Junior Edwards [Swamp People]: Wiki, Bio, Age, Net Worth, Wife, Kids.

Long before television crews arrived in the bayou, Junior Edwards was already living the kind of life most people only see on screen. A commercial fisherman, alligator hunter, and lifelong resident of Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin, Junior built his world on tradition, survival skills, and deep respect for the swamp he calls home.

He didn’t set out to become a TV personality, but when Swamp People premiered in 2010, audiences were instantly drawn to his quiet toughness, Cajun craftsmanship, and the bond he shared with his son Willie. From building boats by hand to hauling in alligator lines under a blazing sun, Junior’s life became a window into a vanishing American culture—one rooted in grit, resourcefulness, and family.

More than a decade later, Junior remains an enduring figure in both the swamp and on screen. As of 2025, he is in his early 60s and continues to live and work in southern Louisiana with his wife Theresa. This biography traces the journey of a man who never left his roots, even when the spotlight found him—offering a deeper look at his early life, career, family legacy, and the values that continue to guide him through changing times.

Junior Edwards Wiki Bio Facts

Field	Details
Full Name	William “Junior” Edwards
Known As	Junior Edwards
Date of Birth	Circa 1963–1964
Age (as of April 2025)	61 years old
Place of Birth	Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana, USA
Current Residence	Bayou Sorrel, Louisiana
Nationality	American
Occupation	Commercial fisherman, alligator hunter, reality TV personality
Years Active	1980s–present
Television Debut	Swamp People, Season 1 (2010)
Notable TV Series	Swamp People (History Channel) – Seasons 1–6, 12
Spouse	Theresa Edwards (married July 10, 1981)
Children	Willie Edwards, Randy Edwards (deceased 2018)
Grandchildren	William “Little Willie” Edwards IV, Nathan Winters, Randy Edwards II, Sierra Edwards
Net Worth (est.)	$400,000 (as of 2025)
Notable Skills	Alligator hunting, hoop net fishing, boat building, Cajun cooking
Famous For	Swamp survival skills, traditional Cajun lifestyle, multi-generational mentorship

Junior Edwards’ Childhood and Background

Junior Edwards was born and raised in Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin. Growing up in this vast swamp, he learned to live off the land—mastering alligator hunting, deer hunting, buffalo fishing, fur trapping, and net fishing from a young age.

His early life followed the seasonal rhythms of the bayou. He fished buffalo in winter, hunted alligators during the 30-day fall season, and trapped crawfish in spring and summer using bait like shad and buffalo meat. This practical knowledge helped him become one of the most skilled outdoorsmen in the region.

Junior also learned to track animal behavior based on the swamp’s changing environment. He knew when deer would move to higher ground after floods and used that to his advantage while hunting.

His family’s meals often came from the swamp—wild hog, raccoon, catfish, and smaller alligators were regular staples. He especially preferred younger gators for their tender meat and only ate buffalo fish for their ribs to avoid the many small bones.

One of his favorite areas was a remote part of the swamp filled with towering cypress trees, some nearly nine feet thick—reflecting both the beauty and wildness of the Louisiana wetlands.

In addition to hunting and fishing, Edwards also learned to build his own boats—a skill passed down from his father. At a time when wooden boats were common in the swamp, he watched and later replicated boat-building techniques using materials like plywood, fir, and cypress. Cypress wood, known for its durability, was used in key parts of the structure to ensure longevity. Though he never received formal training, he credited hands-on experience and observation for his ability, calling it “just common sense.”

Professional Career: Fishing, Hunting, and Survival

Junior Edwards has been a professional fisherman and hunter for over 40 years. Over that time, his work has followed the seasonal rhythms of the Louisiana swamps. While some activities have changed or slowed in recent years, they remain a vital part of the legacy he helped shape.

For much of his active career, springtime saw Junior fishing for crawfish using specialized traps baited with pogies, shad, or cut buffalo. He was also involved in collecting up to 6,100 alligator eggs annually for a ranching program. These eggs were incubated, and approximately 12% of the hatched alligators were returned to Junior as juveniles. Once they reached four to six feet in length, he released them back into the wild to help sustain the population and preserve the hunting grounds.

Late summer and early fall marked Louisiana’s official 30-day alligator hunting season. Junior used traditional methods: baiting large hooks with chicken or beef and suspending them above the water. Once an alligator swallowed the bait, it would become hooked, and Junior would pull it to the boat and dispatch it using a .22 magnum—his preferred firearm for its accuracy and humane efficiency.

