When these gentlemen set out for a day of fishing, the last thing they expected to catch was a fish that would break not only state records, but world records as well. And lucky for us, they captured the entire experience to share with the online world.
Texas is making headlines this week as a massive alligator gar was caught in Lake Sam Rayburn shattering four different state and world records. Art Weston, 52, was fishing with Captain Kirk Kirkland at the lake on September 2 when he made the incredible catch using only a six-pound line after spending two hours and forty-five minutes reeling it in.
On measuring, the fish was found to be an impressive 100 inches long with a 48-inch girth. The average length of this species usually only reaches up to eight inches, so this one certainly stands out from the rest.
Not only did it break the existing Texas state record but also the water body record, International Game Fish Association all-tackle world record and 6-pound line class record. Before this catch, the IGFA all-tackle world record had been unbroken since December 2nd 1951 – when a fish weighing 279 pounds was caught – so this new beast certainly put that to shame.
Kirkland told Fox News Digital: “It is extremely rare to catch a fish that size on a six pound line. It’s quite a feat…It broke the existing Texas state record. It broke the water body record. It broke the International Game Fish Association’s all-tackle world record. And it broke the 6-pound line class record.” His client Weston couldn’t contain his elation at his achievement either: “It feels surreal to be honest, that a single fish and story would create so much interest,” he said.
Alligator gars can live for many decades and are suspected of living up to 100 years old; they develop quickly reaching lengths of two feet within their first year of life before growing up to six feet by their twentieth birthday.
These fishes are typically slow swimmers who don’t pose serious harm to humans however they can still cause injury due to being covered with sharp bony scales which anglers must handle carefully during landing or else risk getting cut or bruised themselves.
