Posted on 10/26/2023 9:52:47 AM PDT by Red Badger
An alligator gar, part of species 'as old as the dinosaurs,' breaks new records in Texas and beyond
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The "monster" alligator gar that was caught in Texas last month has broken not one, not two but four International Game and Fish Association (IGFA) records.
Captain Kirk Kirkland served as the guide to Art Weston who reeled in the 283-pound alligator gar on Sept. 2.
Kirkland and Weston wrestled with the beast for two hours and 45 minutes, until they finally brought the fish aboard.
The anglers knew they had caught something record worthy when they saw how massive the fish was, Kirkland said.
"It is extremely rare to catch a fish that size on a six pound line. It's quite a feat," Capt. Kirkland told Fox News Digital today.
After weighing the fish, the angler's submitted an application into the IGFA in hopes of claiming some records.
While they expected to take home two records, Kirkland confirmed that they have now officially set four new records both in the state of Texas and in the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Does it taste like chicken?
That’s a big ‘un.
“Does it taste like chicken?”
Actually, yes, sort of like Chicken breast meat.
It’s like hooking a log...................
Aww. It got that big so it lived long, let it go !
It’s all impressive but 6# test? Wow, that’s impressive.
So, what's bigger - the world or Texas?
Put in Rio Grand River to start a population of them.
As kids in Baton Rouge we caught a bunch using a net on a long pole. In between a couple of areas of water was a small joining stream we were walking down and they came at us like torpedoes. They were small ones though, 2-3 feet each. I was about 7 at the time. It was the 60’s.
Pirhana?
“Aww. It got that big so it lived long, let it go !”
Those things are hard to kill! Take it out of the water, weigh it, take pictures, put it back! Another hundred years someone else can catch it again! Think of all the invasive carp those things can eat!!!
I thought a “6 lb. test” line means if more than 6 pounds pulls on it, it breaks?
6# line? did someone drop a zero?
From the article: “After weighing the large fish, Weston and Kirkland released their catch back into the water.”
I’ve seen ‘em in Louisiana.
Must have been a mighty good reel and some first class line and the knots have to be soso.
We have those in the Tennessee river around Chattanooga area, but I’ve never seen one near that size.
When I was growing up in the 70’s it was tradition if you caught one to pull it into the boat and beat it to death with a boat paddle then let it float down the river for all to see they were in the water. Saw many floating in the river when I was on it back then. Hardly ever see them now though, but I am much less frequently on the river now.
You read things online that say they don’t attack people, but I know people who swear that’s just a lie to stop people from killing them.
It will not break if you take your time, have the drag set light and don’t jerk the line or let the fish wrap the line around a submerged obstacle. You let it pull the line out then when it pauses you tell the line in, and this goes back and forth until the fish tires enough not to suddenly thrash when close enough to net or capture. The lighter the line the more patient and careful you have to be to respond to the fish.
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