A couple of good sized gar I caught this past weekend in the Trinity River, South of Dallas.

Nice fish!! C&R ?

Awesome

Scott, Yes both were released unharmed.

very nice!!

Sweet!

A word of friendly advice about holding those fish:


Be extremely careful about putting your hands in around their gills. The first row of scales past the end of their gills is hinged very loosely and can cut you badly. Also, the bottom of the gill plates is sharp too. I have received several injuries to my fingers like having nails cut in half down the middle. Never anything really bad but several close calls.

Thanks guys.

Dawson,
I found that the V right where the gills come together is an ok place to hold them. I will have a pair of leather gloves the next trip though. I found the alligator gar are pretty docile compared to the longnosed on land. I had a 4.5' long nose get my thumb and ankle pretty good before i could get him unhooked and back in the water. I have a question if you don't mind. What do you use to weigh big gar? Ive not been able to find a scale that goes over 50#.

I'd use the length and girth equation, should get you close.

Nice fish!
http://www.amazon.com/300-lb-Hanging-Scales-Sportsman/dp/B00777S2WM

Jbrad..I fish for crappie in SE Texas..but sometimes a gar gets a hold of me...my father loves to eat them and I like them as well. My question to you is how do I target them..what is good bait and any special rigging needed. Thanks. Nice fish !

J I have a picture from last year filming with a French film crew , the very first fish he caught he picked up like you are showing , as I was in the back getting tags , the fish flopped hit him in the forehead and went all the way down his face ending up on his chin , a trip to the emergency room and luckily only 7 stitches later we went filming again , THAT IS THE ONLY WAY I will NOT let one of my clients hold a alligator gar , by the way that is not the only injury I have seen like that , hold them across your arms

Jig,
I use a 4/0 Penn big game reel and an Abu 6'4" heavy rod. I have 80# mono on it. I use 200# bowfishing line for a leader. I use a swivel between it and the mono then I put a large clasp swivel on the other end with a 4/0 trebble hook. I have been using 5"-6" gizzard shad cut in half and hooked with two hooks under the backbone. Make sure and let the gar run with it awhile before you settle hook or you'll never land one. I generally wait until they change direction take up the slack and set the hook. Another thing that will help you get the fish on the bank is a rope. Slip it over the rod down the line then behind the fins, not in the gills. I don't recommend eating the trophy gar. There are plenty of "meat fish"; cats, sandies, striper, etc that aren't 50+ year old fish.

Duckhuntr,
I apperciate the advice. I'll be more careful with them in the future.

Thanks,
Justin

Nice Catch!

Nice Ones Good job.

Way to go! Awesome.