO TELL ANYONE EXACTLY WHERE HE SAW IT.

BUT HE DID TELL ME.

AND BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY OTHER PERSON WHO KNOWS,

I'VE PROMISED TO KEEP THE EXACT LOCATION A SECRET.

SO YOU SAY YOU SPOTTED IT IN A CANAL.

I MEAN, IS THERE VERY FAR IT CAN GO?

I THINK ALL IN ALL,

IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND 4 TO 6 MILES OF CANAL.

HE'S LANDLOCKED. HE'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.

IT'S VERY OBVIOUS HE'S BEEN THERE A WHILE.

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO CHECK OUT,

SO I'M GOING TO INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER.

BUT FIRST, I NEED THE LAYOUT OF THE LANDLOCKED CANAL.

...TO THE MAIN FEED CANAL, WHICH IS LOCKED OFF WITH GATES,

HERE'S A ROAD HERE. HERE'S A ROAD HERE.

RIGHT HERE IN THIS CROOK AREA

IS WHERE I SPOTTED THE ALLIGATOR GAR.

THIS IS EXCITING,

BECAUSE CODA'S SIGHTING WAS ONLY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

AND WITH NO WAY OUT OF THE CANAL,

THE GAR CAN'T HAVE GONE FAR.

I WANT TO GET IN THE AIR TO LOOK FOR IT MYSELF.

A HELICOPTER WILL OFFER AN ADVANTAGE

OVER CODA'S MICROLIGHT

BECAUSE I'LL BE ABLE TO HOVER OVER ONE SPOT

IF I SEE ANYTHING.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT

ALL THE MONSTER SIGHTINGS I'VE HEARD ABOUT,

THIS ONE REALLY STANDS OUT.

NORMALLY, IT WOULD BE A BIT OF A WASTE OF TIME

TO GO BACK TO THE EXACT SPOT OF A SIGHTING,

BUT THIS FISH LIVES IN SUCH A CONFINED SPACE

THAT FROM A GOOD VIEWPOINT SUCH AS THIS,

THERE'S A VERY REAL CHANCE THAT I COULD SEE SOMETHING MYSELF.

I CAN SEE -- I THINK IT MIGHT BE A LOG.

I CAN SEE SOMETHING.

I CAN SEE SOMETHING IN THE CORNER.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS JUST A LOG.

THE PROBLEM WITH MANMADE CANALS IS THAT THEY TEND TO BE

THE SAME WIDTH, THE SAME DEPTH EVERYWHERE.

IN OTHER WORDS, NO REAL FEATURES TO ATTRACT THE FISH,

SO WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING A LINE IN THE WATER,

IT TENDS TO BE A BIT OF A RANDOM AFFAIR,

WHICH I DON'T LIKE.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT CODA'S SIGHTING

IS THAT THIS FISH WAS LYING RIGHT NEXT TO

ABOUT THE ONLY FEATURES THERE ARE DOWN THERE --

A JUNCTION AND A CULVERT.

I HAVEN'T SPOTTED ANYTHING FROM THE AIR,

SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HUNT FOR THIS MONSTER

THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY --

BY GETTING BACK ON THE GROUND

AND PUTTING A BAIT IN THE WATER.

THE LEVELS ARE A FEW FEET DOWN AT THE MOMENT,

SO I'VE MET UP WITH LOCAL FISHERMAN MIKE

TO PUT A BOAT ON THE WATER AND CHECK WHETHER THIS DEPTH

COULD ACTUALLY HOLD A MONSTER-SIZE GAR.

MIKE'S PROPELLER IS IN THE MUD.

CLEARLY, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WATER HERE

TO SUPPORT A MONSTER.

IT'S HALF A FOOT.

A LARGE FISH THERE,

I THINK HALF ITS BACK WOULD BE OUT OF THE WATER,

AND IF IT SUNK OUT OF SIGHT,

EVEN IF IT'S ON THE BOTTOM, YOU'RE STILL GONNA SEE IT.

SO I THINK, WITH THE WATER THE WAY IT IS NOW,

I POSSIBLY HAVE TO MOVE THAT WAY A LITTLE BIT

UNTIL I'VE GOT SUFFICIENT DEPTH FOR,

YOU KNOW, A LARGE FISH TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.

AFTER POLING ALONG THE CANAL,

WE FINALLY LOCATE A STRETCH OF WATER DEEP ENOUGH

TO HOLD A GIANT.

THIS MAY BE A MANMADE AND MANICURED CANAL,

BUT DANGEROUS WILDLIFE IS EVERYWHERE.

JUST KEEPING A BIT OF AN EYE OUT

TO THIS STRIP OF WOODLAND HERE AS WELL.

IT'S NOT JUST THE LARGE CREATURE IN THE WATER

I'VE GOT TO KEEP IN MIND.

THERE'S ALSO WILD HOGS IN HERE.

THERE ARE ALLIGATORS.

THE FACT THAT I CAN'T SEE THEM DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT HERE.

THEY'VE BEEN SPOTTED HERE, INCLUDING ONE QUITE BIG ONE --

ABOUT 10 FOOT.

I FISH FOR THREE DAYS ALL ALONG THE 4-MILE STRETCH OF CANAL

WHERE THE MONSTER GAR COULD BE TRAPPED.

BUT I CATCH NOTHING.

FINALLY, ON MY LAST NIGHT, I GET A BITE,

BUT IT'S A TINY ONE.

THERE WE GO. HOOK'S COME OUT.

OOH. THAT'S A GAR.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF GAR FROM THE ONE I'M SEARCHING FOR.

THIS IS A LONG-NOSED GAR.

THE ALLIGATOR GAR I'M PURSUING

IS WELL OVER 10 TIMES THE LENGTH OF THIS FISH.

NICE TO SEE THIS. THERE ARE GAR IN HERE, THEN.

THIS COULD POSSIBLY EVEN BE FOOD FOR THE BIG ONE.

THAT'S A RESULT OF SOME SORT.

SO I'VE CAUGHT A GAR FROM THIS CANAL.

I'M DISAPPOINTED TO BE LEAVING HERE EMPTY-HANDED,

BUT I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT

THAT CODA SAW A MONSTER GAR IN THIS CANAL.

MAYBE IT HAS DIED SINCE IT WAS SPOTTED.

BUT ALL IS NOT LOST.

EVIDENCE THAT THEY CAN STILL GROW MONSTROUS

MAY INSTEAD LIE IN A TAXIDERMIST'S FREEZER.

YEAH, THERE'S THE SKIN.

THIS IS THE SKIN AND HEAD OF A GATOR GAR

NETTED FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

SO, WHAT ACTUALLY WERE THE FIGURES FOR THIS?

