More Alligator Gar Fun

[Darrells]

Ron and I have been talking with Mike Baird an Inland Fisheries Biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He is studying Alligator Gar and has been wanting to take a trip with us. Well today we finally got together and went. Ron had an appointment this morning so was a little late getting there, but caught up with us later this morning. Headed down river. I was paddling my NorthWind and Mike was in my Freedom.

We stopped along the way and caught some bait with cast cast net and then proceeded on to the area I wanted to fish. We got all set up and Mike whipped out his note book and started taking notes.

We had quite a few runs but they were being finicky and kept dropping the baits. About 10:00 Ron showed up and did the Indian sneak on us. neither Mike or myself even realized Ron was here until he was out of his boat.

We all had runs today but very few hook-ups.

I finally got lucky and got a solid hook-up about 11:30. I really thought she was going to spool me even though I had the drag as tight as it would go on a Tekota 500 with 80# PowerPro braid.

After a good fight and untangling her from logs we finally got her landed. My personal best (so far) estimated at 175-180 pounds. She was 78inches long and had a girth of 34 inches.

Really slowed down after this fish. We hung around another hour without anymore runs and decided to head in. Ron cruising back.

 

[Darrells]

 

[hairymick01]

Geez Darrel, that's a great fish mate. Well done.

loved the vids too. thanks for sharing!

 

[tx river rat]

Darrel is just telling half this story, that was one of the toughest fighting gar I have ever seen.
He had 300 yards on that reel and before he could turn her he was down to about 50 yards. she was smoking that reel on several runs.
Now that little snag he was talking about ,well here is the rest of the story, the fish made one last run and Darrel even with the drag set tight couldnt stop her. she ran under a log then over another one wrapped around a trout line.I wadded out and thought I could see her sulled up on the deep side.watching our hands to keep from getting cut with the braid we started trying to untangle everything,finally had to run the rod through tip first then around the trout line ,Darrel thought she was gone but when he reeled up she took off again ,he got her up and we used the snare and finally landed her . Darrel worked for this fish HARD.

This was chunky fish and congratulations to Darrel for his PB.
After we settled down I had one hookup for a couple minutes , the it spit the hook.
As always Darrel and I had a blast.
Ron

 

[oldsparkey]

You guys keep catching Gar that size you will need to do like the guys do around here for sharks. Fish from your kayak and let the fish wear itself down by pulling you around.

 

[Kayak Jack]

<SNIP> let the fish wear itself down by pulling you around.

Maybe, Darrell, you can fish with two rods, get the fish to bite with a hook on each side of its mouth, and use the lines like reins? A real Brazos sleigh ride.

 

[tx river rat]

Its fun to play them in a yak but I will not try to land one while in the yak we are going to the bank for that.
Ron

 

[beekeeper]

Nice fish Darrell.

beekeeper

 

[mosportsmen]

Wow excellent adventure! You could title this adventure ugly fish from pretty boats. We don't have too many gator gar up this far north, I know some guys from Missouri that go to Texas to bow hunt them.

I have always wanted to chum a hole and try to rod and real some big carp just have not done it. Pretty cool, and I bet it taught your biologist friend a lot.

 

[Darrells]

He seem ed pretty impressed or it may have been he did not know what the heck to make of Ron and myself. :mrgreen:

 

[BEARS BUDDY]

Nice fish Darrel.

 

[catfish]

darrel and ron even when you get fish that size that you don,t keep or eat they sure do pull good though. sounds like you guys hada nice outing . thanks for sharing.