I've read articles using both treble and single hooks, what are your recommendations? I've always used a treble, but I'm starting to think a single would give a better hook set, as well as being safer for the animal

Iam glad you ask this question. This is a very important topic that all alligator gar fisherman need to know and practice to safly do catch and release with the least amount of damage to the fish and to greatly increase its survival rate. Recommended hook size for alligator gar should not exceed a 5/0. Any thing larger will puncture the swim bladder and the fish will drown. You will know if this has happend by the blood comming from its gill and mouth. 2/0-4/0 is the best trebal hook to use. Do not use stainless steel or 3x hooks. Standard strength will work fine and rust out the fish faster. This is a proven fact learned by me and Kirk "duckhunter35" by trial and error fishing alligator gar in a private lake. Hooks over 5/0 killed most fish and were found floating in our private lake. Give the fish plenty of time to swallow the hook all the way. Premature hook sets will increase the percentage of swim bladder punctures.

Awesome info, thanks for the reply

If you have really strong gear and think you can get some penetration through its jaw then go with a gamakatsu big river bait hook in 12/0. Trebles are fine but you don't get a good hookset as you would with a single hook, and this is assuming you do not let it run with the bait and try to hook it from within its jaw.