A guys I was fishing the frio river that runs between pearsall and dilly in south texas its about 5 miles from my house I walked about 2-1/2 miles in with some lite gear serching for this fishing hole my dad used to take me and my brother to as kids. I came across this spot that looked promising so i beded down all I had was some catfish bait 1oz weights and a couple of trebel hookes. I was there about 5min when I saw the tailend of a fish braek the surfic of the water and let me tell you it was huge I thought it was a dam mermaid lol. so I waited to see if I could spot it again as I set there wondering it surficed and it was a gar it had to be at least 8-9 feet long it looked like a 50 gallon drum just under the surfic out in the middle of the river and the river wasent that wide I would say about 20 or 30 yards across. what would it take for me to catch that beast im pretty sure it will stay there the river gets much more shallower on ether side of the hole and alot more narrowe. I know you need a pole with a hook on the end to bring it to shore but what kind of rig would I use or am I in over my head?? I will not go alone next time and I would love to get some pics of it but I know very little about alligater gar so I need some help... it stayed on the surfic alot than go under i watched it for a good hour or so forgot about the catfishing I was doing if I am able to catch this fish it will be the biggist ive ever maybe ever will catch.

Do not use a net as they'll dethread one. In Lake Champlain we catch them at night on leopard frogs that we whack oon stone or tree to stun them 4 15 min. Our gar r the longnose run 3-6' average. They like to be near where a swamp or small creek empties into main river.

SOUNDS LIKE AN ALLIGATOR GAR. THEY DO GET VERY BIG. IF YA GET A CHANCE TO WATCHA SHOW CALLED "RIVERMONSTERS", I WOULD SUGGEST TO WATCH IT. THE HOST IS (I THINK ) HIS NAME IS EITHER JASON OR JERAIMY WADE. HE HAS FISHED FOR THEM IN TEXAS AN WAS USING A SURF ROD WITH 160 POUND TEST LINE. HERE WHERE I LIVE IN NEBRASKA, WE DO HAVE GARRS, BOTH SHORT NOSE AND LONG NOSE AND I HAVE SEEN THEN CLOSE TO 4 FEET LONG. MOST OF WHAT I HAVE CAUGHT HAS BEEN IN THE 25 TO 30 INCH RANGE. ALOT OF FUN TO CATCH AND I REALLY DO LIKE FISHING FOR THEM. THESE HERE WILL BITE ON ALMOST ANYTHING YOU DROP IN FRONT OF THEM, FROM WHITE ROOSTERTAIL SPINNERS TO LIVE WORMS AN FROGS. I AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE SOMEONE WITH YOU JUST IN CASE YOU DO HOOK ONE OF THOSE MONSTERS.

Those alligator gars are huge! I don't have much experience except the accidental hooking into them, mostly shortnose gars. They are very toothy and hooks usually don't get hooked, unless they swallow the bait for a gut hooked fish.

Alligator Gar are a blast to catch. Here in Texas, Trinity river is known for its extremely large alligator gar. But it aint easy gettin them. For a gar as big as the one you had seen, ull need a very heavy rod, good reel with good drag system, at least 60LB braided fishing line, a steel leader, very large strong hooks, and live or dead bait. Rig a big bobber bout 5' from the end of your line, attach the steel leader, then the hooks, and use a very large piece of bait. i use 6"-9" mullet or any other live bait i can get. Cast far out. when you get a bite from what could be a gar, DONT SET THE HOOK!!!! alligator gar have long mouths, so if you set the hook too soon itll pull the bait out of its mouth. Wait, let the fish run with it till you can feel the fishes weight on the other end, then hammer that hook in. And hold on. Hope that helps, good luck

first off there is a gar section on the fourms you can check out.
also so u can put a spoon on the end of your leader and thefasten some soft cotton rope all  untwisted and cast out. when he goes for the spoon he will get all those teeth tangled up in the rope . now be carefull on how u handle him, and have fun getting all that rope out. oh yea take a picture and then turn him loose for the net guy...

Hellow all its been awhile since ive posted but ive been fishing up a storm i think that i got a lot better since i joined the club ive fished from dallas to leradoe here in the great state or texas just returned from lake sam rayburn i also receved the bass strategy book anyone got that its like the bible of bass fishing well for me anyway as for the monster never saw it again(these littel faces are cool) but ive caught meany other gar since even learned to skin um and cook um thanks for all the help yall given me i just finished school got my pharmacy tec out so now it back to work in my little town no more trips for awhile but theres plenty of ponds and rivers around to keep me busy so ill be asking a lot more ?? but thanks again till next time good fishing to all

yeah like everybody else said they can grow to about 12 feet or more. I live up here in massachusetts. and I am dont like pickerel for criying out loud........ So imagine hooking into a big' ol gar down in Texas!!!!!!!!!!

yeah like everybody else said they can grow to about 12 feet or more. I live up here in massachusetts. and I am dont like pickerel for criying out loud........ So imagine hooking into a big' ol gar down in Texas!!!!!!!!!!

Probably an really large gar.
Better luck next time!

Probably an Alligator Gar.
Better luck next time!
TIGHT LINES!