Texas fisherman prevails in epic battle with enormous alligator gar

GrindTV.com ^ | 06/21/12 | Pete Thomas

[DFG]

Whether Brent Crawford has captured the world's largest alligator gar will never be known -- his scale bottomed out emphatically at 300 pounds and he filleted the prehistoric-looking fish after attempting to obtain its weight.

But this much is clear: The gar Crawford landed while bow-fishing recently in Texas' Lake Corpus Christi is among the largest specimens ever captured -- and it was captured in a manner like no other gar captured beforehand.

[McGruff]

I've caught some pretty good size North Pike. Best fighting fish I've found, but

nothing in the same league as this creature.

[dead]

After shooting it with a bow, he got dragged into the water and the fish was still winning. So he called his buddy who came and shot it with a gun and then they dragged him out of the water with an ATV.

Humans win again!! Don't mess with us, wildlife.

[thackney]

Not to mention several feet of mouth lined with tiny swords.

[tired&retired]

Best part of the story:

“When he finally fired, he scored a direct hit, unleashing the fury of the 8-foot, 2-inch beast, which created an explosion of mud and water before it ran toward the lake.

Big problem, because the nylon cord had become tangled at Crawford’s feet, and when he grabbed the line, as it began to tighten, it became wrapped around his hand.

The line went taut and the fish yanked the fisherman into the water headfirst. That’s when Crawford’s dog, Bleux, grabbed him by the cuff of the jeans, creating a bizarre riverbank tug-of-war.

Crawford ultimately was able to free his hand from the cord and stand knee-deep in the shallow canal, gripping his fishing bow, the cord still attached to the mighty fish. “There was no doubt who was in control and it wasn’t me,” the fisherman recalled.

The gar stole 200 feet of cord in a battle that lasted 45 minutes, before Crawford reeled it to the bank. Soaked and exhausted, the fisherman straddled the fish, reached for his cellphone — which he had kept in a waterproof case — and dialed a friend.

The friend arrived with a pistol, which resoundingly ended the struggle, and the two men used a rope and an ATV to drag the quarry to Crawford’s house. “

[bikerman]

What does it taste like

taste’s like manantee,goes well with spotted owl.

[Charles Martel]

And *lots* of Choupique.

[Red Badger]

That one in the picture doesn’t look like it could have weighed 300+ pounds......

[Red Badger]

Alligator gar are rather lethargic and docile fish. Catching one is like saying you outran a VW Bug in your Porsche 911.......

[gopheraj]

Did you know that gaspergoo have rocks in their head? I am guessing it’s a calcium buildup for some reason. Probably helps with their grunting calls.

[goat granny]

must be a democrat....

[ottbmare]

It’s icky anyway.

[txhurl]

Kinda looks like swordfish.

[gopheraj]

LOLLLL must be ;)