We had a lot of respect for them. Just knowing about them we knew how to avoid them. I've spent most of my life here outdoors in it, and not so much as a close call with them. We used to wade fish a lot of the lakes around here, have bass on the stringer and have water moccasins tugging on the fish trying to take them from us. This place is tame now to the point of being ruined, never to return. I'm glad I got to live in the last of what wild remained here. Wish my kids could have experienced what I have.
I have a Jamaican friend who is my die-hard fishing buddy. We have been wading in Tampa Bay countless times and now we both have boats but that wasn't always so. First time I took him, we're wading along and this huge Manatee glides up on us and I know what it is, but my buddy doesn't, and all he sees is this giant shadow approaching. About that time, the Manatee turns and slaps the water with it's tail, drenching the both of us. My buddy, who is easily twice my size, pushes me between him and the shadow. I said, "wtf!" He says, "You're the crocodile m-f'r and I can't run in this muddy sh*t!"
Here's a picture of me wading back behind the boat with my cast net over my shoulder going for mullet in Tampa Bay.
Here's the same area and notice the fin sticking up. It's about a 10' Bull shark. We just keep our senses about us. I have had them approach before and a good shot on the snout with the butt of a fishing rod changes their mind quickly to the other direction.
Only time you really have to worry about gators is if they have young around. You can tell when they are in that kind of aggression mode. They just want you to go away and you just do.
I've seen so many incredible things here. Lived from the land a good part and appreciated every bit of it and hopefully left it as good or better than I found it.
