Thrilling Catch: Enormous Texas Alligator Gar Sets IGFA Record

The final month on the calendar brings transitions in hunting all accros the country.

• Deer hunters, especially those looking to tag out, lick their wounds or plot some post-rut hunting magic.
• Waterfowlers are looking at the weather map and praying that cold air brings a big push of wary late-season ducks to the south.
• Upland bird hunters are hoping that north winds will stir up the timberdoodle migration as woodcock migrate to the southern swamp, while veteran scattergunners up north are hoping for a few late season ruffed grouse or pheasants.

However, there's no doubt it won't be long before many hunters beging thinking about their upcoming fishing plans (maybe even alligator gar). And in the outdoors news world, there's definitely a push in that direction this week as we present another round of Game & Fish news and notes.

Women's IGFA Line Class Record Set with Texas Alligator Gar

Capt. Kirk Kirkland is no stranger to angling headlines in recent times, including here at Game & Fish.

The record-setting alligator gar guide from East Texas has done it again, guiding client Roberta Arostegui on Aug. 8, 2024, to an alligator gar catch that weighed 66 pounds, 8 ounces—good enough for the International Game Fish Association's Women's 10-kilogram (20-pound) Line Class World Record.

Caught on a Rat-L-Trap lipless crankbait lure and putting up a 35-minute fight according to an IGFA news release, the alligator gar was eventually brought to the boat where a certified weight was recorded. After a few photos of Arostegui with the big prehistoric fish, it was released back into the waters of the Trinity River.

After Delay, Oklahoma Trout Season Underway

In a normal year, Oklahoma trout anglers are chomping at the bit and ready to go when the first day of November rolls around.

But this year hasn't been normal, and given that stocked rainbow trout do not survive long when water temperatures are hovering near 70 degrees, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation delayed its initial stockings in early November until conditions improved at six seasonal trout fisheries at Sunset Lake in Guymon; Lake Watonga/Boecher Lake; Lake Carl Blackwell Turtle Pond; Robber's Cave State Park; Medicine Creek; and the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area near Tishomingo.

In a news release announcing the postponement, ODWC noted that it doesn’t grow trout in its own hatcheries, but instead purchases them at a cost of $7 per pound at four out-of-state-hatcheries, then trucks them into the state for stocking.

The agency also cited the combination of unseasonably warm air temperatures in October, ongoing drought conditions across much of the state, and the susceptibility of ODWC's trout fisheries to big-water temp fluctuations due lower water levels as reasons for the delayed stockings. However, stockings continued at the year-round tailwater trout fisheries on the Lower Mountain Fork River and the Lower Illinois River.

Originally, ODWC indicated that no stockings would take place until Dec. 1, 2024. But conditions turned around quickly once November began, with increased rainfall in some areas in the central part of the state (nearly 12 inches during the month). In fact, so widespread were the rains in November—the state recorded its rainiest November ever according to the Oklahoma Mesonet X account—along with seasonably cool weather that the original idea of having to wait until Dec. 1 to begin trout stockings was scrubbed.

"It's SHOWTIME!!!!!," said a Nov. 14, 2024, Facebook Post from the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area, one of ODWC's more popular seasonal trout fisheries. "We are currently stocking the first load of trout for this year. Stocking is going to look a little different this year with Area 1 being closed. Trout will be stocked from the pool below Hughes Crossing all the way up to the base of the catch and release. The catch-and-release section will be stocked at a later time. We apologize for the delayed stocking, but it was out of our control. We are stocking double loads the next few weeks to try and catch back up."

Additional rainbow trout stockings have already taken place at the Blue River since then—including at the picturesque catch-and-release area—and should continue as planned through the end of March. 

For information on ODWC’s seasonal stocking and trout fishing program, go to the agency’s website for full details.

TPWD Opens Public Access for Guadalupe Trout Fishing

The Guadalupe River near New Braunfels, Texas, is well known in the Lone Star State as a prime spot to cast a fly line or throw a Mepp's spinner for rainbow trout. As the nation's southernmost tailwater trout stream, the river and its superb fall, winter and early spring fishery for stocked and holdover rainbows also support the world's largest Trout Unlimited Chapter, the GRTU Chapter.

