Just jump in a murky pond. They'll find you. :)

Myakka State Park east of Sarasota is our go to place for gators. You can take a fun airboat ride out on the lake with a guide $$, or drive in and view them where the road crosses rivers and streams. Entrance fee was $6 last time we went. Any tours they give are pretty good. If your party walks, you might locate the Canopy walk area - free with admission. Most walks are short and you may see deer, hogs, birds. Concession has good food and shirts. A well run park. Take cameras or binoculars. Gators in the sun along the river can be enormous and humbling.

Are we sure the OP is not an alligator hunter????

Lake Apopka Wildlife area is by far the best. Only open on weekends, there are no shortages of gators any time of day.

FRIDAY, Sat. and Sun., plus federal holidays.

k.

Gatorland. Inside a park, but still a natural setting. In addition you’ll see lots of migrating sea birds close up.

There is a rather large pond in my back yard, if your company wouldn’t mind seeing an alligator grabbing a bird on that bank and chewing it up like happened this past Saturday. Any pond and maybe you will see one or maybe not. They move around frequently!

We went on an Airboat ride Sunday at Swamp Fever. Fun and a great time. 1 hour ride with several gator sightings. Afterwards held a 3 foot gator. About a 1/2 hour ride from central Villages off 44.

Yes, Myakka is the best around here. There are also quite large gators there, I'd guess up to 12'.

Taken a lot of our guests to Gatorland...it's close, it's very reasonably priced (and usually can get "deals" like senior rates and Groupon. Also, airboat operators (many options very close) are great at taking you to see them in the wild, and also not far to drive over to the nature coast to Crystal River / Homosassa state park area and show them gators and manatees ! Great and again, very reasonable admission to the manatee boat ride, excellent narration by the park personnel who operate the excursion boats, many good places to eat crab c laws at the close of the day too..... Woo woo, it's the season !

We say one in Larry’s pond the other day. If you take 44 west there are 2 airboat places that take you out to see some.