THE FISH WEIGHED 327 POUNDS AND IS 8 1/2 FEET LONG.

ONE THE SIZE THAT CODA SAW

WOULD BE ADDING NEARLY 6 FEET TO THIS LENGTH,

AND ITS WEIGHT COULD BE NEARLY 3/4 OF A TON.

THE GAR I CAUGHT A FEW DAYS AGO

SURVIVED BEING ATTACKED BY AN ALLIGATOR.

WITH THIS SKIN IN MY HANDS,

I CAN REALLY SEE HOW IMPRESSIVE THEIR ARMOR PLATING IS.

THAT LOOKS QUITE A THICKNESS THERE.

HOW DID YOU OPEN IT UP?

USED A SAWZALL, AN ELECTRIC OR BATTERY-POWERED SAW.

YOU CAN'T CUT THROUGH IT WITH A KNIFE.

WE USED THE SHARPEST KNIFE WE HAD.

I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T EVEN GO INTO THE SKIN,

LET ALONE CUT THROUGH IT.

IT'S NOT THE SIZE OF THE MONSTER CODA SAW,

BUT IT SHOWS ME THEY CAN STILL GROW MASSIVE.

THE TEETH ON THIS GAR ARE BIG ENOUGH

TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO A HUMAN.

ON A 14-FOOT MONSTER,

I BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO KILL.

THIS SKULL AND SKIN WAS USED AS A MOLD FOR THIS,

AN EXACT MODEL OF THE OUTSIZE GAR.

JUST LOOK AT THE LENGTH OF THIS ANIMAL.

JUST ENORMOUS.

AND NOT JUST THE LENGTH -- THIS MASSIVE GIRTH.

SO WHAT I'VE GOT HERE -- I MEAN, IT'S NOT A STORY.

IT'S NOT AN OLD BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTOGRAPH.

THIS IS REAL, CONCRETE PROOF THAT THE MONSTERS STILL EXIST.

THIS GATOR GAR IS HUGE.

BUT IF LEFT UNTOUCHED IN A SECLUDED WATER,

IT MIGHT HAVE REACHED 14 FEET IN LENGTH.

MAYBE SUCH MONSTERS ARE STILL OUT THERE,

JUST WAITING TO BE FOUND.

LIKE CANALS, DAMS CAN GIVE FISH THE OPPORTUNITY,

IF LEFT UNDISTURBED, TO GROW TO MONSTROUS PROPORTIONS.

JUST LIKE THE GIANT WELS CATFISH

I CAUGHT FROM A DAM IN SPAIN.

RECENTLY, I'VE BEEN GETTING LOTS OF REPORTS

ABOUT ONE DAM IN SOUTH-CENTRAL MISSOURI,

THE BAGNELL DAM,

WHICH IS AT ONE END OF THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS.

I'M TOLD COMMERCIAL DIVERS

HAVE SEEN CATFISH BIG ENOUGH TO SWALLOW A MAN,

FISH SO LARGE

THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE REFUSED TO GO BACK IN THE WATER.

IT'S A TREACHEROUS PLACE.

THE LAKE BEHIND THE DAM IS,

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. COAST GUARD,

THE THIRD MOST DANGEROUS STRETCH OF WATER

IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S A DEEP, LIQUID BLACK HOLE,

WHERE BODIES REGULARLY GO MISSING.

COULD THE GIANT CATFISH

AND THE HIGH NUMBER OF UNEXPLAINED DISAPPEARANCES

BE LINKED?

I BEGIN MY INVESTIGATION

BY MEETING UP WITH LOCAL HISTORIAN MICHAEL GILLESPIE.

NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW MANY BODIES HAVE BEEN LOST

IN THE LAKE AND NEVER RECOVERED,

BUT THE BEST KNOWN INCIDENT INVOLVING THAT SORT OF THING

WAS BACK IN 1954.

[ LAUGHTER ]

THERE WAS A BOATING ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN EXCURSION BOAT

CALLED THE GRAND GLAIZE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

THE GRAND GLAIZE LEFT BAGNELL DAM

JUST IN FRONT OF A LARGE THUNDERSTORM

THAT WAS MOVING IN.

IT WAS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

THE BOAT WENT OUT ACROSS THE LAKE

AND ABOUT TWO OR THREE MILES UP THE LAKE

WHEN IT HIT THE LEADING EDGE OF THAT STORM.

JUST AS IT TURNED INTO A COVE TO ESCAPE THE WORST OF IT,

A STRONG GUST OF WIND CAPSIZED THE BOAT.

[ GASPS ]

15 PEOPLE WENT INTO THE WATER.

AND OF THOSE 15, 8 WERE DROWNED.

THREE OF THOSE EIGHT BODIES WERE NEVER RECOVERED.

ONE OF THE VICTIM'S FATHERS, ACTUALLY OUT OF HIS OWN EXPENSE,

CONTRACTED TO HAVE DIVERS SEARCH FOR HIS DROWNED DAUGHTER.

THEY NEVER DID FIND HER.

IT'S POSSIBLE THE BODIES SANK TO THE BOTTOM

AND WERE CONSUMED BY CATFISH.

IT'S A GRISLY SCENARIO I'VE ENCOUNTERED BEFORE.

THE GOONCH CATFISH IN INDIA IS THOUGHT TO HAVE GROWN GIGANTIC

BY EATING SEMI-CREMATED BODIES IN THE KALI RIVER.

MAYBE SOMETHING SIMILAR IS HAPPENING HERE.

I KNOW THERE ARE LARGE CATFISH IN HERE,

BUT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY

THERE ARE SOME GIANT CATFISH IN HERE.

BY GIANT, I MEAN FISH AS LARGE AS MYSELF,

MAYBE MORE SO.

DROWNED CORPSES BEING EATEN BY CATFISH

COULD EXPLAIN WHY SOME PEOPLE HAVE NEVER BEEN FOUND,

BUT NOT WHETHER THEY WERE KILLED BY THEM

IN THE FIRST PLACE.

TO FIND THAT OUT, I'VE GOT TO CATCH ONE.

I'M HOPING THE LOCAL FISHERMEN CAN OFFER SOME ADVICE,

BUT IN THIS TACKLE SHOP,

I'M TOLD A STORY CONFIRMING WHAT I'VE HEARD

ABOUT SCUBA DIVERS SEEING MAN-EATING-SIZED CATFISH

IN THE DAM.

I WAS ACTUALLY FISHING ON THE UPPER SIDE OF THE DAM,

UNDER A BRIDGE,

AND SOME INSPECTORS WERE DOWN THERE, DIVING.

AND I ENDED UP TALKING TO THESE GUYS MYSELF.

