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>> I'M TREKKING TO THE FLORIDA
EVERGLADES, ONE OF THE MOST
WILD, RUGGED, AND UNTOUCHED
PLACES IN THE CONTIGUOUS UNITED
STATES TO HUNT FOR PIG FROGS BY
THE LIGHT OF THE MOON.
>> APPROACH THEM LIKE A
PREDATOR. [BEEP]
>> EXPLORE BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL
PRESERVE.
>> HOLY [BEEP]
>> THERE'S A COTTONMOUTH
MOCCASIN.
>> CHECK OUT SOME GATORS.
>> WHAT SPARKS AGGRESSIVE
BEHAVIOR?
>> US BEING IN HERE.
>> AND GO FLY-FISHING FOR
TARPON, WITH A HALL-OF-FAME
GUIDE WHO TAKES NO [BEEP] FROM
ANYONE.
>> YOU DON'T OWN THIS BAY. IF
YOU'RE OVER THERE AND WE'RE OUT
HERE, WE'RE NOT BOTHERING YOU A
BIT.
>> NO SENSE IN BEING A
SMART-***.
>> QUIT YOUR WHINING.
>> WELL SAID.
>> MY NAME IS MATT HRANEK.
>> JESUS, MATT!
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> MY JOB AS A PHOTOGRAPHER
TAKES ME ALL OVER THE COUNTRY...
BREAKER, BREAKER, THIS IS
PEACHES AND CREAM.
DOCUMENTING THE UNIQUE PEOPLE...
I WANT JUST A TOUCH OF GUIDANCE.
>> GET A REAL JOB.
>> HA HA HA HA!
>> AND TIMELESS OBJECTS THAT
EMBODY THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT, RIGHT?
I STARTED A BLOG OF MY FAVORITE
DISCOVERIES: STUFF WELL MADE,
HONEST FOOD, AND MEMORABLE
CHARACTERS.
>> I'VE KILLED MORE FROGS THAN
A WINTER FREEZE.
>> AND WHILE PICTURES ARE TRULY
WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS...
LET ME GIVE YOU A HUG.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE THE REST OF
THE STORY.
THERE IT IS! THERE IT IS! THERE
IT IS! THERE IT IS!
I'M MATT HRANEK, AND I INVITE
YOU TO JOIN ME ON THE
"ALTERNATE ROUTE."
>> THIS IS THE FLORIDA YOU
DON'T SEE IN POST CARDS--THE
EVERGLADES, A MILLION ACRES OF
FLOODED JUNGLE, ROUGH AND
INACCESSIBLE. BUT I'VE ALWAYS
FOUND THE BEST PLACES ARE THE
ONES THAT ARE TOUGHEST TO GET
TO. I JUST FLEW INTO MIAMI, AND
NOW I'M MAKING THE 80-MILE TREK
DOWN THE TAMIAMI TRAIL TO
EVERGLADES CITY. THIS IS THE
ULTIMATE ESCAPE FROM URBAN
DRUDGERY, LIKE SOME LAWLESS WILD
WEST OUTPOST. DURING
PROHIBITION, EVERYBODY WAS
RUM-RUNNING, AND IN THE
EIGHTIES, THEY WERE SMUGGLING A
DIFFERENT KIND OF CANE. I LOVE
THE RAWNESS OF THIS PLACE. I
LIKE REALLY GOOD WINE AND REALLY
CHEAP BEER--THAT WHOLE HIGH/LOW
THING. THE EVERGLADES IS NO
FRILLS, BUT IT'S GOT THE BEST
LIGHT TACKLE AND FLY-FISHING IN
THE WORLD.
TO REALLY GET INTO THE RUGGED
SPIRIT OF THINGS, I HIT UP MY
FRIEND FOR THIS KILLER '75
BRONCO.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO IMAGINE MYSELF
BEING IN A SPECIFIC VEHICLE THAT
KIND OF FEELS RIGHT TO THE
PLACE, AND FOR ME THIS IS IT.
