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S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S • 127 rarely eat sportfish. But when fishermen see lots of gars and the bass or crappie aren't biting, it's natural to make a connection, whether justified or not. As a result, fisheries managers face stiff opposition to gator gar restocking efforts. We should work hard to overcome that latter obstacle. Whether gator gars are viable tools in the battle against Asian carp or not, these ancient giants have been swimming in our waters since the age of dinosaurs. To let them perish from undue prejudice without doing everything possible to restore healthy populations would be tragic. Today, more than ever, it seems there's a chance for a gator gar comeback. In recent years the big fish, now protected from overharvest, seem to be resurging in the rivers of Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Interested anglers can once again hire guides to help them find and catch gator gars exceeding the century mark, and release those fish unharmed. Maybe, as word about the thrills of catching these ancient titans spreads via the Internet and TV, more people will come to appreciate these mistreated misfits. Let's hope the actions of those involved in restoring alligator gar populations are successful. Our lives will be greatly enriched if these dinosaurs can thrive without prejudice wherever they swim. n This leviathan never made the IGFA record book, but it most likely outweighed the reigning 279-pound gar. the WoRLD ReCoRD In a 1972 issue of Boy's Life, writer Dick Pryce shared the story of the rod-and-reel world-record alligator gar as related by Guillermo "Bill" Valverde, the man who caught it. It happened December 2, 1951, a day that started poorly for Valverde, his father, and Rev. Josue Gonzalez. The trio hiked to a fishing hole on the Rio Grande River, but upon arriving they realized they had left their bait at home in nearby Mission, Texas. The men had planned on catfishing, so they dug some earthworms, which Bill then used to catch mullets they cut up for bait. "For some reason the alligator gar were hitting," Valverde told Pryce. "We caught four big gar—about 75 or 100 pounds each—when a real monster got on the end of my line." Normally, a big gar would have broken the line or thrown the hook, "but I was able to turn the gar," Valverde said. "I tried to work him in close enough so we could gaff him. But each time he got near shore, the gar would swim off, taking more line. I don't know how long it took to get that gar tired enough so we could gaff him, but we finally did." The three men struggled to beach the giant. It was huge compared to the others they caught. As it flopped, its mouth opened and Bill's hook fell out. "The gar wasn't hooked at all," said Valverde. "I was able to bring him in because he was holding onto the bait with those big teeth." That wasn't the only fortunate circumstance that day. Bill wanted to leave the gar where it lay, but the reverend insisted they take it home because of its incredible size. When they tried loading it into their car trunk, however, they couldn't. They had to trade the four smaller gars they'd caught to nearby workers in return for assistance, but soon they were headed home with the fish's tail dragging on the road. The enormous gar was propped on a swing set in the Valverde yard. Scores of townspeople came to see it. One remembered a state biologist was visiting nearby, and they called him. The Texas Parks and Wildlife employee measured and weighed the fish. It stretched 7 feet, 9 inches and weighed 279 pounds, a new International Game Fish Association all-tackle world record on rod and reel. To this day, that record hasn't been broken. What happened to the fish? The biologist took the giant's head to Austin. Valverde chopped the rest of his world-record gar into 30-pound chunks he gave to friends who wanted monster meat for supper. The scales of an alligator gar are comprised largely of enamel, just like human teeth. The scales were used as arrow points by Native Americans. Opposite: The deadly, double rows of sharp teeth lining their jaws have led many people to believe these ancient fish might attack humans. No reliable evidence backs up that claim. photographs By keith sutton