THEY SAID THERE'S FISH DOWN THERE

THAT I WOULD NEVER BRING IN,

AND ONE OF THE GUYS THOUGHT HE WOULD NEVER DIVE THERE AGAIN.

AND SPEAKING OF CATFISH.

AND THAT'S A STORY THAT I KNOW FIRSTHAND

FROM THE GUY THAT WAS IN THE WATER.

NORMALLY, THESE STORIES, IT'S ALWAYS AT SEVERAL REMOVES.

YOU KNOW, WHO WERE THESE DIVERS?

BUT YOU ACTUALLY SPOKE TO A DIVER

WHO SAID HE WOULD THINK TWICE

ABOUT GETTING BACK IN THAT SPOT?

YES.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

IT REALLY DOES SEEM AS IF THERE ARE SERIOUSLY LARGE FISH

IN THE WATER BEHIND THAT DAM.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME

IS THAT THIS IS NOT SOME TROPICAL JUNGLE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BODY OF WATER HERE

THAT IS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE DEVELOPED WORLD.

I WANT TO START FISHING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I MEET UP WITH STEVE BROWN,

WHO KNOWS THESE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WATERS WELL.

THE DAM HERE IS KNOWN TO CONTAIN

THREE TYPES OF CATFISH --

THE FLATHEAD, BLUE, AND CHANNEL --

NONE OF WHICH I'VE CAUGHT BEFORE.

TWO OF THEM CAN GROW TO WELL OVER 100 POUNDS

AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE MAN-EATERS.

BOTH THOSE FISH ARE PREDATORY,

SO TWO OF THE BAITS ARE LIVE BAITS --

SHAD, ABOUT SORT OF 6, 7 INCHES LONG --

AND ALSO A COUPLE OF BITS OF FRESH-CUT SHAD ON THE BOTTOM.

MOST FISH ARE OPPORTUNISTIC.

I'VE TAKEN THE UNUSUAL STEP OF FANNING OUT FOUR RODS

TO MAXIMIZE MY CHANCE OF CATCHING A MONSTER.

AT THIS SPOT, THE LAKE BED IS FLAT

AND THE WATER IS ONLY 6 FEET DEEP,

BUT THAT'S STILL PLENTY DEEP ENOUGH TO HOLD A MONSTER.

I'VE ACTUALLY GOT INTEREST ALREADY,

WHICH IS A GOOD SIGN.

SOME OF THE RODS STARTING TO KICK.

IT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S THE DEAD-BAIT RODS THAT ARE GOING.

THAT'S REALLY BOUNCING, THAT.

I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S COMING THIS WAY.

THE ANSWER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

TO CREATE THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS,

OVER 60 CEMETERIES WERE FLOODED,

HOLDING A TOTAL OF SOME 2,800 GRAVES.

ONLY AROUND HALF THE BODIES

WERE ABLE TO BE EXHUMED AND RELOCATED.

THE REST ARE NOW UNDERWATER.

I'VE FISHED FOR MONSTERS IN THE MOST REMOTE PARTS OF THE WORLD.

[ BELL JINGLING ] BUT NOW I'M IN AMERICA

TO FIND OUT IF FRESHWATER KILLERS ARE HERE, TOO.

I'VE ALREADY BEEN ON THE HUNT FOR LETHAL SHARKS

AND MONSTER-SIZED GATOR GAR.

NOW I'M IN MISSOURI TO SEE IF THERE ARE GIANT CATFISH HERE

THAT HAVE GROWN FAT ON THE BODIES OF PEOPLE

WHO'VE INEXPLICABLY DISAPPEARED.

[ SCREAMING ]

AND I MAY HAVE ONE ON THE END OF MY LINE.

NOT A GIANT, BUT IT'S THE FIRST BLUE CATFISH I'VE EVER CAUGHT.

THAT'S A VERY SORT OF FIT-LOOKING, FAT FISH.

THEY GO A LOT BIGGER THAN THIS.

THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO WEIGH CLOSE TO 150 POUNDS

AND ARE ONE OF THE STRONGEST FRESHWATER FISH IN AMERICA,

SO BRINGING A BIG ONE IN WILL BE A REAL STRUGGLE.

UGH. [ CHUCKLES ]

AFTER MY FIRST CATCH, IT ALL GOES QUIET.

SO I MOVE TO A LOCATION

WHERE THE UNDERWATER LANDSCAPE IS DIFFERENT.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A PLACE WHERE LARGE CATFISH COULD BE LURKING.

THE FISH CERTAINLY SEEM TO BE IN ABUNDANCE HERE,

AS IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE I GET ANOTHER BITE.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

SO THIS IS A CHANNEL CATFISH.

THIS IS ACTUALLY QUITE A GOOD DAY FOR ME.

I'VE NOT CAUGHT A CHANNEL CATFISH BEFORE.

AND APPARENTLY, THIS IS NOT A BAD SIZE FOR HERE

FOR A CHANNEL CATFISH.

THE LARGEST THESE GROW IS AROUND 50 POUNDS.

ALTHOUGH SMALLER THAN THE BLUES,

THEY MAKE UP FOR THAT WITH AGGRESSION AND ENERGY.

OH!

THAT WAS A CHANNEL CATFISH.

ASIDE FROM POTENTIALLY GIANT CATFISH,

THERE ARE LARGE PADDLEFISH IN THE DAM HERE AS WELL.

AND EVERYBODY ON THE WATER AROUND ME

IS TRYING TO CATCH ONE.

BECAUSE THEY ONLY FEED ON PLANKTON,

THEY CAN'T BE CAUGHT WITH A BAIT.

INSTEAD, THE METHOD FOR CATCHING THEM

IS TO DRAG A LINE WITH VERY LARGE, BARE HOOKS

THROUGH THE WATER,

THE IDEA BEING THAT YOU'LL EVENTUALLY SNAG ONE.

ALTHOUGH THEY AREN'T MY TARGET SPECIES,

I STILL WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS STRANGE FISH.

AMERICAN PADDLEFISH FIRST APPEARED

AROUND 400 MILLION YEARS AGO AND CAN GROW TO 7 FEET LONG.

THEY'RE RELATED TO THE NOW-EXTINCT CHINESE PADDLEFISH

THAT WAS THE LARGEST FRESHWATER FISH IN THE WORLD,

GROWING TO 23 FEET.

OVERALL LENGTH OF THAT IS ABOUT WHAT, 5 1/2 FOOT,

SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

YEAH. YEAH?

DESPITE THE SIZE OF THAT MOUTH,

THERE'S NO TEETH IN THERE.

THIS FISH ACTUALLY FEEDS ON MICROSCOPIC...

FOOD ITEMS IN THE WATER.

AND IT JUST FILTERS THEM THROUGH THE GILLS THERE.

