The Largest Alligator Gar Ever Caught in Oklahoma

The alligator gar are fearsome fish in terms of size and appearance. Their scientific name is Atractosteus spatula and they are among the largest freshwater fish on the planet. They are the largest of all the gar species of fish. These awesome creatures have been on Earth since the late Jurassic period – that’s at least 100 million years ago. There is no denying their prehistoric appearance and they retain some ancient characteristics including the ability to breathe air and a spiral valve intestine that is similar to that of the shark.

How Big Are Alligator Gar?

As you will have guessed from their name, these fish have many similarities to an alligator and that includes size! They have a very long body and snout (up to 10 feet) and sharp teeth. Most of their body is a grey/green/brown color but that fades to a yellow/white color around their lower stomach. This impressive body is heavily armored with scales that act like protective chain mail.

These are very large fish and the females are bigger than the males. The largest ever alligator gar to be caught was captured in Mississippi . This 327-pound behemoth was accidentally caught in a fishing net! There are also reports that a 300-pound alligator gar was caught in a bayou near Houston, Texas but it was never accurately measured.

Why Do Alligator Gar Grow So Huge?

Alligator gar have large habitats with loads of food to sustain a large body. They grow rapidly and reach two feet in their first year. By the time they are 20 years old, they can be over six feet. Their long lifespan gives them plenty of time to grow too. Experts think that some live to over 100 years old.

Catching a magnificent fish like this is both a challenge and a privilege. By releasing the larger individuals back into the water after capture we can maintain the genes for large growth within the population and preserve these giants for the next generation.

Largest Alligator Gar Ever Caught in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation maintains two divisions of records for fish caught in the state. The official rod and line record for an alligator gar in the state is 254 pounds. This makes it the largest fish on record ever caught in Oklahoma.  This fish had a length of 97 3/4 inches and a girth of 44 inches. It was caught by Paul Easley on 23 ^rd April 2015 at Lake Texoma which is located five miles east of Kingston on US 70. Part of the lake falls within Texas.

The rules for rod and line records require the fish to have been caught on rod and line and it must have been hooked and played by one person. There are also unrestricted records for fish that are caught by other legal means such as spears or bows and arrows. However, there is no such Oklahoma record for an alligator gar.

Challenges Facing Gars

As well as lakes and rivers, alligator gars are found in swamps, bayous, and reservoirs and are a native species of the Southern United States and Eastern Mexico .

Along with many other wildlife species, they are challenged by habitat loss. Humans have constructed dams and levees which prevent them from reaching their spawning grounds. They have also been persecuted because of their reputation for eating game fish but this is not true. Predator fish like the gar are essential for maintaining the ecological balance in aquatic environments.

Up Next:

• The Largest Alligator Gar Ever Caught in Texas
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• Beware of These 5 Dangerous Animals Found in Oklahoma's Lakes and Rivers

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