Jason,

From what I have heard you could probably venture out in water with gator up to 12 - 13 ft. long before they would consider you a mouth full. I have talked to people who grew up in gator country, FL and LA, who do not think that much about jumping into water with the water lizards. I have an acquaintance who has told me he used to float tube in FL but he grew up down there. Who is going to go out and measure the gators to be sure they are the right size. Many years ago I fished in a lake in south MS where the lake mascot was a gator described as "just a tad under 19 ft."

I would probably be more concerned about snakes than gators but you need to be smart regarding both. Gators are naturally wary of people but the tourist have fed them too many hot dogs that they may come looking for food if they see you. I had one slide up right under my feet when I stopped to check a place to fish at a ramp off "Alligator Alley" in south Florida.