Zak Catchem narrowly escapes ‘most dangerous’ gator catch that had fans ‘shaking’ Thu 18 January 2024 21:30 Updated Thu 18 January 2024 23:12 Helen Williams

Zak ‘Catchem’ Bagby is back on Swamp People hunting alligators this January. The show returns for season 15 with many familiar faces including King of the Swamp Troy Landry and Pickle Wheat. Zak’s fishing resume puts him in great stead for catching alligators as he works alongside Joey Edgar for another season.

Since Swamp People season 10, Zak and Joey have been spending their days together on the bayou hunting alligators. Zak and Joey are good friends, and he “has become a surrogate member of the Edgar family,” writes History. The two have encountered all kinds of dangerous challenges dealing with increasing numbers of the reptiles on the History Channel show.

Zak hunts with Joey on Swamp People

During Swamp People season 14, Joey Edgar and his deckhand, Zak, headed out to hunt and came across an area to catch gators on foot.

After traveling down the bayou, Joey, and Zak go further into some crawfish ponds where Zak catches one gator. He shouts he’s “got one,” and asks Joey to grab his rifle, before moving onto the next.

The two find another alligator which Zak describes as a “monster.” Joey desperately wrangles the 10 ft 9 reptile, but the hunting doesn’t stop there.

‘Most dangerous catch ever’

Last season on Swamp People marked a terrifying moment for Joey and Zak as the fisherman narrowly escapes the clutches of an alligator.

Standing at the edge of the water, Zak was screaming for Joey to grab his rifle as he tried with all his might to stay on land.

Fans who watched the episode took to Facebook to comment on the moment, writing they were “shaking” and grateful Zak wasn’t pulled into the water by the gator.

One commented: “So dangerous thank you are all right!”

The two caught the alligator but it almost came at a deadly cost.

Speaking on the show, Joey said the moment “…ranks as the number one most dangerous catch I’ve ever had in my alligator hunting career. Number one. Never experienced nothing like that. Survival mode kicked in.”