Troy Landry and Pickle Wheat Battle Gators in Oil Fields – Swamp People S15, E14 “Boom or Bust” Recap

In Swamp People Season 15, Episode 14, titled “Boom or Bust” (aired April 11, 2024), veteran hunter Troy Landry and his fearless deckhand Pickle Wheat take an unorthodox gamble—hunting gators in a remote oil field surrounded by active wellheads. With nearly 100 tags still left to fill and time running short, the duo ventures into deep, untested waters after receiving a tip from a gauger about a surge of gator sightings near his rig.

Troy, always one to think strategically, sees this risky territory as a potential jackpot, even if it means hanging bait lines dangerously close to wellheads carrying 10,000 psi. “Big alligators like deep water,” he reasons. Right from the start, the risk is clear—Troy warns Peewee to avoid hitting the wellhead, and the tension builds when the line wraps around a piling and they struggle to retrieve it.

Despite the challenge, the duo pulls in their first gator of the day—a solid nine-footer. But the real drama unfolds when a boat blocks one of their lines. “Of all the places to park, he parked right there,” Troy complains. Forced to wait, they circle back later—and it’s worth it. The barge moves, and what they find is no ordinary gator. “This is Moby Dick, Peewee!” Troy exclaims as a powerful beast yanks their boat. After a brutal tug-of-war that jolts the boat and tests Peewee’s grip, Troy lines up and fires a single shot that finally subdues the monster gator.

The tension escalates again when another gator is hooked dangerously close to a high-pressure well. “Don’t let the boat hit the well!” Troy shouts. But they keep their cool, and after a hard-fought struggle, they haul in a 12-foot monster—the very one that had terrified local workers by charging at boats.

“This 12-foot behemoth is their biggest of the day,” the narrator declares. It caps off a high-octane run where Troy and Pickle tag 20 gators, turning the oil field into a proven late-season goldmine. Troy reflects, “If we would’ve waited till tomorrow, we could’ve lost it.”

Meanwhile, Joey Edgar and Zak Catchem try to challenge Daniel Edgar‘s dominance by chasing their own monsters, but the Edgar patriarch isn’t stepping down without a fight. As always, Daniel’s calm, methodical approach contrasts with the younger team’s fiery drive, offering a compelling family rivalry.

Elsewhere, Don Brewer debuts a homemade invention he believes could revolutionize the gator hunt. Whether it’s a breakthrough or just a quirky experiment, Don’s invention plays out in full view this episode, but his inventive spirit adds a fresh twist to the episode. And Ronnie Adams, facing one of his worst seasons yet, turns to prayer for a miracle, hoping divine intervention can turn the tide before time runs out.

Also Read: Troy Landry and Pickle Wheat Take on Jaws—the Hook-Breaking Monster of Lake Verret | Swamp People S15 E13