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RATWORKS
Hand Crafted Gator Hunt Equipment

"Ya' can spend more money, but ya ain't gitten bigger gators!"

Ratworks
16147 Ravendale Dr.
Tampa, FL 33618
813-968-6154  

 

Our equipment has evolved to be very effective, heavy duty tools in the harvest of gators. We have learned many tricks over time, such as when a bangstick goes over the side they sink, or when a harpoon pole gets thrown at a gator, they get lost! Either case, YOU  are S.O.L.! With our equipment, we have compensated for such "reality" from practical experience. We make our equipment to be FUNCTIONAL, not pretty. Some of our tolerances are loose, and they are for a reason. This is the same equipment we carry on charters. Buy with confidence a tested product made BY GATOR HUNTERS FOR GATOR HUNTERS! I  warrant the metalwork on darts, drivers or power heads, call  me with any problems.

  

PRODUCTS

PUSH POINT/DRIVER $44.50


3/8" dia. Stainless Steel shaft, turned down to 1/4" to accept dart. Bolted to 3" of galvanized pipe. Ready to mount on 5' to 8' of 1-1/4" wood dowel. Slightly loose fit is fine.

                                                                          

Harpoon Kits $109.00

Above push point/driver, mounted to pipe, two Chisel Point darts, 50' of 1/4" dart line. Ready to mount to 6' to 8' 1-1/4" of wood dowel. Use bleach jug filled with foam or a crab trap ball for a float.                                                                                    

Super Pro Harpoon Kit  $165.00    
2 drivers, 2-50' lines, 3 darts. For folks needing two complete rigs for multiple permits.          

         

                    

Chisel Point Darts $32.50 or two for $58.00

Best available! Hand made, 3/8" Stainless steel dart, with proprietary ”Double Bite” Dovetail design. 10" Stainless Steel cable with driver keeper loop. Goes in easy, must cut out to remove. Note: Dovetail must go BELOW HIDE/BONE to hold!  Put some ass in it & Hit him HARD!                               

                                                       

Power Head/Bang Stick - .357  $109.00/.44 $125.

All Stainless Steel construction. .357/.38 caliber. Plenty of power when used correctly! Attached to galvanized pipe, ready to mount to 1-1/4" wood dowel. Underwater use only! Hit him HARD!   

 

Head Lamps

Rayovac Industrial hands free headlamp. Straps onto hat or head. Powered by 4"D” batteries, stored on belt, attachable box. Lasts up to 15 hours.  Push button switch, adjustable strap, bright Krypton bulb, spot to flood beam, pivoting head, warranted for life by Rayovac. Very handy night device  

Batteries not included.                                  List $37.50 Special $25.00 each or two for  $45.00

 

Prowler Caps - $59.50

Soft cap spotlight projects a beam approximately ½ mile, and weighs only 6 ounces.   Equipped with a 50 watt tungsten halogen 2.75" diameter compact reflector lamp. A 10' power cord with battery clamps included. Gives plenty of light for working, hunting or navigating.

Prowler 100w softcap light.  Turns night into day - $75.00           

 

Trebble/Snatch Hooks
 
 
In some areas, snatch hooks work well. In open water, free of vegetation or fallen timber, a hook will often locate the gator so you can harpoon him.   Here are two sets of hooks for locating lizards on the bottom. I rig double hooks because many large gators have been hooked in the past & roll when they feel them. The double allows a "rolling gator" to roll into the stinger/trailer hook, giving him a nice surprise!
Tip: Look behind you BEFORE you cast!! Once hooked, NEVER allow slack into the line. Reel down into your pumps while keeping the line tight. Rarely do the hooks penetrate a gator over 8' so they will FALL OFF if given slack.

Tip: File your hook points sharp!

Tip: At boatside, be very careful working a gator with hooks as they can easily hook YOU if you're not paying attention! Once filed, they are very nasty!
 
 
Weighted 12/0 3 prong snatch hook with 14" of stainless steel cable. Use at least 80 lb. Fireline or similar braided line. Works great for gators sitting on the bottom. - $25.00 each 
 
Heavy duty 3 prong 10/0 hook standing 3" tall , 1 oz lead with 14" of stainless steel cable. Use at least 50 lb Fireline or similar braided line. - $15.00 each
 

"Bone Crusher"   Heavy Duty Dart Pole

We developed this pole in the early nineties for areas where fishing rods & locator hooks are used. Upon tiring the gator & putting him boat side, the larger (10'+) gators often don’t present a soft shot. With "Bone Crusher," just about any shot is a good shot because of it’s weight & inertia. Where the dowel poles are great for throwing distances & accurately hitting soft spots, "Bone Crusher" will often drive through the back armor of the largest gators!

Another situation where "Bone Crusher" excels is when a large gator is hooked in deep water. Often, a 10'+ gator in 10 or more feet of water will trash most heavy duty reels when you attempt to surface him. Using

"Bone Crusher," you simply send the dart down your hook line to the gator. The weight of the pole along with it’s sleek design allows it to accelerate on it’s way down!