SO IT'S NOT ACTUALLY HARMFUL.

IT SORT OF LOOKS PRETTY OUTLANDISH,

BUT IT'S NOT GONNA BE ANY DANGER AT ALL TO PEOPLE.

THIS IS A REALLY SORT OF UNUSUAL AND SPECIAL BEAST, THIS.

ANCHORING UP AND FISHING HASN'T YIELDED A GIANT CATFISH YET,

SO I'M GOING TO TRY DRIFTING INSTEAD.

THIS CONSTANT WIND THAT'S BLOWING

WILL PUSH THE BOAT ALONG, AND I CAN COVER A LOT OF WATER.

WE'VE GOT 150 FEET OUT ON THESE CENTER RODS,

125 ON THE OTHER ONES.

THEY'RE FANNED OUT.

IT'S A BIT LIKE A FARMER PLOWING A FIELD.

AND WE GOT A DROGUE OUT THE BACK OF THE BOAT.

IT'S A BIT LIKE A PARACHUTE.

IT'S SLOWING US DOWN AND DOING ABOUT ONE MILE AN HOUR,

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THE IDEA IS, WE'RE COVERING A LOT OF THE WATER,

HOPING THAT THIS WILL BRING US A BIGGER FISH.

USING THIS METHOD, I GET A BARRAGE OF BITES.

BUT KEEPING TRACK OF FOUR ACTIVE RODS IS A CHALLENGE.

WE JUST WANT TO FIND A BIGGER ONE. THAT'S ALL.

SEE HOW GREEDY THESE THINGS ARE?

STILL WELL SHORT OF THE SIZE WE WANT.

I'M GONNA CALL IT A DAY.

IT'S JUST ONE FISH AFTER ANOTHER THE SAME SIZE.

THESE BLUE CATFISH GO A LOT BIGGER -- OVER 100 POUNDS --

BUT THEY'RE NOT ON THE MOVE TODAY,

SO I'M GONNA GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP

AND COME OUT AGAIN TOMORROW.

I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON MY SEARCH FOR A MAN-EATING CATFISH,

BUT AFTER SEEING THE PADDLEFISH AND ITS CAPACIOUS MOUTH,

IT MAKES ME WONDER IF SOME OF THE DIVERS

WHO HAVE SEEN MONSTERS ACTUALLY WITNESSED ONE OF THESE INSTEAD.

I'M HOPING TO GET AN ANSWER TO THIS

AND TO THE QUESTION

OF WHETHER CATFISH ARE EATING HUMAN BODIES

FROM A SALVAGE DIVER

WHO'S GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE FISH IN THIS WATER.

TIM McNITT HAS CLOCKED UP THOUSANDS OF HOURS

DIVING AROUND HERE.

MOST PEOPLE WHO DIVE, THEY'RE DIVING IN NICE, CLEAR WATER.

YOU CAN SEE FOR A NICE, LONG DISTANCE.

WHAT'S IT LIKE HERE ON THE BOTTOM?

McNitt: IT'S A COLD, DARK, LONELY PLACE TO BE.

3 1/2 FEET VISIBILITY. THAT'S ABOUT AS BEST IT GETS.

I'VE DIVED IN CLAUSTROPHOBIC CONDITIONS LIKE THIS BEFORE,

WHERE IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY A BIG FISH

LOOMING OUT OF THE DARKNESS.

SO, AS WELL AS BOATS AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE DROPPED,

ARE YOU SOMETIMES RETRIEVING BODIES OUT OF THE WATER HERE?

I'VE RECOVERED EIGHT BODIES IN MY LIFETIME.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE IN BRANCHES OR TREES UNDERWATER.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE IN VEHICLES UNDERWATER.

HAVE ANY OF THE BODIES RETRIEVED

EVER HAD ANYTHING PARTIALLY FEEDING ON THEM?

I HAVE SEEN BODIES OF THAT NATURE.

MANY CATFISH ARE SCAVENGERS AND WILL EAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

ALL OVER THE WORLD,

THERE ARE STORIES OF THEM INGESTING HUMANS.

TIM CONFIRMS THAT SOME OF THE BODIES DISAPPEARING HERE

COULD BE BECAUSE OF CATFISH.

BUT IT STILL DOESN'T PROVE

THEY'RE ALSO BIG ENOUGH TO KILL.

AND SO FAR, I DON'T HAVE A RELIABLE FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT

OF A MAN-SIZED CATFISH LIVING IN THIS LAKE.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CATFISH YOU'VE SEEN HERE?

OH, PROBABLY AT LEAST A 6-FOOTER, 6- TO 7-FOOTER.

CLOSE TO 280, 300 POUNDS.

HEAD ON HIM ABOUT THAT BIG.

BIGGER THAN ME. HEAVIER THAN ME.

THIS IS A BREAKTHROUGH --

A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT

FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS SEEN A GIANT CATFISH IN THE DAM.

MORNING.

AND IF IT WAS THIS SIZE, IT COULD EASILY BE A MAN-EATER.

AFTER HEARING WHAT TIM HAS SAID,

I HAVE RENEWED ENTHUSIASM.

I GET BACK ONTO THE WATER AND START FISHING FOR A MONSTER.

THAT'S A GOOD FISH. THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

SHALLOW WATER -- IT'S DASHING.

IT CAN'T GO DOWN, SO IT'S GOING SIDE TO SIDE.

THAT WAS WITHIN MINUTES, SECONDS EVEN, ALMOST,

OF PUTTING THE BAIT OUT.

KEEP IT AWAY FROM THAT OTHER LINE THERE.

GET SOME SIDE STRAIN ON IT.

UNLIKE YESTERDAY,

IT SEEMS THAT THE BIG FISH ARE NOW ON THE MOVE.

THIS FEELS EXCITING.

THIS IS GOOD SIZE.

OH, I SEE THE FLANK. OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

I'M TRAVELING THROUGH AMERICA, LOOKING FOR FRESHWATER KILLERS.

AND NOW I'M IN MISSOURI,

INVESTIGATING WHETHER THERE ARE MAN-EATING CATFISH

IN THE DAM HERE.

YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD FISH. THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING BIG ON THE END OF MY LINE.

THIS FEELS EXCITING.

THIS IS GOOD SIZE.

OH, I SEE THE FLANK.

OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. LOVELY, LOVELY.

SLACK OFF THE DRAG A LITTLE BIT.

WHERE'S THE NET?

[ SIGHS ]

LOVELY.

IN THE NET. IN THE NET.

THIS ONE WEIGHS IN AT 58 POUNDS.

[ GRUNTS ]

OH, YES. OH, GOSH.