THE LAST OF THE BRONCOS' FIRST
GENERATION, THIS WAS THE FIRST
SUV FOR THE EVERYMAN, AND IT'S A
GREAT TRUCK FOR EXPLORING THE
EVERGLADES.
IT'S LOUD. IT'S WINDY. IT STINKS
OF GASOLINE. PERFECT.
THE EVERGLADES ARE A CLASSIC
SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE, AND
THERE'S NO LODGING SPOT RICHER
IN HISTORY THAN THE ROD & GUN
CLUB.
THIS IS WHERE THE ADVENTURE
STARTS.
THE ROD & GUN CLUB IS THE
CENTERPIECE OF EVERGLADES CITY.
IT WAS BUILT AROUND 1880 ON THE
FOUNDATION OF THE TOWN'S FIRST
HOME. ONCE A NATIVE AMERICAN
TRADING POST, IT QUICKLY BECAME
A MUST-VISIT DESTINATION FOR
AVID OUTDOORSMEN LIKE MYSELF.
IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK HERE.
>> THIRD COTTAGE CLOSEST TO THE
ROAD.
>> THANKS A LOT, BRANDON. I'LL
SEE YOU IN A BIT.
NOW, THIS IS MY IDEA OF A
HOTEL--A TRUE REFLECTION OF OLD
FLORIDA. IT'S LIKE AN EXPLOSION
OF CYPRESS SWAMP WOOD AND
TAXIDERMY IN HERE. THE FOOD IS
TERRIFIC, THE STAFF ALWAYS HAS
GOOD STORIES, AND THE BEER IS
ALWAYS COLD.
EVERGLADES CITY IS ON THE
CHOKOLOSKEE BAY, SURROUNDED BY
MILES OF MANGROVE SWAMPS. I'M
HEADED TO THE BOG TO MEET LOCAL
FROG HUNTER JACK SHEALY. WHEN
I'VE HUNTED BULLFROGS IN UPSTATE
NEW YORK, WE USE A SLINGSHOT OR
WE JUST CATCH THEM BY HAND, BUT
I'M EAGER TO LEARN HOW THEY DO
IT IN THE EVERGLADES. JACK'S
GOING TO MEET ME ON THE EDGE OF
THE SWAMP, AND AFTER NIGHTFALL,
WE'LL BE ON THE HUNT.
JACK? MATT.
>> YOU'RE LATE, BUD. WHAT'S
GOING ON, MAN?
>> NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> YOU, TOO.
>> MY NAME'S JACK SHEALY. I'VE
KILLED MORE FROGS THAN A WINTER
FREEZE. I'VE BEEN FROGGING MY
WHOLE LIFE. DAMN, MY DAD STARTED
ME TAKING FROGGING WHEN I WAS
PROBABLY 4 OR 5 YEARS OLD.
I'M GONNA TAKE MATT DOWN HERE,
KIND OF SHOW HIM HOW WE LIKE TO
FROG IN THE SOUTH.
>> IS THAT YOUR GIGGING STICK?
>> THIS IS OUR FROG SPEAR RIGHT
HERE. IT'S LIKE A FAMILY
HEIRLOOM, YOU KNOW?
>> ARE WE GOING FOR BULLFROGS?
>> A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROG.
IT'S CALLED A PIG FROG. THEY
DON'T GET AS BIG AS THE
BULLFROG. THEY'RE KIND OF
YELLOW, AND THE BULLFROGS HAVE A
LITTLE BIT MORE OF A PATTERN TO
THEM. THEY DEFINITELY HAVE BIG
LEGS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING
FOR, RIGHT? WE MIGHT EVEN TRY
CATCHING A COUPLE BY HAND IF WE
CAN GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO THEM.
>> I LOVE CATCHING THEM BY HAND.
>> THAT WOULD BE FUN.
>> YOU LEAD THE WAY.
>> YEAH, MAN.
>> I'M JUST GONNA GET LOST.
>> MAKE SURE YOU DON'T STEP ON
NOTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A SNAKE.
IT PROBABLY IS.
>> SO WHEN THIS GETS DARK, YOU
KNOW HOW TO GET OUT, RIGHT?
