Anglers may have broken world records after involving a giant prehistoric fish.
Kentucky resident Art Weston went to Livingston Lake, Texas, to catch Crocodile Gar with the help of an expert guide and fisherman Captain Kirk Kirkland.
“It was an epic battle, lasting nearly four hours and covering more than two miles of lakes,” Weston told Fox News Digital.
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The giant fish weighed 153 pounds and grew 7 feet 3 inches long.
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Kentucky anglers caught a 153-pound crocodile gar in a battle that lasted more than four hours on Livingston Lake, Texas. (Art Weston)
Crocodile gar is a unique type of fish.
They are often referred to as “living fossils.” As Fox News Digital previously reported, the creature’s record was discovered almost 100 million years ago.
Weston said the fish were swimming 8-12 feet below the boat, resting at the bottom for 10 minutes at a time.
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“Kirk and I have practiced the light line before, so we were prepared with a 6-foot steel leader, the maximum length allowed, and a sturdy J-Hook,” Weston said.
“The reel drag was set very low so that the fish could remove the lines without breaking the reel.”
The crocodile GAR weighed 153 pounds. (Art Weston)
“This is a situation where we can’t rely on the forces we can apply to fish, but (or rather) it puts enough pressure on us to maintain our swimming and keep ourselves out,” Weston said.
He said multiple things could go wrong in these situations, such as twisted lines and obstacles hooking the lines, or fish spitting food.
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Weston said he predicts the fish will be the sixth largest global freshwater fish ever caught with ultralight tackles, the 2 pound test, and salted species.
“It’s a world record for the pending 2-pound line class by the (International Gamefish Association),” Weston said.
Weston predicts that the fish is the sixth largest global freshwater fish ever caught with ultralight tackles, the 2 pound test, and saltwater species. (Art Weston)
He said there was probably less than a 1% chance of catching a giant fish on the line.
Last May, Weston and Kirkland accidentally tangled a 200-pound alligator snap turtle while trying to catch a giant fish.
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“The only comfort was the extremely rare and unplanned catch: the snap turtle of crocodiles over 200 pounds,” Weston said at the time.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Florida-based International Gamefish Association for comment.
