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Texas fisherman reels in monstrous alligator gar, potentially shattering world record
The protagonists of the feat were Art Weston and Kirk Kirkland, the latter of whom has over 100 world records recognized by the International Game Fish Association
April 21, 2023 11:13am
Updated: April 21, 2023 6:44pm
Fishermen who recently caught a massive 251-pound alligator gar in the Trinity River in Texas on April 16th believe it has the potential to break a world record, as reported by local press.
Union, Kentucky resident Art Weston traveled to Texas with renowned fishing guide Captain Kirk Kirkland on a mission to catch record-breaking fish in the Trinity River near Huntsville. Together, they successfully caught and released a colossal alligator gar weighing an impressive 251 pounds on a Sunday morning. If validated, this catch would exceed the current International Game Association (IGFA) fishing world record for the 80-pound line class by an extraordinary 60 pounds.
Kirkland, widely regarded as the "world's best alligator gar guide," has over 100 world records recognized by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) to his name. In 1991, he made a groundbreaking catch when he caught the largest alligator gar on record by rod and reel, a massive fish that weighed 365 lbs and was 9 ft 6 in long.
"New pending IGFA world record with Art Weston. What an absolute monster alligator gar! Congrats Art," Kirkland wrote on his Facebook profile.
The fishermen caught the alligator gar using carp as bait. They battled for 25 minutes to catch the imposing fish.
"The first time he came to the surface near the boat, Captain Kirk was able to put the noose around his neck," Weston said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle.
The fish measured 90.5 inches long with a circumference of 45.5 inches, according to the specialized website Fish & Stream. After the catch, the fish was returned to the water.
The pair now sets their sights on breaking the current world record, held by an alligator gar weighing 191 pounds, caught in the same Texas river back in 2015.
Kirk Kirkland is a renowned fishing guide, known for being the original alligator gar fishing guide for rod and reel catch and release angling. He started guiding alligator gar fishing in 1999, and since then has caught alligator gar from Mexico to the Mississippi river and all parts in between.