>> KIND OF.
>> JACK'S CARRYING ON THE
TRADITION THAT FLOURISHED HERE
AFTER WORLD WAR II BUT HAS
FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE AS MORE
LOCAL RESTAURANTS IMPORT THEIR
FROG LEGS FROM ASIA.
>> OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN COMING IN
AND OUT OF THIS AREA, THOUGH,
SINCE THE 1800s.
>> SIMPLE LIFE.
>> SIMPLE, SIMPLE WAY OF LIVING.
>> YEAH, I MISS THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY
I GET DOWN HERE IS JUST TO BE
ABLE TO, LIKE, EXPERIENCE JUST A
TINY LITTLE BIT OF THAT. YOU
DON'T GET MUCH OF THIS IN
BROOKLYN. I'LL BE HONEST WITH
YOU.
>> YEAH, I BELIEVE IT.
>> HA HA HA!
NIGHT FALLS, AND NOW THE
EXCITEMENT REALLY BEGINS. YOU
CAN HARDLY SEE ANYTHING, BUT YOU
CAN HEAR THE SOUNDS OF WILDLIFE
ALL AROUND YOU.
LET'S GO GET SOME [BEEP] FROGS.
FORTUNATELY, FROGS AREN'T HARD
TO FIND IN THE EVERGLADES. WHERE
THERE'S SWAMPY, GRASSY WATER,
THERE'S FROGS.
>> SO, LISTEN, MAN, THAT'S A BIG
FROG UP THERE.
>> WHERE? WHERE? WHERE?
>> RIGHT UP ON THE BANK, MAN.
>> OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, OK.
SO JUST, LIKE, SPEAR HIM RIGHT
IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD?
>> KIND OF SNEAK UP THERE. YOU
WANT TO JUST KIND OF STICK HIM A
LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE HEAD
THERE, RIGHT BELOW THE EYES,
RIGHT?
>> THAT'S IT.
THAT'S A BIG ONE, MAN. YOU
GOT TO APPROACH HIM LIKE A
PREDATOR, NOT A PREY.
>> OH!
>> ALL RIGHTY.
>> PULL HIM OUT REAL SLOW.
NICE PIG FROG THERE.
>> OH, MY LORD.
>> NICE PIG FROG. YOU GOT HIM,
BUDDY.
>> HA HA HA!
>> YOU GOT ONE.
>> ONE DOWN. THIS AIN'T SO HARD.
>> GOOD JOB, MAN.
>> HA HA HA! OH, MY GOD.
OH, [BEEP]
>> HE'S GONE. THAT WAS A BIG ONE
THAT GOT AWAY THERE, BUDDY.
>> HOW THE HELL WAS HE STILL
ALIVE?
>> THAT'S HOW THEY DO, MAN.
>> AFTER BOTCHING MY FIRST
ATTEMPT, I'M DETERMINED TO GIG
MY FIRST FROG.
OOP, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE. YEAH,
RIGHT DOWN--YOU SEE HIM?
>> I DO. GO AHEAD. SNEAK ON IN
THERE, MAN.
BULL'S-EYE.
GRAB HIM. MAKE SURE
YOU GOT AHOLD OF HIM NOW.
>> OH, MY GOD. I GOT HIM.
>> THAT'LL FEED A FAMILY OF 12.
>> THERE YOU GO. RIGHT TO THE
CROAKER SACK.
>> ONE DOWN.
>> OFF TO THE HOT GREASE YOU GO,
BUDDY.
>> HA HA HA! I MEAN, THIS IS,
LIKE, SO FANTASTIC. YOU'RE
REALLY STALKING YOUR PREY.
>> A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN DO
WITH THESE FROGS, YOU KNOW THAT?
YOU CAN BOIL IT, FRY IT, SAUTE
IT. FROG SOUP, FROG GUMBO, FROG
KABOBS.
>> I MEAN, THIS DOES LOOK
DELICIOUS, DOESN'T IT? I HOPE I
GET A COUPLE MORE, JUST TO MAKE
A FULL MEAL OUT OF IT.
