Discover The Largest Alligator Gar Ever Caught in Louisiana

Want to break the record for the largest alligator gar ever caught in Louisiana? These large fish can reach amazing weights and lengths. Alligator bears have long, torpedo-like bodies and are truly “living fossils.” They are also the largest ‘gar’ species, but don’t let their size fool you.

The crocodile’s muscular body is not aggressive. No attacks on humans have been confirmed. Instead, they are gentle giants who shouldn’t eat eggs. Alligator gar eggs are poisonous and can cause illness in humans.

Although the largest alligator ever caught in the world was never found in Louisiana, Louisiana still has a pretty impressive record. Follow us to discover his gar, the largest alligator ever caught in Louisiana.

The Largest Alligator Gar Ever Caught in Louisiana

The largest alligator gar ever caught in Louisiana weighed 179 pounds. It was Jimmy L. Thompson at the Red River in May 1997. He earned his gar title and record for the largest alligator ever captured in Louisiana.

Interestingly, the state’s second largest alligator deer was also caught in the same month and year. James Strickland also caught a 134-pound alligator in the Red River.

An even larger alligator was found in Louisiana, but was not included in the record. In 2002, Brandon Saucier shot a giant alligator in two feet of water while bow fishing with friends. It was over eight feet long and weighed 215 pounds.

But he did not weigh him on official scales or catch him on a rod and reel. Realizing this, Saucier took the fish home, cooked it and preserved it. Experts believe the big fish could live to be at least 50 years old.

About Alligator Gar

The crocodile is a heavy salty-ray-finned fish belonging to the Ursidae family. They are one of the oldest fish in the world, dating back over 100 million years to the early Cretaceous period. These living fossils retain many features of their early ancestors.

Alligator Gar is native to most of the United States and parts of Mexico. However, they have been introduced to other parts of the world and are now exotic in China. However, it is very common in the southern United States. Alligator bears may have lived in Illinois and Nebraska, but sightings are rare.

Size and Appearance of Alligator Gar

Alligator gars are unique fish, so they are easy to spot and distinguish. They have long torpedo-shaped bodies and flexible elasmoid scales. Despite having the word “alligator” in its name, alligator gars are not related to alligators.

Instead, it has a similar head shape with rows of sharp teeth. Crocodile bears have brown or olive skin that fades to lighter colors. However, some alligator bears contain a lot of melanin and are completely black. These large fish are known for their impressive size. For example, the average adult alligator grows up to 6 feet long.

However, several alligator bears have been documented reaching 10 feet in length. These fish weigh well over 100 pounds. There have been reports of alligator gars weighing over 400 pounds, but none have been verified.

Diet of Alligator Gar

The alligator gar is an ambush predator. They are passive predators and feed mainly on fish. Alligator gars hunt at night. They are opportunistic feeders, feeding on fish, turtles and small mammals near the surface. Some dietary studies have found that brackish water alligator geans eat a lot of blue crabs and catfish.

Predators

Adult alligator gars have few predators. They are primarily hunted by humans, but are occasionally hunted by large American alligators. However, young and small crocodile bears fall prey to larger fish. Crocodiles are not aggressive, but they are large enough to scare other predatory fish.

Fishing and Uses

Anglers from across the continent head to the southern United States in hopes of catching a large alligator gar. These large fish have been utilized by humans for hundreds of years. For example, the native Americans of the South and the Caribbean made arrowheads out of ganoid scales.

Also, crocodile skin was dried to make leather, and crocodile oil was preserved to ward off buffalo mosquitoes. For a while, alligators were considered garbage fish, but now they are a popular sport fish.

The Largest Alligator Gar Ever Caught in the World

The largest alligator alligator caught in Louisiana is impressive, but the largest alligator alligator ever caught in the world is almost twice that size. On February 14, 2001, Kenny Williams nearly finished his work for the day. He netted many water buffaloes at Lake Shotaal, Mississippi.

Something was straining the net and tangling it. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a giant alligator gar. It took about 30 minutes for Mr. Williams to put the big fish on the boat.

When measured, the alligator gar was 8 feet 5 inches long and weighed a whopping 327 pounds. Scientists believe this alligator gar could be up to 95 years old.

Where is the Red River Located on a Map?

In Louisiana, the Red River serves as a dividing line between the Caddo and Bodger communities. It flows southeastward through the communities of the Red, Natchitoches, Lapides, and Avoyels Rivers, eventually entering the partial outflow of the Mississippi River and flowing into the Atchafalaya River.