This Is Why You Bring A Measuring Tape! (I Found the Monster!)

You know what they say... big baits catch big fish! In this case, throwing a big bait in the river caught a true river monster! This alligator gar was almost six and a half feet long with an enormous girth, putting it close to 150lb! That's a big fish!
Check out the links below to learn more about the amazing alligator gar...
solomondavid.net/
tpwd.texas.gov/f
www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/dis...
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www.patreon.com/wildlifeshow?...

[@robertmceuen3630]

I gotta add this: your views of conservation and fishing in general is dang commendable!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I appreciate it. Conservation is my professional background, so I try to use fishing as a platform for that.

[@rondoofnightmare775]

@WILD LIFE You are quite welcome! FYI.. I do believe Illinois may be stocking Alligator gar in the Wabash to combat the Asian carp problem. Rumor, I heard from the fishing room

[@logancreed5041]

@@wildlifefishingshow We need more fisherman like You.... Everywhere... Hats off and Tight Lines !!! 🐟🐟🐟🪱🪱🪱🦐🦐🦐🦈🦈🦈

[@wildlifefishingshow]

@@logancreed5041 I appreciate it I was a professional conservation educator at a zoo before I was a fisherman, so conservation is the goal for me.

[@logancreed5041]

@@wildlifefishingshow Awesomeness 🖖🖖

[@henrybrooks1206]

I love how you tie conservation in. Wish more fishing shows could emulate that. important stuff.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

For sure. That's the whole point of the channel and my fishing in general, to film animals and talk about conservation.

[@joshwagner8468]

Let's freaking go Payton. Absolutely love your channel bro. What a catch 👏 👊👊

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Much appreciated 🙏

[@Flahmas]

What an amazing fish and love the way you speak so highly of the species! They are truly remarkable and need more protection. I'm not sure if you're currently on your Florida trip but hopefully, it goes well or went well. As the weather starts warming up I would love to see some big carp on the channel again. I know you love them and over the last 2 weeks I caught my first and I completely understand the joy of catching them. Also, strange locations and unlikely locations where big fish are located definitely are bangers of videos. The last suggestion would be delving much deeper into making more reels of epic moments from previous videos, reels right now are going crazy for fishing and you could definitely benefit from all the crazy experiences. As always I love the videos and your growth has been so fun to watch.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Appreciate it and the suggestions

[@Martin_Wood_]

Straight up warrior like brother. Thats how its done people!

[@randymyers2252]

What a fish! I find solo gator gar catches super impressive. Especially big ones from the bank. I love it! 😏🎣👍🏻

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks for the support 🙏

[@brandyray51]

Loving this channel more and more since day one now after 66 working hours I'm about to grab my gear and go fishing myself thanks for the inspiration today

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Your support is very appreciated

[@placidpaddler]

Very well put. Everyone email the link to this video to your local member of congress and any other representative with the responsibility of power to do something about it.

[@justfishin7493]

Great video again as always brother and the education sets you apart from other fisherman on KZbin

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I appreciate it 👍

[@jasonsimmons9429]

Gar season is here!!! 🙌🏻 Awesome video

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Best time of year

[@lilesmw]

That’s so amazing bro keep doing your good work and I was happy to fish with you and catch my first gar

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks man

[@lilesmw]

@@wildlifefishingshow absolutely! I’d do it again anytime.

[@pomexfishing5061]

That was a Biiiiig Girl!! So glad to see you catch and release.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

💯

[@timothyallbritton7203]

Great job!