>> THERE HE GOES.
>> OK, OK, OK, OK.
>> HE'S RIGHT BACK ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THAT GRASS.
>> YEAH, YEAH. I SEE HIM. I SEE
HIM.
OH, [BEEP]. THAT IS A BIG SON OF
A [BEEP], ISN'T HE?
>> THAT'S A WALL-HANGER THERE,
BUDDY.
>> FINALLY I GOT THE HANG OF IT.
SHOW ME HOW YOU GUYS DO IT BACK
HOME, MAN.
>> LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET IN.
>> GRAB HIM FAST. FAST.
>> THERE WE GO.
>> COME ON! THAT'S HOW WE DO IT
NORTHEAST STYLE.
>> WE START NAMING THEM IF WE
HOLD ON TO THEM. I THINK YOU GOT
A NICE MEAL THERE, MAN. I MEAN,
3 OR 4 SETS OF LEGS. THESE ARE
BIG FROGS.
>> SO NOW FOR THE DOWN AND DIRTY
PART. WANT TO TEACH ME HOW TO
CLEAN THESE UP?
>> THEY'RE GOOD.
>> IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, I ONLY
HUNT FROGS CATCH AND RELEASE.
BUT THESE ONES ARE DESTINED FOR
THE FRYER. TIME FOR A LESSON.
>> THAT'S IT, MY MAN.
>> HERE'S YOUR FIRST VICTIM.
>> ALL RIGHT. WHAT WE'RE GONNA
DO HERE, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE
KNIFE AND CUT HIM ACROSS THE
BACK...
AND THEN JUST GRAB THIS PART
RIGHT HERE WITH YOUR THUMB, PULL
IT DOWN.
>> PULL THE TROUSERS OFF.
>> PULL THOSE TROUSERS OFF.
THAT'S IT.
>> YOU MADE THAT LOOK SO EASY.
SO YOU JUST THROW THEM IN THE
FRYING PAN LIKE THAT, OR...
>> WELL, WHEN YOU EVER ACTUALLY
BRING THEM OVER TO THE
RESTAURANT, YOU WANT TO CROSS
THEM UP LIKE THIS. THIS IS A
TRICK THAT MY DAD TAUGHT ME
HERE.
>> OH, THEY DO THAT WITH GAME
BIRDS, TOO.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU DO THIS
WITH A FROG?
>> NO.
>> WHEN YOU THROW THEM IN HOT
GREASE, THAT KEEPS THEM FROM
JUMPING OUT OF THE PAN. NO JOKE.
>> LITERALLY. I'VE CLEANED FISH,
BIRDS, AND DEER, BUT NEVER A
FROG.
>> THERE YOU GO. THAT'S IT.
>> THAT WAS A NICE SPURTY MESS.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THAT?
[BOTH LAUGH]
THESE FROGS ARE LIKE A BAD GUY
IN A SLASHER MOVIE.
WE GOT A WALKER.
>> WE GOT A WALKER.
>> THEY JUST REFUSE TO DIE.
>> SOMEBODY GET THIS FROG A
WHEELCHAIR.
>> HA HA HA!
MAYBE I'LL HAVE BETTER LUCK THE
SECOND TIME.
LET'S TRY ANOTHER ONE.
>> SEE, LIKE, A LITTLE JOINT
RIGHT THERE? CUT IT RIGHT ALONG
THE BACK?
>> YEAH, YEAH. I SEE IT.
>> YEAH. DON'T GO ALL THE WAY
THROUGH. SO YOU'RE JUST GONNA
CUT THROUGH THE BONES THERE.
THERE YOU GO.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> JUST PINCH ON THAT TOP BONE.
YOU'RE GONNA HOLD ON TO THAT
PART.
>> ALL RIGHT, I SEE.
>> THERE YOU GO.
BULL'S-EYE. AND JUST KIND OF
GRAB OFF THE BOTTOM THERE. YOU
GOT IT, MY MAN.
>> THAT'S PERFECT. THAT'S IT.