PEOPLE THINK CATFISH ARE UGLY, SLIMY SCAVENGERS,

BUT, I MEAN, THIS FISH IS JUST A MUSCULAR PREDATOR.

THIS FISH TOOK WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES OF GETTING THE BAIT OUT.

AND IN SHALLOW WATER. THAT'S INTERESTING.

PEOPLE THINK "BIG FISH, DEEP WATER."

NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. I'M SO PLEASED WITH THAT.

THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SEE -- A BIG CATFISH.

AND THERE'S A BIG MOUTH ON HERE.

VERY CAPACIOUS MOUTH.

AND THERE'S NO TEETH AS SUCH, BUT I CAN FEEL --

WELL, IT'S LIKE LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS

OF VERY CLOSE-SET POINTS.

THEY'RE FOR GRIPPING.

IF THEY DO GRIP SOMETHING, THEY DON'T LET GO.

BUT YEAH. LOVELY FISH.

THESE ROWS OF TINY TEETH WOULD BE IDEAL

FOR GRIPPING ONTO A HUMAN CORPSE UNDERWATER.

AND, LIKE ALLIGATORS, CATFISH CAN SPIN,

WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO RIP FLESH

OR EVEN LIMBS OFF THE BODY.

IF WE WENT OVER THE BACK..

YEAH. CLOSE TO 4 FEET.

8 INCHES ACROSS THE HEAD.

A GOOD 6 INCHES.

SCALING THIS UP TO THE SIZE OF CATFISH THAT TIM SAW,

THE MOUTH WOULD BE BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE IN SOMEBODY'S HEAD.

THERE ARE BIG FISH IN THIS LAKE.

THAT WOULD BE FRIGHTENING TO ACTUALLY BUMP INTO THAT

IN LOW VISIBILITY.

YOU LITERALLY DON'T SEE IT UNTIL YOU'RE A COUPLE OF FEET AWAY.

FROM WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED AT THE BAGNELL DAM,

I'M CONVINCED THAT DIVERS HERE HAVE BEEN SEEING GIANT CATFISH

THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO EAT HUMAN FLESH

FROM DROWNED BODIES.

[ MUFFLED SHOUTING ]

BUT I HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE

TO CONCLUDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN KILL.

IN MY QUEST FOR ANSWERS,

I SOMETIMES FIND MYSELF DOING THINGS

THAT MAKE ME REALLY UNEASY,

LIKE THE TIME I SAT IN A POOL OF PIRANHAS

TO PROVE THEY DON'T ALWAYS ATTACK HUMANS.

THIS CASE CALLS FOR SOMETHING THAT MAKES ME EQUALLY NERVOUS,

BUT IT'S THE ONLY WAY I'LL TRULY EXPERIENCE

THE FULL FORCE OF A CATFISH.

I'M GOING NOODLING.

THIS IS AN ANCIENT FORM OF FISHING

FROM BEFORE WHEN ROD AND REEL WERE INVENTED.

IT'S DONE WHEN CATFISH ARE SPAWNING,

BUILDING NESTS IN HOLES ALONG THE RIVERS

AND IN THE LAKES.

TO CATCH THE CATFISH, YOU DIVE UNDERWATER,

PUTTING YOUR ARM OR EVEN YOUR WHOLE BODY

INTO THE NESTING HOLE.

THIS IS TO GET THE CATFISH TO ATTACK YOU

AS IT PROTECTS ITS EGGS.

THE THEORY IS THAT WHEN IT BITES YOUR HAND,

YOU GRAB HOLD OF ITS JAW AND HAUL IT OUT.

TO PUT MY MONEY WHERE THE CATFISH'S MOUTH IS,

I'M TRAVELING TO OKLAHOMA, WHERE NOODLING IS POPULAR.

I FEEL EXPOSED WITHOUT ANY FISHING GEAR

AND WILL BE WAY OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE.

I'M NORMALLY HAPPY USING BAIT TO LURE A MONSTER,

BUT WHEN I'M THE BAIT, IT'S A DIFFERENT MATTER.

I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE

WHEN FISHING FOR EELS IN NEW ZEALAND,

AND I WAS TERRIFIED.

LOOK AT THAT! LOOK AT THAT! AAH!

NOODLING, LIKE MANY SPORTS,

IS ENTERTAINMENT MIXED WITH AN ELEMENT OF DANGER.

TO FIND OUT JUST HOW MUCH DANGER,

I'M MEETING UP WITH NOODLER BOBBY SPARKS.

Sparks: AND WE WERE GOING ALONG, TWO BUDDIES OF MINE,

AND THEY WERE QUITE A WAYS IN FRONT OF ME,

AND I STUMBLED OVER THIS HOLE, AND I THOUGHT,

"HEY, MAN. THIS IS GOOD," WHEN I STARTED INTO THIS HOLE.

I GOT KIND OF ABOUT HALF THE WAY DOWN IN IT,

AND HE COME UP AND HIT ME REAL HARD.

THIS FISH WAS POSSIBLY BREAKING 100 POUNDS.

HE COME UP COMPLETELY OVER MY ARMY BOOT, SIZE 12...

...ALL THE WAY UP TO NEARLY MY KNEE.

THE FISH HAD THE BOTTOM HALF OF BOBBY'S LEG IN ITS MOUTH

AND WOULDN'T LET GO.

AND HE CLAMPED DOWN, AND HE STARTED SHAKING AND SPINNING.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER I WAS UP OR DOWN.

I WAS ALMOST TO THE TOP.

I COULDN'T GET MY NOSE ABOVE THE WATER,

AND HE WAS PULLING ME DOWN.

I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA PULL MY LEG COMPLETELY OFF...

...THAT LAST PULL BECAUSE HE WAS PULLING ME DOWN IN

WHEN MY FRIENDS FINALLY GOT TO ME

AND CAUGHT ME AND PULLED ME OUT.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF I HAD THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT BACK

ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THAT HOLE.

IF YOUR FRIENDS HADN'T BEEN WITH YOU ON THAT DAY,

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD OR COULD HAVE HAPPENED?

I THINK THAT HE WOULD HAVE HELD ME THERE AND DROWNED ME.

I REALLY FEEL THAT...

I WOULD HAVE ATE SUPPER WITH JESUS THAT NIGHT.

THERE'S SO MUCH POWER THERE,

SO MUCH STRENGTH IN THAT FISH'S BODY.

THAT'S THEIR DOMAIN,

AND I HAVE FULL RESPECT FOR THEM IN THEIR HOME.

CLEARLY, I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO NOODLE CORRECTLY.

I WON'T ATTEMPT TO DO THIS ON MY OWN.

PLUS, IF I GET INTO ANY TROUBLE WHILE I'M UNDERWATER,

I'LL NEED PEOPLE TO HELP ME BACK TO THE SURFACE.

