The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources certified a massive alligator gar as a new state record last week.
Behold, my dear readers, the tale of a remarkable catch that will surely ignite your passions for the beauty of nature and the thrill of the hunt. A noble angler from the great state of Alabama, Keith Dees, has achieved a feat that will be forever engraved in the annals of fishing history. With his trusty fishing rod in hand and his 15-year-old son, Huntley, by his side, Keith ventured into the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in search of a bountiful catch on the cherished day of Thanksgiving.
As fortune would have it, the fishing gods were smiling upon Keith and Huntley that day, for they had already caught an impressive array of fish, including largemouth bass and redfish, by the time they encountered a formidable creature that would test their skills and endurance. With a Jack Hammer chatterbait as his weapon of choice, Keith was caught off guard by the ferocity of his catch, which pulled with such force that he could barely keep up with its movements. For a good thirty minutes, Keith and his son battled with the mysterious creature, which refused to yield or show itself. Finally, after much struggle and perseverance, the great creature revealed itself, and Keith and Huntley were awestruck by its size and beauty. It was an alligator gar of epic proportions, a majestic beast that weighed 162 pounds and measured 84.5 inches in length with a girth of 35.5 inches.
This magnificent creature was a new state record.
Certified by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and a testament to the prowess of Keith and his son as skilled anglers.
But the story does not end there, my dear readers. Keith and Huntley faced a dilemma,
for they had caught a creature that was too big to handle. With great ingenuity, they fashioned a makeshift gaff out of a plug-casting rod and a wide gap hook, and with a rope tied around the gar's tail, they managed to bring it onto their bass boat. They then faced the challenge of finding a suitable place to keep the gar alive, and after much contemplation,
they settled on an old swimming pool.
Keith and his son took it to a certified scale at Orange Beach Marina, where it was weighed and verified as a new state record. The paperwork was then presented to fisheries biologist Tommy Purcell, who confirmed the species and the authenticity of the catch. The state of Alabama now boasts a new state record for the alligator gar, surpassing the previous record of 151 pounds, 9 ounces.
Now it is time... Let us celebrate the triumph of Keith and Huntley, who have proven themselves to be true champions
of the fishing world. Let us also honor the beauty and majesty of the alligator gar, a creature that has captured the hearts and imaginations of anglers and nature lovers alike. May this tale inspire us all to pursue our passions with zeal and determination, and to cherish the wonders of the natural world.