>> SURE YOU AIN'T DONE THIS
BEFORE?
>> AND THEN YOU POP THAT RIGHT
THROUGH THAT JOINT?
>> THAT'S IT. THAT'S PERFECT.
KIND OF CROSS THEM UP. THAT'S
READY FOR THE HOT GREASE.
>> AND VOILA. WE'LL SEE IF I
CAN FRY THESE UP AT THE ROD &
GUN BEFORE I LEAVE TOWN.
>> WHEN YOU GET OUT IN THE
SWAMP, YOU GIVE US A HOLLER,
BUDDY.
>> YOU'LL BE MY FIRST CALL.
>> ALL RIGHT, MAN.
>> THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHTY.
>> SEE YOU.
>> TODAY I'M HITTING THE
WATER--THE CHOKOLOSKEE BAY. THIS
IS THE PART OF THE TRIP I'M MOST
EXCITED ABOUT--MEETING ANGLING
LEGEND STEVE HUFF AND GOING
TARPON FISHING. I SHOT STEVE FOR
A MAGAZINE PIECE A FEW YEARS
BACK, AND WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS
EVER SINCE.
STEVE'S BEEN FISHING TARPON IN
FLORIDA FOR MORE THAN 43 YEARS.
HE'S GUIDED CLIENTS TO COUNTLESS
WORLD-RECORD FISH. I MEAN, WE'RE
TALKING AN INTERNATIONAL GAME
FISH ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAMER.
IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO
FISHING WITH STEVE HUFF, YOU
DROP EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING,
AND YOU GET DOWN TO FLORIDA.
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST TARPON THAT
YOU'VE EVER CAUGHT?
>> 186 POUNDS. THE SMALL ONES
ARE FUN. THEY JUST MAKE A
DIFFERENT NOISE WHEN THEY LAND
BACK INTO THE WATER HERE. SOME
GO SPLASH, AND THE OTHERS GO
BABOOSH.
>> STEVE'S BUDDY BILL LINOSA
WILL CAPTAIN OUR 16-FOOT FLATS
BOATS. HE'S BEEN FISHING THE
EVERGLADES SINCE HE WAS 18. THE
GUYS OUT HERE DEDICATE THEIR
LIVES TO THIS.
WE FIND THE PERFECT PLACE TO
THROW A CAST. UNFORTUNATELY,
NOTHING IS EATING OUT HERE.
>> THIS FISHING IS GENERALLY
HOURS OF BOREDOM PUNCTUATED BY
MOMENTS OF STARK TERROR.
>> SOUNDS LIKE MY LOVE LIFE.
>> HA HA HA! YEAH.
>> IT'S A VERY INTIMATE
SITUATION WHEN YOU ACTUALLY SEE
A FISH, YOU MAKE A CAST, HE
DROPS THAT LITTLE FLY, YOU SEE
THE TAIL KICK A LITTLE BIT, AND
THEN YOU MOVE IT A COUPLE OF
TIMES, AND HE PICKS UP A LITTLE
SPEED, AND HIS HEAD COMES OUT OF
THE WATER ABOUT THAT BIG, AND
YOU SET THE HOOK, AND THE BOMBS
GO OFF ALL OVER THE PLACE. IF
YOU HAVE BLOOD IN YOUR VEINS,
IT'S PUMPING.
>> YEAH. RIGHT.
>> [BEEP] HAPPENING. LET'S TAKE
A RIDE.
>> WHILE STEVE SEARCHES FOR A
MORE FISHY SPOT, I'M JUST HAPPY
TO BE OUT ON THE WATER.
>> RIGHT ABOUT HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THEN...
WE RUN INTO TROUBLE.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS?
>> I THINK IT'S [BLEEP].
HE THINKS HE OWNS THE WHOLE BAY.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE A MINOR TURF
WAR IS BREWING. I'VE HEARD
STORIES ABOUT GUYS THROWING
PUNCHES OVER CHOICE FISHING
GROUNDS.
>> HE'S ACTING LIKE WE SHOULDN'T
BE HERE. ARE WE TOO CLOSE FOR
YOU?