During the winter months, Junior turned to deer hunting, particularly in the elevated, sandy ridges of the Atchafalaya Basin where deer congregated during high water. He also hunted wild hogs, trapped raccoons, and fished with gill nets for buffalo and bowfin (shoe pick). At his peak, he could bring in thousands of pounds of fish in a single day. The roe from bowfin was processed and sold as caviar, while the meat was sold locally or used as bait.

Fur trapping, once a reliable income source, has largely declined. Still, it remains part of the traditional swamp lifestyle Junior has long practiced. Even as his participation in these demanding routines may have lessened over time, they represent a way of life that shaped him and that he continues to pass on—especially to his son and grandson—preserving generations of swamp wisdom and know-how.

Culinary Traditions and Daily Life

Junior’s work doesn’t stop on the water. He’s also an experienced cook who prepares Cajun favorites like boiled crawfish, fried catfish, frog legs, garfish patties, and wild hog. He prefers smaller gators for their tenderness and says wild hog is among the best meats one can eat. Meals are often a family affair, with his wife Theresa helping prepare and preserve the catch. She also helps on the boat, making their operation a full family endeavor.

Swamp People and National Recognition

In 2010, the History Channel launched a new series titled “Swamp People,” aimed at showcasing the lives of alligator hunters in southern Louisiana. Junior Edwards was among the original cast members. His earliest appearances featured him fishing for buffalo, but the series soon began documenting his alligator hunting activities as well—most often alongside his son Willie Edwards.

Over multiple seasons, Junior and Willie became familiar faces to viewers across the country. Their dynamic as father and son, along with their use of traditional hunting methods, offered a close-up view of generational knowledge and rural craftsmanship. In Season 12, Junior rejoined the cast with both Willie and his grandson, Little Willie, further underscoring the family’s multi-generational role in swamp life.

The show’s national exposure brought increased visibility to the Edwards family and their work, but Junior remained grounded in his day-to-day responsibilities. He continued building boats, maintaining his fishing and hunting operations, and working closely with family. In interviews, he has acknowledged the film crews’ efforts to portray his life accurately, noting the volume of footage captured to provide an authentic representation of swamp living.

Junior Edwards Journey on Swamp People

Junior’s presence on Swamp People unfolded across multiple seasons, each reflecting a different chapter in his evolving role as a hunter, mentor, and father. Here’s how his journey played out on screen.

He first appeared in Season 1 alongside his son, Willie Edwards. Together, they formed a father-son duo that quickly became fan favorites. From crafting their own gator hooks to planning strategic routes through the bayou, they brought a thoughtful, self-reliant approach to the swamp. In the very first episode, “Big Head Bites It,” viewers saw them hand-making treble hooks, highlighting the creativity and resourcefulness that defined their way of life.

In Seasons 2 and 3, Junior began to shift more responsibility onto Willie’s shoulders, allowing his son to pilot his own boat and make critical decisions. Episodes like “Hot Pursuit” and “Divide to Conquer” showcased the growing pains of that transition. Whether it was forgetting to bring the right shotgun or learning to manage stress under pressure, these moments showed Junior as both a tough mentor and a father trying to pass down his legacy.

By Season 4, the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac made gator hunting more unpredictable. In one episode, “Blood Lines,” Junior had to pause hunting to rescue livestock and dogs stranded by floodwaters—demonstrating his sense of duty not just to hunting, but to his community.

In Season 5, tensions between father and son reached a boiling point. In the episode “Breaking Point,” a misfired gun during a chaotic hunt nearly caused injury. It was a wake-up call for the Edwards family. Willie decided to go solo, while Junior teamed up with his wife, Theresa, showing his willingness to adapt and continue the tradition with someone just as experienced.

Season 6 brought new challenges—and bigger stakes. A $10,000 bounty was offered for the longest gator, and in the episode “Bounty on the Bayou,” Junior and Theresa went after a massive gator nicknamed “Hercules,” a local legend known for breaking traps and dragging entire bait lines. Junior’s calm strategy and adaptability stood out, reminding viewers why he was one of the swamp’s most respected veterans.

