World Record Alligator Gar
There are a handful of fish I really want to catch before I die. To be added to this list, the fish have to either look really amazing, fight really well, or are just be incredibly large. The alligator is all of the above. These mean loooking fish are found in the south eastern United States and can grow up to 12 feet long. These fish have been known to attack alligators and humans in rare cases. The rod and reel world record has stood since 1951, caught by Bill Valverde, weighing in at 279lbs and was caught in the Rio Grande, Texas. I wasnt able to find pictures of the fish but I thought I would share these photos of what looks to be an alligator gar well over 200lbs, one site has it listed as 244lbs. This gar was caught bow fishing and is the biggest one I could find a picture of.
Watch the video of the catch on YouTube.
My uncle is Bill Valverde(deceased) we have an old pic of him and my grandfather with the fish. I’ll get it scanned and emailed to you if you would like.
Dan
Thanks Dan!
[...] posted about the world record alligator gar sometime ago, but was unable to locate a photo of the enormous fish. Luckily one of our readers [...]
Hi,
Just wondering if we may be related. My immediate Valverde relatives are located in Southern California. I’m 64 but had a cousin Johnnie, a year older than me, who moved to Texas a number of years ago. He has since passed away. His parents names were Johnnie and Carmen and he had 5 siblings. Valverde is not a very common name so I thought just maybe.
Fred,
You never know. We live in the RIo Grande Valley. I’ll have to ask my mom if the names ring a bell.
Dan
Hey Dan
My name is Joseph an I live in the RGV(Edinburg) as well, im 21 and I’ve been trying to catch an alligator gar for a while, where do you think the is best place to catch one down here??
I am Bill Valverde’s youngest daughter. I was told dad’s fishing story many times while growing up and have a recording of my dad telling his tale. I haven’t listened to the tape in a long time but I will tell what I remember.
Dad was fishing in the Rio Grande outside Mission, Texas, about where Anzalduas dam is now. There was a draught at the time and Dad said the river was extremely low. He had gone out to fish for catfish and had his hooks weighted and baited for bottom fishing.
Dad said that gar don’t usually stike baited hooks but he guessed that this gar was really hungry due to the stress put on the river due
to the extreme draught.
My grandfather and (as family lore says)a couple of wetbacks helped dad drag the gar up on the bank and on to the car. It was brought into town tied to the top of the car.
My grandfather, Trini Valverde, was the bookkeeper at a location meat packing business (Leal’s) so he had access to a large scale.
The fish, as you see in the photo, is hung on the swingset in the yard.
As chance would have it, Bentsen State Park is just outside of Mission and there “someone” (can’t remember his name, though it is on the tape) was down from the Austin Parks and Wildlife Department (Austin is Texas’ state capitol) doing some work at Bentsen Park. Word got to him about Dad’s gar and he came to the house to see it. He took the length/weight information back to Austin along with the head.
My Mom said that though my family didn’t eat gar, there were many neighbors who did and they came to get large slabs of the fish to eat.
As to the question about family in California. We do not have any family there. Both my father’s parents were born in Tamauilipas in northern Mexico.
a good reason not to swim in the river!
Alice,
I’m sorry to hear about your dad. MY mom, Alicia Guerra Martin (daughter of Dario Guerra) is one of your dad’s cousins – from Mission. I can remember seeing the picture of that huge gar on the swing set at my grandparents’ house more than 30 years ago!
Amazing what we come across on the internet! I think the photo from Sam Rayburn is pretty cool, but am glad the record is still Bill’s!!!
Owen Martin
Houston
The new current world record by length was cought by Johnny Morris owner of bass pro shop. out of our private lake. You can see a picture of it on my website at http://www.garzillabowfishing.com we guide for monster alligator gar with rod n reel or bow.
Thanks Bubba, awesome fish!
I agree that this is a great fish but in most states it is against the law to hunt them with a bow. I live in Texas and the bag limit here is 1 per day. I know a few fishermen that have had their hunting and fishing license taken away for life. If people continue to bow fish these beautiful animals there will be none for our kids/grandkids to enjoy. I have swam with them while snorkling and have caught many while fishing. Every time is a magical experience. Many people think that they kill game fish but that is not their prefered prey. Check state laws before hunting/fishing.
Actually the world record gar for rod and reel is 365 pounds caught in 1991 in southern texas
Quoting the Texas Cryptid Hunter
“It seems the gar taken by Johnny Morris is not recognized as the Texas state record much less the world record. Of course, the Texas Parks & Wildlife is recognizing state records based on weight not length. The Morris fish may well be recognized as the longest gar taken in Texas but, if so, the TP&W site does not mention it. I’m guessing this is why the original story escaped my notice. The fish might have been submitted for record consideration but came up short, or light, as the case may be.”
Enough said!!
thats a BIG fish so that makes me wonder what did you do with him after you found out that he was a world record ????
Dylan Robertson From Tahlequah ,OK
Keep fishin
I’m agreeing with “Upperhand.” That “world record” gar, or a reproduced mount of it, is on display at Bass Pro here in Springfield, MO. They even have a plaque stating that it’s the longest gar ever recorded, and it’s a blatant lie. The record longest gar ever caught came out of the Moon Lake in Mississippi in 1910 and measure almost 10 feet long, and the current record for “largest” gator gar is 8’5″ and weighed 327 lbs. It was caught in Mississippi also. I have likewise scoured every record book imaginable and found not one mentioning Johnny Morris’ “world record” alligator gar.
I used to live on Sam Rayburn a couple years back. They do get pretty big!
This was caught on Lake Sam Rayburn near Lufkin, Texas
The current world record for the largest Alligator Gar caught on rod and reel is 279 lb (127 kg). and The largest taken by bowfishing is 365 lb (166 kg).
Dale, when was it caught? This post is from 2007, if there has been a new record since they we definitely want to know about it!
bowfishing is for pussies thats why most inbred yanks prefer this method.
Damn grazie, who pissed in your kool-aid. I always wonder why when people talk big gar, they never mention Falcon Lake.
Bowfishing is for pussies that dont know how to fish the right way. you wont see me in the woods hunting deer with a fishing pole… ive been in two fist fights both this summer at the river because people thought they could just walk right up beside me and shoot their bow into the water
I dont know if I would want to get in a fight with a guy holding a bow.
I have a photo of the Aligator Car that was bow hunted. Jonathon I will email it to you so you can post it. Not sure if I can in the comments here. Dont see the option.
hey guys i live in brownsville texas, was wondering if you guys can tell me spots to catch gar going a little up north. i have been like four miles up los fresnos but have only caught a five footer, help me out with spots names and directions thank you