Top of the Food Chain

Most days fishermen are satisfied with catching numbers of average size fish but there are times when landing a trophy becomes top priority.  I'm certainly no different.  I simply love to catch fish but wont pass up the opportunity to try and tackle a monster.  At the top of the food chain is such a beast...the alligator gar.  In fresh water, no other fish can match up to its size and strength. Shamefully, this predator has been misunderstood for years.  Treated as trash, they have been shot on sight, thrown on the bank, jaws broken, and blamed for the depletion of game fish.  Stories have even circulated over the many years of their existence that they have even eaten small children.  (How our imagination can run wild)  Sure, these big fish are predators and they do have to eat fish and even small game to survive but, never has it been proven that they cause as much destruction as the legend labeled them.  I am marveled at their size and how long they have evolved.  They like their namesake the alligator, are some of our oldest living species.  Growing to weigh as much as 300lbs, they can honestly be considered the kings of the freshwater trophies.

My quest to shoot a show and land one of these giants started on the Trinity River in East Texas with legendary gar guide Kirk Kirkland.  This native Texan has fished for alligator gar since childhood and has earned the reputation of being the best.  My fishing partner "Uncle" Bill Fondren and cameraman Aric Hein were excited to get the chance to see an alligator gar up close.  Needless to say, so was I.  I didnt want to kill one with a bow but actually feel what it would be like to actually catch one on rod and reel, then release it to fight again.

My anticipation was high on this particular morning and just the boat ride down this ancient looking river made my expectations of actually getting to see an alligator gar up close and personal seem guaranteed.

The setup was actually simple.  4 heavy action Shakespeare Powerods armed with Penn 760 Slammer spinning reels, 180lb Berkley Big Game braided line, and baited with 1-2lb cut bait. Short casts were all thats needed in this small river and the rods were placed on the bank in holders and the line fed through line alarms affixed to the holders to alert us when a fish was taking the bait.  We positioned our G3 on the opposite bank down stream and waited for one of the colored lights from Kirk's hand held transmitter to start chirping. "This wont take long" and no sooner than those word came from Kirk's mouth the alarm sounded.  We meandered are way back upstream to the rod and pulled it from the holder, then slowly followed the big fish as it zig-zagged its way undaunted by our presence.  As I waited for the sign from Kirk, I remember thinking, "Is this really happening?"  "Am I actually about to catch one of these bruiser fish?"  Then like being woke from a dream... "SET THE HOOK"!!!  Now, Im not intelligent enough to put into words what I felt next.  The power of this fish was incredible. With all due respect to the blue cat and the sturgeon, they hail in comparison to how the alligator gar fight.  I worked and fought this fish for a good while and finally got it to the surface.  Never before had I seen "Uncle" Bill and Aric so wide-eyed.  It looked enormous.  As I worked it along side the boat, Kirk lassoed the fish with nothing more than a nylon rope causing a second battle to begin.  Thrashing and jumping like nothing I've seen, he finally got the fish over the side of the boat and in.  It was then we could actually see this enormous specimen up close.  

Now the process began of measuring, calculating weight, tagging, and documenting all information.  Each fish Kirk catches is logged for future information and released.  Several times he has caught tagged fish and he can see how the fish has progressed over the years. 

All told, we landed 5 fish.  Two in the 40lb range, 1 near 80lbs, 1 at 110lbs, and the final fish (pictured) at a whopping 154lbs! All before 1pm! 

If you too like adventure and want to experience the fishing trip of a lifetime, then I strongly suggest trying this.  Kirk Kirkland is an awesome guide and his trips are truly memorable.  Be sure and catch this trip on the G3 Sportsman television series in January 2009.  You'll truly be impressed and maybe those of you with a low opinion of alligator gar will get a better understanding of how these predators deserve a chance to live and thrive in the waters they roam.  Just as they have for a million years. For more information about Kirk Kirkland, simply go to www.texasfishingguides.org/kirkland

Scott Turnage/Host/G3 Sportsman