Posted By: Lusca
Alligator gar - 06/02/13 05:01 PM
After about a year long hiatus, I've been anxious to get back after the gator gar. My buddy skeeteroneal was game so I put a couple carp on ice Friday in preparation. The weather forecasts called for 20-30mph wind and that's exactly what we got. It wasn't much fun paddling into that much headwind, but I still got the big silly grin on my face as I put the big guns 
the Penn reels and broom stick sized rods in the rod holders! 
Then there's the 9/o or larger hooks in a pound or two of carp steak... 
It turned out to be very slow fishing. The first spot we never got a run or saw any gators roll. We paddled on the the next spot and I finally spotted a nice one roll. But after no runs on the lines we both were getting discouraged. Skeeter decided to try a little further down the hole. I stuck it out a bit longer before I decided to do the same. Cranked in my first bait. Then as I took up the slack on the 2nd, much to my surprise all of a sudden the yak turned smartly. The line peeled against the drag and I was getting pulled along faster than I can paddle on the "sleigh ride" 
After a good first run, the fish then hugged the bottom and I got the first twinge of worry. I wasn't sure how big this one was, but skeeter and I had discussed on the drive about fighting one from the yak and not on anchor. My fear being that it's easy to get right over the fish and have it jump, possibly landing on the yak or hitting one of us in the process. The fight continued for several minutes with me leaning on the fish as much as I dared with the rod in a scary arc. Several times I'd get the fish up enough to have the leader out of the water only to have it lunge and peel off a few yards of drag. Then it towed me around the hole near an overhanging tree before it finally tired. That's about the time the hair on my neck stood on end as I raised the fish and had it on the surface right alongside the kayak. It was clearly a good size fish and now it was just a matter of working towards the bank to land it safely. I know from my previous experience with these fish, they always seem to save a little energy for a last desperate attempt at freedom at the end when you think they're done. Thankfully, it didn't jump or jerk me off balance, but it gave me a good soaking as it shot off again. Soon I was able to coax the fish towards the bank and eventually slide it up on the bank for the pics and release with skeeter's much appreciated help. Unfortunately, that was my only fish and skeeter only got a short sleigh ride before one released him 
the Penn reels and broom stick sized rods in the rod holders! Then there's the 9/o or larger hooks in a pound or two of carp steak... It turned out to be very slow fishing. The first spot we never got a run or saw any gators roll. We paddled on the the next spot and I finally spotted a nice one roll. But after no runs on the lines we both were getting discouraged. Skeeter decided to try a little further down the hole. I stuck it out a bit longer before I decided to do the same. Cranked in my first bait. Then as I took up the slack on the 2nd, much to my surprise all of a sudden the yak turned smartly. The line peeled against the drag and I was getting pulled along faster than I can paddle on the "sleigh ride" After a good first run, the fish then hugged the bottom and I got the first twinge of worry. I wasn't sure how big this one was, but skeeter and I had discussed on the drive about fighting one from the yak and not on anchor. My fear being that it's easy to get right over the fish and have it jump, possibly landing on the yak or hitting one of us in the process. The fight continued for several minutes with me leaning on the fish as much as I dared with the rod in a scary arc. Several times I'd get the fish up enough to have the leader out of the water only to have it lunge and peel off a few yards of drag. Then it towed me around the hole near an overhanging tree before it finally tired. That's about the time the hair on my neck stood on end as I raised the fish and had it on the surface right alongside the kayak. It was clearly a good size fish and now it was just a matter of working towards the bank to land it safely. I know from my previous experience with these fish, they always seem to save a little energy for a last desperate attempt at freedom at the end when you think they're done. Thankfully, it didn't jump or jerk me off balance, but it gave me a good soaking as it shot off again. Soon I was able to coax the fish towards the bank and eventually slide it up on the bank for the pics and release with skeeter's much appreciated help. Unfortunately, that was my only fish and skeeter only got a short sleigh ride before one released him 
on your near 7 footer! 
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I had the same issue last year with carp. Oz had to raise the limit. Not nearly enough points IMO.
NICE GAR!!!