I'VE MANAGED TO HOOK UP WITH NATE WILLIAMS

AND HIS FRIEND DILLON, BOTH VERY EXPERIENCED NOODLERS.

I'M ALREADY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE DANGERS,

BUT ADDING TO THIS IS THE FACT THAT I'M JOINING THEM

HALFWAY THROUGH A NOODLING CONTEST,

WHEN ONLY THE BIGGEST CATCHES WILL DO.

EACH TEAM HAS ITS OWN NOODLING SPOTS,

AND THE GROUP WITH THE HIGHEST COMBINED WEIGHT

OF ITS TOP THREE FISH WINS.

AFTER THE CONTEST,

WE'LL RELEASE THE FISH BACK INTO THE WATER.

NATE'S SPOT IS A STRETCH OF ISOLATED RIVER.

I HAVE TO KEEP THE EXACT LOCATION SECRET

IN CASE OTHER NOODLERS MUSCLE IN.

HERE, I'LL HAVE THE CHANCE OF CATCHING A FLATHEAD CATFISH,

THE TYPE I FAILED TO GET BACK AT BAGNELL DAM

AND ONE THAT'S CAPABLE OF GROWING

TO MAN-EATING PROPORTIONS.

I'VE DONE EXTREME FISHING, NORMALLY WITH A ROD.

[ REEL CRANKS ] FISH ON!

AND IT NORMALLY FEELS LIKE

YOU'RE IN PRETTY DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE FISH.

WHOA! AAH!

BUT THIS IS REAL HANDS-ON, ISN'T IT?

AND I CAN IMAGINE THAT GETS PRETTY INTENSE.

YEAH. THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT FORM OF FISHING.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME AND DANGEROUS

METHODS OF FISHING THAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND.

YOU REEL IN A FISH FOR 45 MINUTES ON A POLE,

EVEN IF HE'S VERY LARGE, THE SAME SIZE AS THESE FISH,

HE'S GONNA BE TIRED BY THE TIME YOU GET HIM IN YOUR HANDS.

THESE FISH HAVE EVERY BIT OF FIGHT IN THEM RIGHT NOW.

[ GRUNTS ]

YOU'RE GONNA STICK YOUR HANDS IN THERE.

YOU'RE GONNA FEEL THE FULL FORCE STRAIGHT ON YOUR HANDS

WITHOUT EVER WEARING HIM DOWN.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY INTENSE.

RIGHT. OKAY.

I'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT CATFISH,

WITH THEIR PADS OF TEETH,

CAN RIP THE FLESH OFF DROWNING VICTIMS.

BUT WHAT WILL ONE DO TO MY ARM IF IT GETS HOLD OF IT?

YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT GRIP AS TIGHT AS YOU CAN

BECAUSE THEY CAN SENSE WEAKNESS,

AND WHEN THEY FEEL YOU JUST LOOSEN IT,

THAT'S WHEN THEY'LL TRY TO DO THEIR DEATH ROLL.

YOU GOT THAT BOTTOM JAW -- IT'S A BIG HANDLE.

IF THEY SLIP PAST THAT, THEY'LL GET UP HERE,

AND THEY'LL JUST GO TO SPINNING,

AND THEY'LL KIND OF WEAR GROOVES IN YOUR ARMS.

SEE? LIKE THAT. SOMETIMES THEY'LL COME WAY UP HERE.

THEY CAN REALLY GET YOU ANYWHERE IN HERE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. THEY JUST WEAR AROUND YOUR ARM.

HIS MOUTH IS CLOSED,

AND HE'S BOLTED HISSELF UP WHERE HE CAN'T ACTUALLY FIT OUT,

THEN YOU'RE JUST GONNA BE STUCK,

AND THEY CAN HOLD YOU DOWN THERE.

EVERY YEAR, PEOPLE DIE NOODLING BY DROWNING.

SOMETIMES THEIR HEAD'S CLOSE TO THE SURFACE,

AND THEY JUST CAN'T QUITE GET THERE.

CLEAR HEAD AND DON'T PANIC, ISN'T IT?

RIGHT. OKAY.

LET'S GO AND DO THIS, THEN.

BEFORE HAVING A GO MYSELF,

I'M CONTENT TO LET THE EXPERTS TRY IT FIRST.

WE'VE FOUND A CONCRETE TUBE

THAT IS A PERFECT PLACE FOR A CATFISH TO NEST IN.

THE OPENING UNDER THE WATER IS SILTED UP,

LEAVING ONLY A TINY GAP FOR ENTERING.

THE PLAN IS FOR DILLON TO STICK BOTH HIS LEGS INTO THE HOLE.

WHEN THE CATFISH ATTACKS, HE'LL PIN IT AGAINST THE SIDE,

BUT TO DO THIS, HE HAS TO BE TOTALLY SUBMERGED.

SEEING DILLON ABOUT TO OFFER HIS BODY AS BAIT

IN PART MAKES ME UNDERSTAND

WHY AMERICA IS CALLED "THE LAND OF THE BRAVE."

THERE'S DEFINITELY A BIG CATFISH IN THERE.

GOT HIM? HE'S IN BETWEEN MY LEGS.

DILLON HAS A CATFISH PINNED AGAINST THE OPENING,

BUT HE'S NOW WEDGED IN.

LUCKILY, HE CAN GET HIS HEAD

JUST ABOVE THE WATER TO BREATHE.

GO UNDER HIS LEGS.

I'M GONNA GET THE HEAD UNDER AND TRY TO GET THAT GILL.

OKAY.

I'VE GOT TO PUT MY FEARS ASIDE.

IT'S TIME TO GO DOWN THERE AND GET IT.

I'M IN AMERICA,

INVESTIGATING WHETHER THERE REALLY ARE

LETHAL FISH IN ITS WATERS.

RIGHT NOW I'M IN OKLAHOMA,

SEEING JUST HOW DANGEROUS A BIG CATFISH CAN BE.

I'M ATTEMPTING TO NOODLE

TO DETERMINE IF THE FISH ARE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO BE LETHAL.

I'VE GOT MY FIRST CATFISH ON THE END OF MY ARM.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

IT'S A REAL TEAM EFFORT.

AS SOON AS I GET IT TO THE SURFACE,

NATE PUTS A STRINGER THROUGH ITS MOUTH

AND OUT THROUGH ITS GILL FLAP SO IT CAN'T ESCAPE.

[ GRUNTS ]

THIS IS A FLATHEAD CATFISH.

WHO COULD SUSPECT A RIVER LIKE THIS --

SO SHALLOW, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK THERE'S NOTHING IN IT --

MAYBE THERE'S STUFF A FOOT LONG.

