Gar Catch

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Tidal Potomac
Location: Lower Potomac River

Hello,
Here is a photo of a longnose Gar that I caught on the Potomac river on Sunday 6-13-10 on a plastic worm with 6# line. It weighed just over 14 lbs.on a hand scale but was weighed officially Monday morning at Clydes Sport Shop. It was 13.4 lbs, 45.74 " long with a Girth of 14.75". Do you know what the MD state record length and girth was for Gar? They swipe at lures and cut worms in half when we fish for bass so we have been using some homemade gar baits with several hook ups but no luck landing them. The same goes with bass lures. The hooks usually pull free. Sure enough while bass fishing I had a nice tap on the worm, set the hook and the pandemonium ensued. The net was useless because his nose would get caught and stop him from going into the net. Its not easy hand landing a Gar on 6 lb. test line!
Thanks for you help!
Lloyd H. Williams III

DNR's response: Hello Lloyd, thank you for the report, that's a great fish you landed, the gar state record stands at 16 lbs, you were close and what a nice specimen, all Maryland State Fishing Records can be seen at dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/fishingreport/record.html, all records are by weight, we do not keep records of girth and length for all species. I hope you entered for an award citation which gives you entry into this years Marland Fishing Challenge