In the episode “Bounty or Bust,” Junior gave fans a more personal look at life in the bayou. He and Theresa caught a giant garfish and took it home to cook—a reminder that swamp life is about more than just hunting. Junior explained how to clean and prepare the fish Cajun-style without washing it (to keep the meat from turning mushy). With a mix of breadcrumbs, bell peppers, onions, and eggs, they turned the catch into a hearty meal. “There ain’t nothing else better than garfish,” Theresa said, capturing their deep connection to the land and its food.

After Season 6, Junior stepped away from Swamp People in 2015 to focus on hoop net fishing full-time. For the next several years, he and Theresa began their days before sunrise, hauling in thousands of pounds of fish with handmade nets. They used specially crafted boats, like their wide, flat-bottomed “bateau” and their narrow, maneuverable “skiff.” Built mostly by Junior himself using cypress, plywood, and traditional methods, these boats could haul up to 6,000 pounds of fish. As Junior explained, he learned boatbuilding from his father and relied on common sense and experience—not schooling—to get the job done.

In Season 12 (2021), Junior returned to help fight a dangerous surge in alligator populations, which had made the swamp more aggressive and unpredictable than ever. Reuniting with Willie and working alongside his grandson, Little Willie, Junior represented three generations of Edwards men back on the water.

In Episode 5, “Heat Wave,” Junior and Willie ran separate boats, using a “leapfrog” strategy to check lines faster during record-breaking temperatures. It was a fast-paced, high-stress episode that showed Junior’s endurance and expertise. Later, in Episode 8, “Day of the Deckhand,” father and son teamed up again, working in sync like old times. Junior’s steady presence helped balance the team as they faced hostile gators and difficult terrain.

While other teams struggled in Season 12 with unreliable boats and inexperienced deckhands, Junior’s calm, practical knowledge stood out. He knew how to read the water, avoid danger, and keep the team focused—all while mentoring the next generation.

Junior Edwards Net Worth

Junior Edwards has an estimated net worth of $350,000, based on decades of work in commercial fishing, hunting, and his appearances on the History Channel’s Swamp People. His income has come from hauling thousands of pounds of fish, collecting alligator eggs, building boats by hand, and sharing his swamp life

Family Life of Junior Edwards: Wife, Sons, and Grandchildren

Junior Edwards is married to Theresa Edwards, his lifelong partner both in life and in the swamp. The two met as children and have known each other since the second grade. They married on July 10, 1981, beginning a partnership that would span more than four decades. In a Facebook post from June 18, 2015, Theresa noted that she was 49 and Junior was 50 at the time, confirming they are just about a year apart in age. She often says they’ve grown up side by side—like ‘peas in a pod’—building their life together in the heart of Louisiana’s wetlands.

Theresa fondly recalled their long marriage in a December 2014 post, where she shared that Junior gave her a new wedding ring set as a Christmas gift after 33 years of marriage. The gesture touched her deeply, symbolizing not just love but the strength of a relationship built on shared hard work, sacrifice, and trust. As of 2025, the couple has been married for over 43 years.

Theresa has played a vital role not only as a wife and mother but also as a hands-on partner in Junior’s work. She has joined him on alligator hunts, helped operate boats, and contributed to fishing operations. Her appearances on Swamp People, especially during later seasons, have highlighted her strength, skill, and deep connection to the swamp. She has spoken publicly about her admiration for Junior’s work ethic, calling him the “hero” of their family and crediting him with teaching their sons what it truly means to provide through grit and honesty.

Together, Junior and Theresa raised two sons: Willie and Randy. Willie Edwards has carried on his father’s legacy, becoming a central figure on Swamp People and representing the next generation of swamp hunters. Randy, who also embraced the outdoor lifestyle, tragically passed away in a car accident in 2018—a loss that remains deeply felt by the family.

They are also proud grandparents. Willie and his wife Sherrie have a son, William “Little Willie” Edwards IV, who made his debut alongside his father in Season 11 of Swamp People. Randy, before his passing in 2018, had three children—Nathan Winters, Randy Edwards II, and Sierra Edwards. Although still young, they are part of the extended Edwards legacy, each representing the next generation of a family deeply connected to Louisiana’s swamps. With Junior’s guidance, Little Willie has taken on more responsibility in the swamp, embodying the values and skills passed down through three generations. For Junior and Theresa, family is at the core of everything they do—from building boats and setting lines to carrying on traditions that honor the land and the life it sustains.