Video: Battling an 8-Foot Alligator Gar

No. 1 on the author’s bucket list is a visit to the Trinity River in southeast Texas to fish with alligator gar guru Henry Martin, who recently landed an 8-footer on hook and line.

March 15, 2021 | by Dave Maas |

In March of 2019, I wrote an article about Henry Martin (above, right), owner of Catching Dinosaurs Alligator Gar Guide Service. You can read that story by clicking here.

Taking a trip to southeast Texas to share a couple days in the boat or on the riverbank with Henry is No. 1 on my fishing bucket list. And my desire has only become stronger after watching the video below, where Henry catches the biggest freshwater fish of his life, an alligator gar stretching the tape at 8 feet 1 inch.

Regarding this recent adventure, Henry wrote: “I have been blessed to have caught some huge fish in my life. That said, something just happened far into the remote Trinity River in Texas that I may never be able to best. I landed my first alligator gar over 8 foot where the rod was in my hands. I was using a bass rod (8-foot Mag Swimbait model) and reel from KastKing, which is my favorite setup for gator gar. Bait of choice was freshwater drum. The gar was caught and released on a 1/0 Gamakatsu live bait hook.”

Hook and rod for gator gar — Henry Martin says that anglers don’t need huge hooks to catch huge gator gar. He relies exclusively on a 1/0 Gamakatsu live bait hook. He said, “It comes down to a small hook has a tiny hook point circumference; it’s easier for it to defeat the armor of a gar’s mouth than with a large hook, which has to shatter the armor to penetrate.”

The 13-minute video below showcases this amazing catch from the bank. Henry says this fish is likely 80-90 years old. “She could have been alive through both World Wars,” he said.

If you’re interested in booking a day on the water with Henry, his contact info is found on his Facebook page. He’s based out of Livingston, Texas.

“I fish within 2 hours of Houston and can take up to two adults,” he said. “Total charge is $700 per day, and I require a $100 deposit via PayPal.” Henry plans on guiding April 1 through the end of November 2021.

Important note regarding alligator gar conservation: Henry Martin doesn’t remove large gator gar from the water, and his trips are 100% catch and release.