Trying to figure out what went wrong. Had a MB750 in a tray at the entrance to a small side channel with a lure stick jammed into a crack on the tray. Had caught a 2 year old about 2-3 days prior in this same setup. Trap was on a cable anchored by a piece of motor grader blade about 3' long. Weight was in the center of the channel almost straight out in front of the tray.

Could tell the trap was missing so I pulled the cable. Trap was empty at the bottom of the cable and the weight was against the bank to the left and there was no toenail or hair in the jaws. Thought at first maybe I got a brisket catch and he pulled out but I figured there would be some hair left. Now I'm thinking with the weight moved 10+ feet to the bank a gator may have been the culprit. Lows have been in the high 30's with highs in the mid 60's. I've personally seen small and large gators on this tract.

Any guesses to what/why ?

Big gator would have torn the entire setup down. MB750 would have held a small gator.

What was the weight?

A section of motor grader blade about 3' long. I was thinking a gator may have pulled the catch from the trap. Check time was roughly 24 hours.

Motor grader blade section probably able to slide on bottom?

Whatever it was that was caught....probably wasn't caught good. Whether beaver, otter, or gator...made a clean pull out...

Tail catch?