While the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country might seem a strange place for a world-class trout tailwater—the Guadalupe River first saw stocked rainbows in the 1960s and has been included as a "Top 100" trout stream over the years—anglers there have some great news from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which announced that a prime location for river access will be available starting on Dec. 6, running through March 3, and open from 30 minutes prior to sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

The Austin-based agency—which will stock more than 20,000 rainbow trout this winter season in weekly stockings along with additional stockings by GRTU—said that the access point is at Camp Huaco Springs. That spot is located between New Braunfels and Sattler in Central Texas and features nearly a half mile of bank access along alternating pools and riffles on the Guadalupe River. 

According to TPWD, which is gearing up to stock catchable rainbows all over the state over the next three months, anglers can use the gently sloped rocky bank to access the water, or wade fish both upstream and downstream of that location to take advantage of a low-water dam at the upper end of the property or a deep pool at the lower end. Anglers may also launch non-motorized boats, canoes, kayaks or other floatable devices for the purpose of fishing.

“This lease location provides great bank angler access to river trout fishing coupled with gorgeous Guadalupe River scenery,” said Patrick Ireland, TPWD Inland Fisheries Division San Marcos and Austin District Supervisor, in an agency news release. 

TPWD notes that Camp Huaco Springs is located at 4150 River Road in New Braunfels. The agency says that additional public access spots include Guadalupe Park among others. Check the TPWD Guadalupe River Trout Fishing webpage for detailed regulations.

AGFC Director Steps Down

After 13 years of serving Arkansas and the country in a variety of capacities, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Austin Booth has tendered his resignation as he steps down and transitions to the private sector.

The AGFC director since 2021, Booth's resignation was submitted at the November commission meeting at the Ozark Folk Center Visitor Center auditorium and becomes effective on Jan. 4, 2025. He cited the challenge of trying to balance his work along with his deep commitment to his family and faith as primary reasons he's stepping away as the AGFC director after three and a half years. 

"I want to thank my wife and my kids and my mom and dad and my in-laws … for keeping me grounded, for pointing me to Jesus, for their encouragement and for making sacrifices so I can be effective,” Booth said in an AGFC news release. “It has been an incredible three and a half years, and I have no people to thank more than my family.”

During his time as AGFC, Booth championed things like improving aquatic habitat, fish stocking—including the Titan MAXX bass being stocked in a reservoir for the first time anywhere—along with expanding the Natural State's bear hunting season, including opening up most of southwest and south-central Arkansas to a bear harvest for the first time in modern history after a groundbreaking telemetry research project. 

With duck hunting being one of the most important natural resources that Arkansas is blessed with, Booth approached his work with a "people first, habitat always" approach, especially where Arkansas' famed flooded timber hunting is concerned.

In fact, during his first year at the AGFC, Booth "...took the challenge of restoring the AGFC’s famous greentree reservoirs head on, reinvigorating the efforts staff had placed in ensuring these valuable habitats continued to produce hunting memories for generations to come. 

“Would you rather stand here years from now and tell your grandchildren how great the duck hunting used to be, or have your grandchildren come to you and tell you how great the duck hunting is for them,” Booth would ask crowds as he spoke at meetings and presentations around the state.

AGFC Commission Chairman J.D. Neeley noted that Booth's work, along with his plans and leadership, will impact hunters, anglers, and conservationists in Arkansas for years to come and that the commission was deeply saddened by his departure.

“On behalf of the other commissioners and the staff of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, I want to thank Austin Booth, our director, for the last three and a half years of tireless dedication to the commission and the people of the great state of Arkansas,” said Neeley in a statement. 

“There’s a saying, ‘Iron sharpens iron.’ His leadership has taken a tremendously skilled group of staff and strengthened our ability to put habitat and people first. His motto, ‘See you in the field,’ meant he had his sleeves rolled up and wanted to lead by example—a true servant leader.”

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