[@pelletandferretpestcontrol7367]

Amazing catch mate great video and when I use a multipler I put a plaster on my thumb or a bit of elastic tape it helps

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I think I gotta start doing that too, unless I change reels (looking at some new ones now)

[@pelletandferretpestcontrol7367]

@WILD LIFE it's always good to keep electric tape in your bag as a just in case but fixed spools are always good so when will you get your misses out again

[@wildlifefishingshow]

@@pelletandferretpestcontrol7367 ha, well see. She likes little fish, so maybe some light tackle

[@pelletandferretpestcontrol7367]

@@wildlifefishingshow always go after the carp again

[@ericmoraski9102]

South Florida loxohatchi west of boca-raton is loaded, also sawgrass and holiday park west of ft Lauderdale! Nice catch!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I had a great time fishing in Boca Raton a few weeks back, would love to return

[@LesBelltexas]

That was a damn fun video to watch. True monster. My grandad use to pull some monsters out of the trinity in the DFW area. Best of luck.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I can only imagine how big they used to get. I bet alligator gar as a species never broke nine feet, but I bet it used to be quite normal to encounter gar that would be a rare, record sized fish today.

[@npsmediasolutions]

Incredible Catch

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thank you

[@rgarlinyc]

That was some Gar, yowzer! 👏🏻👏🏻Congrats bro, love to see you come away happy. Oh, and make sure your thumb abrasion cleans up fine.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks, it's doing better now. It was worth the fish.

[@KitchenOnTheLeft]

Hell of a fish! That gar is as long as I am tall, I’ve never caught anything even close to that size I think you might’ve mentioned it before on the Patreon, but what kind of braid are you using for a leader? I’m usually targeting both gar and cats when I fish with heavy gear, and I like the idea of increased versatility over wire

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I'm currently using Dupont Kevlar Braid. I think this is 300lb test. I'll probably move up to 400 or 500 (for the thickness and cutting resistance)

[@eddierogerio4065]

Love your content.. I love watching it is very entertaining and wow what a monster.. there is plenty of gar along the Rio Grand where I am from. From Laredo, Texas all along to McAllen, Texas area including Falcon Lake in Zapata, Texas

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I went out there once but the weather wasn't good, need to go again

[@eddierogerio4065]

@@wildlifefishingshow its a must brother... they are out here lurking...lol..

[@jacobfreeman4711]

Solid Gar! Would love to see some speckled trout fishing this spring on the channel

[@wildlifefishingshow]

👍

[@prestonwarren2692]

He run right towards them damn trees that first dive...nice size fish, it acted like it was nothing for a while. I'm like wtf is he talking about he's reeling it right in. 😂

[@rideathome]

Great to see a gar!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

💯

[@spoonsmisadventures5946]

I hate seeing people waste gar because they're "trash fish". They're dinosaurs. I almost got teared up watching this video. Phenomenal catch dude you make me want to go fishing.

[@tariqaslam1853]

Amazing, was thinking when you was gonna get another Gar and boom what a fish,

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Yeah, the weather finally cleared up and I've got big gar plans this year

[@peterderidder9922]

I'm youre biggest fan in Belgium , thanks !!!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I appreciate the support!

[@insolentstickleback3266]

What a launch to the 2023 Aligator Gar season! Was that on the Bullhead from the recent cast net video? Hell of a fish, congratulation!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Yeah, could get any flathead on it so I saved it for this.

[@dannyhyde7019]

beautiful animal. Nice job sir

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Definitely, and thank you

[@drjekelmrhyde]

Wild l8fe is the real deal, unlike other KZbinrs that have to shoot gar (nowhere near that size), 3 damn times for clicks.

[@somecallmejorge2462]

Caught a gar like this off a jug once fishing in Arkansas. Amazing catch off a rod no wonder you were wore out!

[@davidpaylor5666]

Great video, fantastic fish. What a monster.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

It put up a great fight

[@davidpaylor5666]

@@wildlifefishingshow I totally get why you love those dinosaurs man, incredible fish.

[@Thegoofyairgunner]

Nice Dino!! I wish these were catch and release only so we could see the 10-12 footers again. People like you respect them and make sure they swim away just for some yahoo to take it with a bow when they already have a boat filled with fish. Great video though and awesome catch.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Agreed

[@brandonbeauregard5545]

AWESOME CATCH

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks!

