Since there was no official alligator agency in California, Mayor Willie Brown gave verbal permission for Long to proceed. Long, a licensed alligator control agent, brought his own gator lures and gear, including a fishing pole and line with a triple hook. The first night, Long called the alligator using a call he learned from his father, but the alligator did not respond. While at the Zoo during the second day to strategize, Long mentioned that he had never been to a major league baseball game, which was misreported by a local television station that he was at a ballgame while the alligator made an unexpected appearance in the lake. The afternoon of the second day, Bronstein and Opatrny were turned back from the water's edge by San Francisco Police Sgt. Mike Dempsey, who cited a city regulation prohibiting swimming in the lake. The second night, the crowds gathered around the lake and provided a sufficient distraction so the shy reptile did not appear. Long announced he was done for the night, but returned to the lake after midnight and the crowds had dispersed, with no luck. On the third day, the alligator made an appearance but stayed in the reeds and only approached to within . Long cast his hook, but the alligator ignored it and went back under cover. Eventually, Long was unable to catch the alligator after three days of searching. As he was returning home, Long, who had previously toured local sights during his stay, expressed appreciation, regret, and confusion saying "San Francisco is the most beautiful city in the world. I can't wait to get home. And I don't believe I will ever understand the newspaper business."