>> YEAH.
>> WELL, HOW FAR IS FAR ENOUGH
AWAY?
>> HA HA HA!
>> NO NEED FOR BEING A SMART
***!
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA
DO HERE?
WE'RE GONNA POLE TOWARDS THAT
BOAT, AND IT'S UP TO YOU WHETHER
YOU WANT TO STAY HERE OR NOT. I
KNOW ONE THING--YOU DON'T OWN
THIS BAY. IF YOU'RE OVER THERE
AND WE'RE OUT HERE, WE'RE NOT
BOTHERING YOU A BIT, AND YOU
KNOW THAT. AND WHILE WE'RE
TALKING, YOU COULD BE CATCHING
FISH. QUIT YOUR WHINING.
>> WELL SAID. I'VE NEVER HEARD
THAT ARTICULATED SO BEAUTIFULLY.
>> HA HA!
>> THE JOKE'S ON THEM. THE
TARPON AREN'T COOPERATING
ANYWAY. IT'S ALWAYS A BUMMER
WHEN YOU DON'T CATCH ANYTHING,
BUT ANY DAY ON THE WATER IS A
GOOD ONE, AS FAR AS I'M
CONCERNED.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T GET A CHANCE
TO SPEND A MORNING PICKING UP
FISHING TIPS FROM A LEGEND LIKE
STEVE HUFF.
>> BEFORE I LEAVE FLORIDA, I
WANT TO EXPLORE THE MYSTERIOUS
RECESSES OF THE BIG CYPRESS
NATIONAL PRESERVE, THE LARGEST
SUBTROPICAL WILDERNESS IN THE
U.S. LOCALS TELL ME THERE'S
ONLY ONE GUY WHO CAN TAKE ME
DEEP INTO THE SWAMP.
MORNING, STEVE.
>> GOOD MORNING, MATT.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD, BUDDY. GOOD. YOU READY
TO GO FOR A GOOD RIDE?
>> YEAH.
>> CAPTAIN STEVE MARKLEY IS A
FIFTH-GENERATION GLADESMAN. HE
KNOWS BIG CYPRESS SO WELL THAT
FOR YEARS HIS JOB WAS TO RESCUE
PEOPLE WHO GOT LOST, STUCK,
GATOR- OR SNAKE-BITTEN.
I LOVE WHEN YOU'RE RIDING DOWN
THE ROAD AND THEN YOU SEE ALL
THOSE GATORS BASKING ON THE
SIDE.
>> YEAH. WE CALL THOSE WELFARE
GATORS...
>> HA HA HA!
>> BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT ON THE
SIDES OF THE ROAD. WHERE WE'RE
GOING TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO SEE
SOME WILD GATORS. MY
GREAT-GRANDFATHER BUILT ME A
BUG, AND I'VE BEEN IN A BOAT OR
ON A BUGGY IN THE WOODS SINCE
I CAN REMEMBER. I AM THE VERY
FIRST TO EVERY OPERATE A TOUR
IN THE BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL
PRESERVE. MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER
WAS THE VERY FIRST TO DO IT IN
THE EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK.
>> THAT'S SO GREAT.
>> YOU READY?
>> YUP. IT'S OFF.
>> NOW, LISTEN. GIVE IT A GOOD
SHOVE BACK. DUDE, JUST STAND
BACK. LET IT KIND OF DO ITS
THING.
THAT'S IT.
>> HA HA!
I LIKE THAT RELEASE.
BREAKER, BREAKER. THIS IS
PEACHES AND CREAM. I GOT MY EARS
ON. OVER.
>> WELCOME TO THE BIG CYPRESS
NATIONAL PRESERVE.
>> IN 1973, THE GOVERNMENT SET
ASIDE BIG CYPRESS--720,000
PROTECTED ACRES FILLED WITH
WILDLIFE AND WILDFLOWERS THAT
THRIVE NOWHERE ELSE. IT WAS ONCE
HOME TO THE SEMINOLES, THE ONLY
UNCONQUERED NATIVE AMERICAN
TRIBE.