Please remember: This pole can hurt you or others nearby, so use with extreme care & caution!

Note: This pole sinks faster than a rock! Always secure a line to the pole & your vessel or you will lose your pole!

Bone Crusher" Dart Pole Kit: List $ 94.00 Special: $65.00

1- Bone Crusher driver mounted to 3/4" capa
1- Ratworks Chisel point dart
2-50' lines
1- 14" stainless cable with two sleeves

To make your pole:

At Home Depot or Lowes, buy a 10' x 3/4" section of galvanized, cast iron pipe. Attach the "Bone Crusher" driver to threaded end and tighten with pipe wrench. On the opposite end, drill a 1/4" (more or less) hole about 1" from the end. Run the stainless steel cable through this hole and use the sleeves (crimp them with a vice, hammer or crimper) to make a loop with the cable. Tie one of the 50' lines to this loop to secure the pole to your boat BEFORE you use it. This line will keep you from losing the pole when you drop it overboard.

Attach second 50' line to the dart and attach a float (crab trap buoy, anti-freeze or detergent container filled with foam. In Alabama, tie both lines to your vessel) or attach the end securely to your boat. Once the gator is tired and boatside, rig your "Bone Crusher" pole & hit him with it! Aim for the neck, flank or thick part of the tail. Avoid the head!

If the gator is on the bottom & won’t move, work your hook line PERPENDICULAR to the water’s surface. From past movement of the gator, determine which way he is laying or pointing. Your hook is more than likely on a leg, so figure which side it’s on, use the line as a guide and send "Bone Crusher" down the line. Keep your rod tip down & be ready for a run in case you missed. Repeat if needed.

 

Florida Native Gator Hunting Equipment

All poles are powder coated aluminum and come in 6' sections that can be screwed together. They are first rate quality. Additionally, they float! These are great poles for jabbing when trolling or easing onto a gator. To view pictures, visit GatorGuides.com and click on the “Ratworks Hunt Equipment” button.

 Part #

G-101        Florida Native Dart                          -                              $29.95

G-102        Florida Native Penetrator-Driver      -                               $39.95 

G-103        Florida Native Complete Gator Hunting Package      -     $419.95

                  Package includes: 1-8' Aluminum Harpoon Pole with Driver

                                              2-Florida Native darts, 1-6' Aluminum .357 bangstick

                                              1-Float with 50' of line

G-104                                    Add $10 to upgrade to .44 mag Bangstick

G-106        Florida Native 6' Aluminum Harpoon pole with Penetrator driver    - $134.95

G-108        Florida Native 8' Aluminum Harpoon pole with Penetrator driver    - $174.95

G-357        Florida Native .357 Bangstick with 6' Aluminum pole      -               $189.95

G-044        Florida Native .44 mag Bangstick with 6' Aluminum pole   -             $198.95

 UL-DIM    Pro Sportsman Dimmer-rheostat for 50w & 100w soft hat lights -   $64.95

                  Plugs into power cord of 12v hatlight and controls light brightness        

                                                           

Most products available at the following locations. Please call for availability, hours & directions.

Ratworks
16147 Ravendale Dr.
Tampa, FL 33618
813-968-6154

 

T.A. Mahoney’s Co.                                                
N.W. Corner of Hwy 60 & Adamo Dr.                
Tampa, FL                                                            
813-241-6500       
http://tamahoney.com/index.htm                                          
 

 

Airboat & Gator Charters
807 Mockingbird Drive
Port Orange, FL 32127
386-322-5229

 

Sportsmen's Cove Fish Camp on Orange Lake
5423 Avenue F
Macintosh, FL 32664
352-591-1435
http://www.sportsmanscoveresort.com/index.html

Help save children and poodles!

Support Gator Hunters, buy a T Shirt

Men's pocket T   S-M-L-LX       $17            2XL $19
Available colors.....Ash, Light Blue or Sand

Women's Cut T Shirt    S-M-L-XL     $17
Available Colors....Charcoal, Hunter Green, Yellow and Pink

 

To Order Call: 386-322-5229

 E Mail: alligatorhunting@aol.com

Airboat and Gator Charters
807 Mockingbird Drive
Port Orange, FL 32127


Support Southern Heritage! Buy a replica “Florida Confederate Heritage” license plate for $12.00 (includes shipping). All proceeds go towards the lobbying/legislative effort to bring this vanity tag to our citizens.

 Once passed by the Florida Legislature, (This will be an UP HILL battle & we need YOUR support!) the funds raised by this tag will go towards Confederate Grave maintenance, Confederate Monument  maintenance, education of the true history of the South and the principals that sent Southerners to war in 1861-1865 to defend their homeland. The funds will be collected and managed by the Florida Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

For more information, visit  http://www.florida‑scv.org/.