Davis Island gator breaks Mississippi records

For the second time in one day, the records for longest and heaviest alligator harvested in Mississippi were broken.

On Saturday afternoon, Ricky Flynt, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Alligator Program coordinator, certified two new records. Clayton Gibson of Natchez harvested an 822-pound gator that became the heaviest male alligator harvested in Mississippi. Shortly after, Angelia Rivers' 13-foot, 7 3/4-inch gator was certified as the longest male alligator harvested in the state.

Late Saturday night, before the ink was dry on The Clarion-Ledger's printed edition, Flynt certified another gator that broke both records.

Kennie Crechale of Morton harvested a massive gator on the Mississippi River's Davis Island Saturday morning that measured 14 feet, 1/4 inch. It weighed 826 pounds. His hunting partner was Ronnie Clifton of Petal. The alligator was taken using a rifle.

"This alligator was taken on a Private Lands Permit, which allows permitted hunters different opportunities than those offered on public waterways," Flynt wrote in an email. "Private Land permit holders are allowed to take alligators with a high-powered rifle, but only during daylight hours."

Flynt noted that although there have been reports of alligators over 14 feet in Mississippi, none have ever been officially documented.

The tail girth of the animal was four feet and the belly girth measured a whopping five feet, eight inches.

The gator also fulfilled a prediction made by Flynt on Saturday afternoon.

"I feel like, just as in years previous, it's not over yet," Flynt said. "There are a lot more alligators out there that can break the record, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it broken later today or tomorrow."

Contact Brian Broom at (601) 961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Follow The Clarion-Ledger Outdoors on Facebook and @BrianBroom on Twitter