[@gregorystevens1393]

Great Video people need to Conserve the Alligator Gar especially in Mississippi and Louisiana and Texas as well.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

💯

[@pescaymas504]

Monstruo woow.. felicidades amigo

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Much appreciated 🙏

[@shinycocozamora1948]

South Texas really south are a lot of big ones but some kill to eat the meat all tho it's good 😅but yeah nice catch and release 🙌

[@Zim_Zala]

Nice, I love your gar videos

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I love catching these monsters!

[@Dead_Silent99]

Dang! That is one huge fish

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Quite a heavy one

[@brandonbeauregard5545]

love watching your videos bro

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I appreciate the support 🙏

[@brandonbeauregard5545]

@WILD LIFE man if I'm ever in your area I will reach out. I'd love to go fishing with you. I'm from Louisiana

[@barry8458]

Great fight 👍🏼…I’m in Hawaii we go out and fight several marlins in a day after that the beer sure tastes good !!!😎

[@georgehiotis]

We got them up here in Canada, but haven't seen a six footer yet.

[@hlcfishingandadventuring1959]

Awesome man

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks 🔥

[@JohnViguerie]

Outstanding

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks 👍

[@rondoofnightmare775]

Awesome video!!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks

[@magana559]

Definitely going gar fishing this year. Gonna try and pull one in Arkansas

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Good luck!

[@shawnsynnestvedt5292]

Love your content. And 100% with you on the gar needing more protections. They don't deserve to be in the class of "trash fish" with carp. The are literally dinosaurs and are one of my favorite fish species there is.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

💯

[@wanderingspider8988]

Here in TX you can only keep 1 gar per day now. TPWD did research and realized just how crucial to the ecosystem these apex predators are here.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

@Wandering Spider still not enough. One 200lb, 50 year old gar per day is just unacceptable. They need to be catch and release only, or at the very least, have size restrictions similar to those on sturgeon

[@Yelladog78]

Love those bnm silver cat elite rods

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Very good rods

[@anthonylong8845]

Kansas River has fish just like that

[@robertgildea2841]

I am watching from Elmira NY nice alagator gar.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks 👍

[@rvotbeats]

Nice reel and catch! 🎣 🦖

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks!

[@rudolphhemmittjr.8101]

That's a little small for the Brazos River or Little River

[@Gr0m3t]

How has the salis x held up. I’m looking into getting one. Is it worth it. Has it broke at all.

[@gohphaqurselfeeputhy622]

I got a lasso I’ll send you for free. I’m born and raised in spring on cypress creek at kuykendah. I’ve always used them. A little tricky at first but you get use to them

[@gerardomedina7571]

Nice gar brother

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks

[@theestablishmenta7903]

As you said a dinosaur great catch

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Appreciated 👍

[@bernicemcclendon574]

I live in Dublin Georgia we have longnose garr here but there not as big as the ones you catch

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Longnose gar are really neat fish. We are very lucky in Texas to still have fish of this size.

[@danniejones2032]

Nice dinosaur!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

A big ol fish for sure!

[@BitesandStrikesFishing]

Nice catch!

[@intropeforthefirstime9780]

Ayo i know who this is

[@intropeforthefirstime9780]

I watch you too

[@BitesandStrikesFishing]

@@intropeforthefirstime9780 thanks for the support! Hopefully your subscribed to both our channels

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks!

[@intropeforthefirstime9780]

Yup

[@SuperGreedyboi]

Nice 👍🏿

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks

[@Hugo-TX]

Nice monster!!! Hope your back is ok after that one!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Yeah, it's doing a lot better, thanks

[@PsychicPsychToad]

The hat looks pretty cool, I want it lol

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Tribewear Outdoors, they got all kinds

[@peterderidder9922]

youre wright, Isaw here on youtube somme vids like fish and coock, clean and coock, catching verry big gars and taking them with them to prepare and to eat them. This people just demolish dreams of young kids who ever wanna catch a huge gar . So lets hope humans always would release the big gar . So the kids from now can go garfishing when they grow up . If everyone should release such big catfish and gar they dont have to be protected by the law. Again a great catch of this AMAZING fishes ! I would like to have them in europe 😞 . Well done and thanks to share youre adventures with us !!!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Yeah, it's really sad

[@mistaupchuck1391]

I have a question when you have your reel in free spool and a fish takes the bait how do you know if its a gar or a catfish cause woundn't you guthook the catfish if you waited that long if this is a stupid question just tell me

[@wildlifefishingshow]

The way they move, typically. Gar and catfish treat baits a little differently and run to different types of spots in the river.