>> THIS IS A WAX MYRTLE RIGHT
HERE.
SMELL IT.
>> OH, MY GOD. THAT SMELLS
GREAT.
>> IF YOU TAKE THE BERRIES AND
BOIL THEM AND SCRAPE IT OFF THE
TOP, IT MAKES CANDLES, WAX
CANDLES. ONE THING ABOUT WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO TODAY IS I'M
GONNA TAKE YOU INTO AN AREA THAT
VERY FEW PEOPLE GET TO GO INTO
BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARED.
>> WE'RE HEADED TO SEE A CYPRESS
DOME. IT'S A RARE PHENOMENON
WHERE VERY TALL CYPRESS TREES
RISE FROM A POOL OF DEEP, ACIDIC
WATER. THIS PROVIDES AN IDEAL
HABITAT FOR EVERYTHING FROM
GATORS AND WATER MOCCASINS TO
EVEN CARNIVOROUS PLANTS. THE
ONLY PEOPLE WHO COME OUT THIS
DEEP INTO THE SWAMP ARE POACHERS
AND ORCHID THIEVES. BUT IT'S NOT
AN ADVENTURE UNLESS YOU GET OUT
OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE A LITTLE.
>> LIKE I WAS SAYING, NOT A
WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE COMING
OUT HERE.
>> I DO.
>> WELL, BE CAREFUL WHERE
YOU'RE WALKING, NOW. SEE THOSE
BRIGHT GREEN VEGETATION IN THE
MIDDLE?
>> YES.
>> THAT'S CALLED AN ALLIGATOR
FLAG.
>> SO THAT'S THAT LITTLE SWAMPY
AREA THAT KEEPS WATER MOST OF
THE TIME--
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THIS IS A
CYPRESS DOME. LOOK UP THROUGH
THE MIDDLE. NOTHING GROWS OUT
THERE BUT VEGETATION THAT CAN
TAKE THAT MUCH WATER.
>> SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE A
CRATER, RIGHT?
>> EXACTLY.
CRUNCH IT AND PULL--LET IT KIND
OF EASE OUT, WHERE THAT CENTER
PART WILL COME OUT TO YOU.
>> IT TASTES JUST LIKE A CARROT.
>> ALWAYS GOT TO WATCH WHERE
YOU'RE GOING.
>> HEY, THERE'S A GATOR RIGHT
THERE!
>> THERE SHE IS.
>> THERE'S A GATOR RIGHT THERE.
>> THAT'S A FEMALE. LOOK, LOOK.
SHE'S MOVING.
>> LOOK AT THAT. SHE'S PROBABLY
ABOUT, WHAT, 5, 6 FEET?
>> RIGHT. 5, 6 FOOT LONG.
>> WHAT SORT OF SPARKS
AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR?
>> US BEING IN HERE.
>> HA HA!
>> SHE'S JUST WATCHING US. I
WISH I WAS PART GATOR.
>> THIS IS LIKE OTHERWORLD
STUFF.
>> IT IS OTHERWORLD. IT IS.
>> AND IT'S RIGHT DOWN HERE IN
FLORIDA.
>> IN FLORIDA. AND YOU ONLY CAN
SEE IT WITH ME.
>> THAT'S NICE. I LIKE THAT.
>> ONE OF THE MOST DEADLIEST
SNAKES IN THE WORLD IS THAT
SNAKE RIGHT THERE. IT'S A
COTTONMOUTH MOCCASIN.
>> LIKE, HE IS, LIKE, ALL
PERCHED, READY TO ROCK. HOLY
[BEEP]. AND THEN RIGHT INTO THAT
TREE.
IF YOU'RE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO
GET BITTEN BY A COTTONMOUTH,
YOU HAVE ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO GET
HELP OR YOU'RE SCREWED.
THAT'S PRETTY BAD-***.
>> THEY'RE DANGEROUS.
>> THEY LOOK DANGEROUS.