BUT THERE'S SOME REAL MONSTERS IN HERE,

AND THEY'RE HIDING VERY, VERY CLOSE.

BUT, BOY, IT'S WORK TO GET THEM OUT.

IT'S SHORT, BUT IT'S VERY INTENSE.

BUT YOU'VE GOT THIS PROTRUDING LOWER JAW,

AND YOU'VE GOT THESE NEEDLE-LIKE TEETH

FORMING VERY BIG PADS,

AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET HOLD OF THERE.

YOU'VE ALSO GOT CRUSHING PADS AT THE BACK OF THE THROAT.

YOUR HAND CAN EVEN GO BEYOND THOSE.

IT'S A BIT LIKE A SPHINCTER.

YOUR HAND CAN GO RIGHT PAST, INTO THE GUT.

THE OTHER THING YOU GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR ON THESE IS,

YOU'RE TRYING TO REACH IN AND JUST GET ON THE GILL FLAP,

BUT THE GILLS ARE PROTECTED BY THOSE VERY SHARP GILL RAKERS,

AND IF YOU GET ONE OF THOSE GETTING NEAR YOUR FINGERS

AND THE FISH STARTS TO THRASH AND TRY TO SPIN,

THOSE ARE GONNA SORT OF CREATE A BIT OF AN INJURY AS WELL.

SO IT'S QUITE A FORMIDABLE MOUTH THAT CAN DO A BIT OF DAMAGE.

THIS ONE WEIGHS AROUND 40 POUNDS --

A BIG FISH BY ANYBODY'S STANDARDS,

BUT NATE THINKS IT'S TOO SMALL TO ENTER INTO THE CONTEST,

SO WE LET IT GO.

I'M NOT SURE I'M READY TO CATCH SOMETHING BIGGER.

TRAINING IS OVER,

AND I'M TAKING THE LEAD ON THE NEXT ONE.

WE MOVE FURTHER DOWNRIVER.

ALONG THE WAY, WE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR FOOTPRINTS,

SIGNS THAT A RIVAL TEAM HAS GOT HERE FIRST,

TAKING ANY POTENTIAL PRIZE-WINNING FISH.

WE ARRIVE AT A HOLE

WHERE NATE HAS NOODLED SOME MASSIVE CATFISH BEFORE.

Williams: TRY TO GET YOU A LITTLE MENTAL IMAGE OF IT

REAL QUICK HERE.

BASICALLY, WE'RE GONNA COME UP TO THIS HOLE,

AND SAY THIS IS THE SURFACE OF THE WATER HERE.

BOTTOM OF THE RIVER IS GONNA BE ABOUT 4 FOOT,

AND THE SAND AT THE BOTTOM IS WHERE THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLE IS.

THE CLAY BANK IS ATE AWAY LIKE THIS.

IT'S ABOUT TWO PEOPLE WIDE.

YOU'RE GONNA BE ABOUT CHEST-DEEP WATER.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE YOUR FEET IN THE HOLE

WHEN WE FIRST GET THERE, KEEP THE FISH FROM SWIMMING OUT.

ME AND DILLON ARE GONNA GET ON EACH SIDE OF YOU.

WE'RE GONNA PUT OUR FEET IN THE HOLE AND BASICALLY MAKE A WALL.

HE'S GONNA COME UP, AND HE'S GONNA FIND YOU.

YOU'RE NOT EVEN GONNA HAVE TO FIND HIM.

THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE COMPLICATED THAN THE FIRST HOLE

BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BLOCK THE OPENING.

OTHERWISE, ANY CATFISH IN THERE COULD ESCAPE.

TIME FOR DISCUSSING TACTICS IS OVER.

BEFORE GOING UNDERWATER,

IT'S ESSENTIAL TO BUILD A MENTAL PICTURE

OF THE LAYOUT BELOW THE SURFACE.

A LITTLE FARTHER DOWN.

IF I DON'T, I COULD PANIC

IF I COME ACROSS SOMETHING UNEXPECTED.

AFTER FEELING AROUND,

I'VE WORKED OUT THAT THERE'S A FLAT SHELF

THAT THEN DROPS DOWN TO THE RIVERBED.

IN THIS VERTICAL FACE IS AN OPENING

THAT GOES BACK INTO THE BANK.

IN HERE IS WHERE A CATFISH COULD BE HIDING.

AT THE MOMENT, I CAN'T TELL HOW FAR THE HOLE GOES BACK.

I'LL ONLY FIND THAT OUT BY STICKING MY ARM IN THERE.

YOU'RE JUST GONNA FEEL HIM UP.

IF YOU GET IN THERE FAR ENOUGH, HE'S GONNA BE RIGHT HERE.

YOU'RE JUST GONNA BE ABLE TO MANEUVER HIM HOWEVER YOU WANT.

IF YOU GET IN THERE FAR ENOUGH, IT'LL BE NO PROBLEM.

KNOW THAT YOU GOT PEOPLE HERE TO HELP YOU

IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG.

BASICALLY, AS SOON AS YOU HEAR ANYTHING GOING,

YOUR SIGN TO PULL ME OUT ANYWAY, AREN'T YOU?

IF THERE IS A CATFISH IN THERE,

I'M GOING TO FEEL THE FULL FORCE

OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ATTACKED BY ONE

AS IT DEFENDS ITS NEST.

I FEEL AROUND FOR WHAT SEEMS AN ETERNITY,

BUT THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANYONE HOME.

MY LUNGS ARE STARTING TO BURN.

I GET THE FEELING I'M MAYBE NOT IN THERE FAR ENOUGH.

IS THAT THE IDEA?

YEAH, YOU GOT TO GO IN THERE AS FAR AS YOU CAN.

I HAVEN'T REACHED FAR ENOUGH INTO THE HOLE.

AS WE FEEL AROUND THE OPENING, SOMETHING RAMS OUR LEGS.

OH, OH! HE'S IN THERE. KEEP IT BLOCKED.

HE JUST SWALLOWED MY WHOLE FOOT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOLE IS TOTALLY BLOCKED

SO IT CAN'T ESCAPE.

I SUBMERGE AGAIN.

THIS TIME, I GO HEADFIRST INTO THE HOLE,

WHICH JUST KEEPS ON GOING AND GOING.

WHEN I'M IN IT AS FAR AS MY THIGHS,

SOMETHING BITES ME -- HARD.

I'VE TRAVELED THE WORLD

SEARCHING FOR FRESHWATER KILLERS.

NOW I'M IN AMERICA,

HUNTING A MONSTER IN A WAY I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

I'M NOODLING IN OKLAHOMA,

AND I'VE JUST DIVED INTO A HOLE HEADFIRST.

