“I caught and released this giant alligator gar that was well over 7 feet long. This fish was also extremely thick, making it my biggest gar ever. I caught this fish using a heavy duty but tiny 1/0 live bait hook (for safe release) with a small shad bridled to the hook using cotton thread, as well as a Penn Squall reel paired with a Denali Bottom Feeder rod. I tagged this fish and took a fin sample for an alligator gar research team (GarLab) that I work with to help better understand the misunderstood alligator gar. This fish is estimated to be 40-50 years old. Since we are the only state without protections on these long-lived fish, my goal is to bring awareness and education to the species. I have now had six tagged alligator gar recaptured in the following sizes: 3’0″, 5’3″, 5’3″, 6’6″, 6’7″, and 6’10”. Upon recapture, only two of these fish moved more than 10 yards from initial capture and none grew even a centimeter in nearly or over a year since initial capture. I have no incentive to get any sort of record, but to bring appreciation and protection towards our native wildlife. This fish was safely released.”
-Robby Scott