I've seen a few videos and pics of people catching Alligator Gar, and obviously they're just leaving the hook in it's mouth and cutting the line. I have done this myself as well! I'm asking one or more of the Alligator Gar guides to help out and create a video or a walk through how to properly get the hook out of an Alligator Gar. Thanks in advance for anyone taking the time to do this.

Leave the hook in her it will only get you and the fish hurt

X2. Getting a hook in the finger once was enough. It's a trip to the ER if anything goes wrong and a serious problem when your an hour or two from help.

hmm... well there you go then. Thank you for the reality check. Too bad there's not a stable way to get the hook out of these fish. I was hoping for some kind of method like we can do for lng where you place a large cylinder object in the mouth to pry it open, etc, etc. But when you're dealing with potentially 200lb+ fish perhaps the best method is to just cut the line.

its all about using the right hook, im my experience J hooks will have too many gar bleeding..use a non stainless treble hook(bronze rusts in day), so it will rust out if you cannot remove it, also carry a long hook out and long pliers in case you hook it in the mouth

Good advice, thanks SBTV!

Although I keep a pet 'gator gar that is around 150 or so pounds, I know little of them other than they like to eat a lot when its warm.

However, I have worked with many other species over the last 40 or so years and did my own "Hook Mortality Study," with respect to Largemouth Bass at The Lakes of Danbury, a looong time ago. I believe that some of what I learned may be applicable.

I had deeply hooked bass brought in by my members in live tanks I made for the purpose. Each member was to take a deeply hooked bass, and every other time they fished, do one of two things. 1) Do whatever it takes with a hook extractor, pliers, fingers, etc. to remove the hook, and 2) Just cut the line as close to the hook as easily done. All deeply hooked fish, the fisherman would be cutting line or extracting the hook (not both) on all deeply hooked bass then put into an oxygenated box with salt and anti-biotic in it, then removed to one of two holding vats by the dock, one for "hook out" and the other for "hook in."

I found that, roughly 80% of the "Hook removed, no matter what," fish died within 3 days.

However, in the same time, roughly 80% of the "hook left in" fish not only were still alive, THE HOOKS WERE LAYING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK!! This after only three days post capture/hook left in. Further close study revealed that the hooked area would quickly fester up, make a rotted place, and the hook would just fall out, then the spot would heal back over in a day or two. No waiting for the hook to rust out. Not in every case, there was a fish that swallowed a hook and the hook actually poked out through the side of the fish, fell out, and the fish lived. Some hooks were never accounted for.

But, after that, I have ever since been a "leave the deep hook in there." person and not a "Get the hook out no matter what," person.

Cool info

Cool post! thanks for that.

i caught a 60 pound ling offshore from my kayak(it ate a 12 inch live bait), upon closer inspection i found a 6 inch long stingray spike lodged about 5 inches into the top of its mouth....fish are tougher than most people think

also in panama i cut the leader on about 20 sailfish a day, with 15 boats fishing the same waters i never saw a single sailfish with a cirlce hook in it mouth from a previous capture..those fish will shake that hook so fast once theres no tension holding it in place..

Don't even try it unless the hook is where u can get ahold of it with some needle nose or yo will only hurt yourself and the fish.

Just have some really long pliers, stick something on its jaw to keep it open, and muscle out the hook with the pliers... If the fish gets you with the hook there is no need to go to the ER... Simply pass it out passed the barb, break the barb and take it back out.

Oh and then apply lots of alcohol to disinfect the hook wound