VISIBILITY IS ZERO, AND AS I FEEL AROUND,

SOMETHING BITES MY HAND -- HARD.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

I MANAGE TO GET A GOOD HOLD OF IT

AND BRING IT TO THE SURFACE.

I'VE LANDED MY FIRST CATFISH, NOODLING-STYLE.

[ LAUGHS ] OH!

WELL, THAT FISH WAS LYING THERE.

BOOM! BIT ME ONCE AND LET GO.

AND THEN I SORT OF FUMBLED AROUND

AND THEN ACTUALLY REACHED INTO ITS MOUTH.

IT'S A CREEPY FEELING. I'M PUTTING MY BODY IN THERE.

DILLON'S FEEDING ME IN, PUSHING ME IN

HEADFIRST INTO A HOLE UNDER THE WATER.

THEN SOMETHING IS GONNA BITE ME IN THERE.

IT'S DARK. I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. WHAT A STUPID THING TO BE DOING.

YOU KNOW, JUST RIDICULOUS,

BUT, I MEAN, AS FISHING GOES,

IT DOESN'T GET MUCH MORE MAD THAN THAT.

AS NATE PROMISED, THE CATFISH IS STILL FULL OF FIGHT.

IT TRIES TO DO A CHARACTERISTIC ROLL.

IF WE CAN'T CONTROL IT,

IT HAS THE STRENGTH TO BREAK MY WRIST.

OOH!

THAT'S DOUBLING MY -- OH!

LUCKILY, IT DECIDES TO LET ME GO.

BIG FLATHEAD CATFISH. I MEAN, WELL NAMED.

THAT HEAD IS FLAT.

THAT LOWER JAW POKING UP AS WELL.

BUT JUST WHAT A BEAST.

IT LOOKS A BIT SORT OF TORN UP.

IT'S GOT SOME BATTLE SCARS.

THAT ADIPOSE FIN HERE SHOULD JUST BE A NORMAL, CLEAN LOBE,

AND THAT'S BEEN SPLIT.

IT'S GOT A BIT OF A LUMP ON IT. TAIL'S A BIT TORN.

ONE POSSIBILITY IS THESE THINGS MOVE INTO BEAVER HOLES,

AND IF THERE'S A BEAVER ALREADY IN RESIDENCE,

THE BEAVER PROBABLY TAKES EXCEPTION,

AND SO THESE THINGS HAVE A BIT OF A TOUGH TIME.

THEY'VE GOT TO COMPETE FOR REAL ESTATE DOWN THERE.

AT OVER 50 POUNDS,

IT'S A STRONG CONTENDER FOR THE CONTEST.

ALSO, HAVING FELT THE FULL FORCE

OF ONE OF THESE ON THE END OF MY ARM,

I NOW COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND

HOW CLOSE BOBBY CAME TO BEING KILLED.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD PEOPLE

TALKING ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN CATFISH

AS BEING FISH THAT COULD POTENTIALLY KILL PEOPLE,

MY FIRST REACTION WAS, "THIS IS A BIT UNBELIEVABLE.

THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE GOT TO LOOK INTO."

BUT NOW, HAVING ACTUALLY TRIED THIS FORM OF FISHING

WHERE WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING

IS TRYING TO PROVOKE THE FISH TO BITE YOU

AND THEN HANG ON TO YOU WHILE YOU'RE UNDER THE WATER,

IN THE DARK, WITH JUST ONE LUNGFUL OF AIR,

I CAN REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE

HOW THESE FISH CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE HUMAN FATALITIES.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE CONTEST.

WE HAVE TO LOAD UP OUR THREE BIGGEST CATFISH

AND GET TO THE WEIGH-IN.

ALL THE TEAMS ARE COMING BACK

FROM THEIR VARIOUS NOODLING LOCATIONS

FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

[ APPLAUSE ]

IT'S A TENSE TIME AS EVERYBODY GETS THEIR CATCHES WEIGHED.

Woman: OH, MY.

PRESSURE MOUNTS, AS LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE RECOGNIZED ME.

MY REPUTATION FOR CATCHING MONSTERS IS ON THE LINE.

IT'S OUR TURN TO WEIGH OUR CATCHES.

HOPEFULLY, OUR THIRD FISH WILL BE AT LEAST 50 POUNDS.

LAST TO BE WEIGHED IS THE CATFISH I PULLED OUT OF A HOLE.

Man: I'D SAY 53. IT'S 53 POUNDS.

ARE WE READY TO TAKE HIM DOWN?

THIS GIVES US A COMBINED WEIGHT OF 155 POUNDS.

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE

IF THIS IS ENOUGH TO WIN THE CONTEST.

THIRD PLACE GOES TO THE TEAM OF MICHAEL GILL.

[ APPLAUSE ]

THE SECOND PLACE WAS THE TEAM OF DAVID WALKER.

FIRST PLACE GOES TO THE TEAM OF NATHAN WILLIAMS.

[ APPLAUSE ]

THANKS TO THE SKILL OF NATE AND DILLON,

MY INEXPERIENCE AS A NOODLER HAS PASSED UNNOTICED.

AND MY REPUTATION AS A MONSTER CATCHER REMAINS INTACT.

AFTER TAKING OUR PRIZE,

IT'S TIME TO RELEASE THESE THREE CATFISH

BACK INTO THE RIVER.

I CAME TO AMERICA

TO SEE IF THERE ARE KILLERS IN ITS FRESHWATERS.

[ REEL CRANKS ]

I FOUND POTENTIALLY DEADLY BULL SHARKS

PROWLING FLORIDA'S CANALS

RIGHT UNDER THE NOSES OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

AN EXPLORATORY BITE COULD JUST BLEED OUT, LOSE A LOT OF BLOOD,

AND THAT COULD BE A FATAL ENCOUNTER.

I SEARCHED FOR LETHALLY LARGE ALLIGATOR GAR IN TEXAS

AND LANDED A PREHISTORIC GIANT I HADN'T EXPECTED TO SEE.

AND I UNCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MAN-SIZED CATFISH

IN A MISSOURI DAM

WHICH COULD BE FEASTING ON HUMAN CORPSES.

HEAD ON HIM ABOUT THAT BIG. BIG OLD FLATHEAD.

BIGGER THAN ME. HEAVIER THAN ME.

AND AFTER GOING NOODLING, I'M IN NO DOUBT

THAT A CATFISH OF THAT SIZE

WOULD ALSO BE CAPABLE OF DROWNING SOMEBODY.

AS I WRAP UP MY ADVENTURE, I LEAVE CONVINCED,

EVEN IN THE 21st CENTURY,

AMERICA'S RIVERS, LAKES, AND CANALS

ARE STILL HOME TO POTENTIAL KILLERS.