I'm not sure this was posted yet. To me, it looks like a viable option for everyone involved. Here is the proposal/petition...

CLICK HERE TO SIGN

Texas is home to some of the best fishing in the country. Everything grows big in Texas and that includes our freshwater fish species like Largemouth Bass, Catfish and Alligator Gar.

Alligator Gar is the state's largest freshwater fish and can grow to sizes of over 8ft in length and over 300lbs. Texas's Alligator Gar is the 2nd largest freshwater fish in the United States, 2nd only to the Sturgeon.

Currently in Texas the Alligator Gar is not listed as a game fish. This means there is no regulation on size or numbers of Alligator Gar fish that can be taken.

Shrinking habitat, commercial fishing, unregulated limits have taken there toll on the Alligator Gar in Texas. While their exact numbers are a mystery, there is no doubt that large Alligator Gar (over 100lbs) are getting more rare every year.

Anglers all across Texas (and from all over the world) are becoming more and more aware of the thrilling angling experience Texas Alligator Gar can provide.

We are asking the Texas Parks And Wildlife to upgrade the status of the Alligator Gar to game fish and impose a daily bag limitation.

Other states that have populations of Alligator Gar already understand the importance of these mighty prehistoric fish that swam with the Dinosaurs.

States like Alabama and Arkansas already have daily bag limits for Alligator Gar.

Alabama: (Daily Bag: 2)
http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/

Arkansas: (Daily Bag: 2)
http://www.agfc.com/rules_regs/fishing_regs_limits.html#Daily

It should also be noted that in states where there are Sturgeon, these fish are protected and in almost all cases they are catch and release only.

We want the grand state of Texas to become aware that the 2nd largest freshwater fish in the United States is located in our great state and we want to preserve the gene pool of this mighty fish for generations to come.

Proposed Regulations:

Daily Bag: 2

All fish over 100lbs must be released. However each season a Trophy Alligator Gar tag allows the angler to keep one fish of 100lbs or more.

Annual Trophy Tag: 1 Fish Over 100lbs per fishing season.

We, the undersigned ask the Texas Parks And Wildlife to upgrade the status of the Alligator Gar to game fish with a daily bag of 2 Alligator Gar under 100lbs, and grant each angler an annual Alligator Gar Trophy Tag which permits each angler to keep one Alligator Gar 100lbs or more per fishing season.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN

Done... I'll pass the word around too.
Thanks for the heads up!

I'm not sure a link to this proposal was given in that thread and if it was, I didn't see it.

The petition that I'm talking about is a petition put together by people that believe that Aligator Gar should be a game fish. This petition was made to rebut the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' petition.

I remember this petition. I signed it about a year ago. I am sig #415. Justin, Scott, and a few other signed it also. It would be awesome to make this happen.

oooops, signed it again I guess

Sig number 513! Although I have never specifically fished for this species, I do recognize that it deserves protection.
Plus knowing me, eventually I will give it a shot for a big ol alligator gar.

i do believe in preserving fish for all anglers and i agree with limits to size and quantity, but i have also fish a few places where th gar have completly taken over, where its almost impossible to catch blue gill or red ear, i think the 100 pound limit mar be alittle large, but then again i don't know how fast gator gar reproduce, i think there should be more research into reproducetion and populations before limits are thrown out there, possibly even county by county restrictions, after all, if you want to protecet a species, might as well do it right

Where did you see all these alligator gar? I've never had the privelege of even seeing one and if they are close to the metroplex I might just have to make a trip out there!

I think TPWD should limit harvest if not stop it until said research is done. Then when they determine where harvesting can take place they will allow it.

Pardon me if I'm wrong, But it seams that most of the people I see talking only want to discuss the few bodies of water that have a good population of Alligator Gar in them. Not the waters bodies that are losing their population. Why?

I'm not saying that it should not be regulated, only that some place do not need to be as strict, to dhfisher, it was on the colarodo river along the san saba county line near hwy 190. and i agree there are some places where they are very hard to find and do need regulation, possibly even a ban until populations increase, but if that limit was imposed in some areas where bow fishing or any gar fishing is very seldom anyways they could decimate other fish populations

I read somewhere that TPWD is currently doing research on the Trinity at least. I'm sure they will come up with something to make every group happy while preserving the species.

I also agree that they should be regulated, but according to the body of water.

Maybe if we get a census on the few bodies of water and the stretches of river where the population is healthy or thick, we can have a larger bag limit. But, there needs to be more research done for sure.....not just because of this proposal, but so our understanding of the species is accurate. We don't want to cause any overpopulation in the name of saving them.

Ultimately, I appreciate your pro-active stance on the matter though.....I wish I had time to help out, as well as fish with y'all. There are a few places where Gator Gar can be caught around dfw, but it's been years since I've fished for 'em

They have been here for 150,000,000 years and never decimated or overpopulated anything. Including bass.

Because they surface people sometimes see 100's of gar at a time and so they assume that there are to many when in fact they are just more visible than other species.

I wonder how many alligator gar are confused with other species of gar?