[@mistaupchuck1391]

@@wildlifefishingshow Thank you i will keep this in mind

[@robertmceuen3630]

How come you're not using your new Avet reel? Myself, I'd be super anxious to reel a big fish in with it. Nice video. Thanks.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I bought it for some very specific saltwater applications, so it will show up but not for the gar.

[@panchovillalobos713]

What a beastt

[@wildlifefishingshow]

A big fish for sure

[@Suckmyjagon]

that's a 7 footer pretty good one

[@wildlifefishingshow]

6'4"

[@Suckmyjagon]

@@wildlifefishingshow yeah anything over 6 ft is a good UN there is these old rice fields on the thephuntcha river in Madisonville Louisiana at the mouth where it meets lake Pontchartrain and I use to jug fish for them we caught 3 0ver 10 over about a 8 year span . once one came up gulping air by our 14 ft flat boat it's head was even with me at the front and the tail was a couple feet behind the back of the boat . we lost one once that pulled 2 Kentwood water jugs under and never came back up . this was in the 1980s before people even knew about gator gar they had rodeos every year there I think they still have the rodeos there is some dinosaurs in those old rice fields dinosaurs

[@tedc7714]

That's a gar run. Run like heck and drop it.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

For sure

[@MxAdventures]

They stock some here in a few of are lakes in Wv

[@wildlifefishingshow]

That's good to hear

[@jeremystanton382]

That's a scary run when it just steadily goes not fast or slow, just casually swimming off with the bait.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

So much power

[@unlikelypodcasts4565]

Hey u should mark your rope by the foot. So if u forget ur tape u can use the rope, mark it with tape or something

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Good idea

[@azgamer7681]

Will you still do carp fishing videos on Brays Bayou?

[@wildanimus2559]

It's so prehistoric looking.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

It is prehistoric

[@wildanimus2559]

@@wildlifefishingshow I'm not yet a fisher-woman, so it was cool to watch. That's why I subscribed when I ran across your channel. Good stuff.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

@@wildanimus2559 I appreciate the support 🙏

[@jimfoley8014]

Fish swam off like he knew you put a good but kicking on him.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

To be fair, I think I was more tired than he was. I like to remember the Burt Reynolds line from Deliverance... "You don't beat the river." To me, that applies to all of nature.

[@joeb6947]

awesome

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks

[@btchhopperou812]

That there 'gator-gar' son, is old enough to be your GRAND-DADDY!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Probably closer to 20-25 but still remarkable

[@HellyeahRook]

I would watch this using smellovision

[@bernicemcclendon574]

Peacock bass fishing video

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Gonna have to fly back to Florida again

[@rudolphhemmittjr.8101]

Almost looks like the Brazos

[@gixxer207]

What type of rod and reel combos are you using?

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Piscifun Salis X 3000 on a BnM Silver Cat Elite and a Daiwa BG 6500 on a Big Cat Fever medium heavy action rod

[@alansloan88]

I've always wondered if those huge gars might try to eat people.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

No, they eat smaller fish pretty exclusively. They are very similar to the gharial. Very big and intimidating, but specifically designed to eat fish and not at all equipped to prey on people.

[@leathleyg5995]

So...? What was on the "other" rod..?

[@wildlifefishingshow]

A gar probably, but it dropped the bait

[@dre1334]

Congratulations you made it on the joe rogan podcast!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥💪💪🤘🤘 Episode #1952.

