Alligator Gar are as prehistoric as it gets in the fishing world. Freakin’ scary looking for sure, the general consensus is they prefer finned fare over the two-legged variety. But enough of the “it’s okay to go back into the water” talk, let’s see what the story is behind these photos currently making the rounds.
Believe it or not, this gar was taken way back in 2005 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas. Keith Reihn and Robin Parks were bowfishing and on their last pass before heading to a new fishing hole, both men saw this monster roll off the bow. According to the Dallas Morning News, “the archers had traded their retriever reels and heavy line they prefer for big fish for spincast reels used to pursue smaller gar species.” Instantly both men let arrows fly and both struck the fish in the boiler room, right behind the gills.
“The arrow placement was perfect. (Parks) followed the fish with the electric motor for three different runs. It came to the surface, and Keith grabbed a third bow….and put another arrow in the fish.”
Ultimately it took a gaff and a lot of sweat to swing the big gar over the stern and nto the boat. It measured 8’2″, had a 44 3/4″ girth and weighed in at a whopping 244 1/2 pounds.