>> THIS IS PART OF THE FLORIDA
LANDSCAPE A LOT OF PEOPLE NEVER
GET TO SEE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY, NOT TO MENTION
GETTING OUT OF HERE WITHOUT
A HELIVAC. THIS PLACE IS AS
DANGEROUS AS IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ANYPLACE LIKE
THIS IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. THERE'S
ALL THIS LIFE POPPING UP ALL
OVER THE PLACE.
>> YOU CAN SEE OUR BROMELIADS
GROWING.
>> IT'S WORTH EVERY MOMENT OF
THE JOURNEY TO COME STAND IN A
PLACE LIKE THIS AND TAKE IT ALL
IN. YOU'RE A NATURAL, STEVE.
>> [CHUCKLES] THANK YOU.
>> I'VE PACKED SO MUCH INTO MY
TIME HERE IN THE EVERGLADES THAT
I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO
FRY UP THOSE FROG LEGS I CAUGHT
WITH JACK SHEALY. FORTUNATELY, I
MANAGED TO SMOOTH-TALK MY WAY
INTO THE ROD & GUN CLUB KITCHEN.
SO FLOUR THEM HERE, DEEP-FAT
FRY.
OH, MY GOD, THIS ONE'S--THIS
ONE'S MOVING!
>> HA HA!
>> LOOK AT THAT. I'M NOT
BULL[BEEP]ING YOU. IT'S LIKE THE
ROCKETTES. I MEAN SERIOUSLY,
THESE HAVE BEEN IN THE FRIDGE
FOR A DAY. OK, HERE WE GO. A
NICE BATH IN THE FRYER SHOULD
SHUT THESE GUYS DOWN FOR GOOD.
THEY AIN'T JUMPING NOW, ARE
THEY?
OK, HERE WE GO.
LOOK AT THAT.
OFF TO THE BAR.
UM. OH, MY GOD. THOSE ARE SO
GOOD.
IT'S ONLY BEEN A WEEKEND, BUT I
ALREADY FEEL LIKE I KNOW
EVERYONE AT THE ROD & GUN CLUB.
HEY, DEBBIE.
>> HEY, HOW ARE YOU, HON?
>> I'M GOOD.
>> WHAT ARE YOU UP TO TODAY?
>> OH, I JUST FINISHED UP SOME
FROG LEGS. I'M JUST KIND OF
RECAPPING MY TRIP, GOING OVER
SOME PICTURES HERE.
>> DID YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME?
>> I HAD A GREAT TIME.
>> AIN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH
THAT. I MISS GOING OUT THERE IN
THE WILD LIKE THAT.
>> DID YOU EVER USED TO GIG FOR
FROGS?
>> OH, GOD, MY DAD USED TO TAKE
ME ALL THE TIME. WHAT ELSE HAVE
YOU DONE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE?
>> OH, MY GOD. UM, WENT ON
STEVE'S SWAMP BUGGY.
>> OH, YOU WENT THROUGH THE
CYPRESS STRANDS AND EVERYTHING?
>> YEAH. THAT WAS GREAT. AND
THEN DID A LITTLE TARPON
FISHING.
>> OH, YEAH. WHAT DID YOU CATCH?
>> WELL, NOT MUCH. YOU KNOW,
FISHING ISN'T ALWAYS ABOUT
CATCHING...
>> YEAH.
>> DEBBIE. YOU KNOW THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> I MEAN, JUST SORT OF LIKE
YOU'RE EXPER--
>> IT JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT
MORE FUN.
>> YEAH. DON'T RUB IT IN.
THANKS.
THIS HAS BEEN, HANDS DOWN, THE
BEST TRIP I'VE HAD IN THE
EVERGLADES. I THINK WHEN PEOPLE
THINK OF FLORIDA, THEY THINK OF
MIAMI, THE BEACH, AMUSEMENT
PARKS. BUT THE EVERGLADES SHOULD
BE ON YOUR RADAR.
MY ADVICE: SKIP THE BEACH AND
HEAD TO THE SWAMPS.
THIS WILL NOT BE MY LAST TRIP TO
THE EVERGLADES.