[@dre1334]

2:34:57 time stamp!!!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Oh my God! You aren't kidding!

[@dre1334]

Doesn’t give you a shout out. But still super cool because they react to your footage. 💪

[@rudolphhemmittjr.8101]

If you don't live around these areas Don't!! Don't!!! Go out and try to find or fish spots you don't know Enjoy Texas responsibly and safely!!!

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Well, it's not all that dangerous

[@jasonblack6352]

Where did you get that awesome hat??

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Link in description

[@jim5143]

Saltwater fishing! look for large rays.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

🙂

[@SeanLeich]

What river is this in Texas? Looks like the brazos to me

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Maybe. Maybe not

[@SeanLeich]

@@wildlifefishingshow next time I’m there I’m gonna try to be like you lol. Hit up the Guadalupe near the horseshoe if you want to go for some rainbow trout. Caught 3 today for my first time and a redhorse for the first time. Love your videos, man keep it up! 🤙🎣

[@johnbarker7670]

Was that a mud cat you used for bait

[@wildlifefishingshow]

A bullhead

[@johnbarker7670]

@@wildlifefishingshow that's cool. Nice catch by the way

[@wildlifefishingshow]

@@johnbarker7670 thanks

[@srilankanfishing]

😮😮😮😮

[@WhitneyBee87]

What happened to the other line that was going off to

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Fish dropped it, thank goodness

[@WhitneyBee87]

@@wildlifefishingshow if you are ever if Iowa monster searching I would like to tag along

[@KatiTheButcher]

Heck of a fish, too much work for me :)

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Thanks, it was exhausting

[@KatiTheButcher]

@@wildlifefishingshow absolutely commendable landing that powerful fish by yourself in those conditions. I've jumped in the water too for less lol.

[@junesecrist6719]

I agree . TPWD should preserve native fish better. People need to stop treating them like trash fish.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

💯

[@azgamer7681]

What happened to your video “Bowfishing a Small Stream” and “Golden Fish”?

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I deleted them.

[@ralphsaldana529]

🤙😎

[@wildlifefishingshow]

🔥

[@jim5143]

truly said. dinosaur. maybe 30+ years old@ 6tft. I agree. Let them go.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

💯

[@johnakapapaw6045]

Try the revolutionary new John's thumb cover save the skin on your thumb

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Ah, gotcha!

[@alicquanrichardson8247]

Saltwater is better you see in the freshwater all of that mud u should come to Anguilla only saltwater bro

[@wildlifefishingshow]

I'm a freshwater guy

[@alicquanrichardson8247]

@@wildlifefishingshow ok just suggested an idea pls sub pls

[@rudolphhemmittjr.8101]

What river did you catch this Gar 😳

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Secret

[@blackwolfoutdoorsbyabelgar5842]

I would like to see sheepshead fishing

[@wildlifefishingshow]

That's definitely on the table with the new kayak

[@blackwolfoutdoorsbyabelgar5842]

@@wildlifefishingshow great look forward to seeing that video

[@wildlifefishingshow]

@@blackwolfoutdoorsbyabelgar5842 👍

[@marijuonko7092]

How old is a fish of that size? Any idea?

[@wildlifefishingshow]

Probably 20-ish

[@marijuonko7092]

@WILD LIFE ok thays good to know. Atleast it don't take 100 years to grow one of thay size. Makes me feel like if we did the right conservation the numbers would increase. There's still poeple catching them and tossing them on the bank to die. It's a shame.

[@wildlifefishingshow]

@@marijuonko7092 it's still an exceptionally slow growth rate. It takes 10 years for them to reach sexual maturity. So I 100% agree, stronger and stricter conservation actions are definitely required. And a bigger fish, like the 8 foot 2 inch gar I caught, could be almost 80.

[@marijuonko7092]

@WILD LIFE dude keep the good work. Looking forward to future content. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[@adamantonczenko1435]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍

[@wildlifefishingshow]

🔥