New Record Breaking Alligator Gar Catch

[jlnguyen74]

Awesome. Too bad he didn't let it go. Oh well, a record gar on display at a museum will be neat.

I wish it could still be free and swimming. A fish that grows that big and lives that long should be rewarded by letting it live. I find it sad to know that they killed it. They could've tagged it and let it go and allowed it to grow even larger. It was probably still alive throughout that ordeal as long as it was wet. Thats why i release everything I catch when I fish, unless it is nonnative and then I keep it. But I want them to grow bigger and live longer. I just get a picture and thats all I want. Oh well though, nothing can be done now.

A fish that size is a potential danger/hazard to the public! It lives long enough to reach that size.. It must go for other fish in that lake to grow

 

[mqktandy]

A fish that size is a potential danger/hazard to the public! It lives long enough to reach that size.. It must go for other fish in that lake to grow

Lol what???

 

[derekp]

A fish that size is a potential danger/hazard to the public! It lives long enough to reach that size.. It must go for other fish in that lake to grow

I respectfully disagree. He was here first. He should live. Why do we as humans think that we can just get rid of something because we see it as a hazard? It is a living animal that has lived against the odds already. So it should continue to live. Thats why a lot of things are endangered in the world. Its either because people take it or kill it because they want what it has or think its cool. Or people kill it because they are scared of it. Either way it is not right.

 

[Madding]

I'm pretty sure gator gars don't attack humans, if that's what you were implying. There was even an entire episode of River Monsters to debunk that myth (was it even a myth...? lol).

 

[MonsterMinis]

I respectfully disagree. He was here first. He should live. Why do we as humans think that we can just get rid of something because we see it as a hazard? It is a living animal that has lived against the odds already. So it should continue to live. Thats why a lot of things are endangered in the world. Its either because people take it or kill it because they want what it has or think its cool. Or people kill it because they are scared of it. Either way it is not right.

x2

Though it was kept.. at least it's not going to go in some guys basement poorly mounted.. No doubt it will be used for educational reasons at the museum, and will hopefully bring more awareness to this species and the other native gar species in our country and others. Most records don't end up back in the water.. but this one is going to be used imo the best way it can. THe fisherman gets big thumbs up from me for donating this animal, Many would be selfish.

madding it hink Sol and Pej mentioned captive gars attacking.. but i would have to agree in general.. most "wild" animals that don't see humans as sources of food. Tend to avoid us.. only the ones we "domesticate" do we tend to really have issues with. no doubt a hungry gar that size.. given the opportunity would seize it... But imo they liekly aren't ant worse 'n the monsters peopel have made wolves out to be. accidents happen as do "wrong place at the wrong time." but I doubt gators would actively hunt humans.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

He should have kept it alive and donate it to some public aquarium! That would have been AWESOME!

 

[Oscarum monstruoso]

How do gar keepers feel about fishing threads posted here? Im of the opinion that fishing is the opposite of fishkeeping and belongs on the fishing forum.

 

[derekp]

x2

Though it was kept.. at least it's not going to go in some guys basement poorly mounted.. No doubt it will be used for educational reasons at the museum, and will hopefully bring more awareness to this species and the other native gar species in our country and others. Most records don't end up back in the water.. but this one is going to be used imo the best way it can. THe fisherman gets big thumbs up from me for donating this animal, Many would be selfish.

Thats true. At least it did go somewhere for educational purposes. I would have rather seen it go to a public aquarium where it had several hundred thousand gallons to live in. But since releasing it was a no, a public aquarium was a no, I guess a science museum is the third best option. Unfortunately that third option also comes with the cost of the gars life.

 

[Madding]

How do gar keepers feel about fishing threads posted here? Im of the opinion that fishing is the opposite of fishkeeping and belongs on the fishing forum.

We like seeing gars. It isn't as if the OP caught the fish and told a long story of what tackle he used.

No biggie.

Also, a world record is something that many of us here (science-side and hobby-side) will just find plain awesome.

 

[MonsterMinis]

How do gar keepers feel about fishing threads posted here? Im of the opinion that fishing is the opposite of fishkeeping and belongs on the fishing forum.

being someone who both keeps fish, eats sushi, and has fished since she could walk.. I really don't see issue with it. the fishing of these fish is as important to the hobbyists who keep them imo as the ones who fish/hunt them. a record fish is good to know/see and does imo have a right to be here, but general fishing reguarding these guys indeed does belong in the fishing forum. my 2 cents.

and yes fishmama you can eat gar.. though I have yet to try it. thogh their roe (eggs) are toxic.