Upgrade The Status Of Texas Alligator Gar To Game Fish

To: The Texas Parks And Wildlife (TPWD)
Website: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us
Email Address: [email protected]

Upgrading the status of the Texas Alligator Gar to Game Fish.

Texas is home to some of the best fishing in the country. Everything grows big in Texas and that includes our freshwater fish species like Largemouth Bass, Catfish and Alligator Gar.

Alligator Gar is the state's largest freshwater fish and can grow to sizes of over 8ft in length and over 300lbs. Texas's Alligator Gar is the 2nd largest freshwater fish in the United States, 2nd only to the Sturgeon.

Currently in Texas the Alligator Gar is not listed as a game fish. This means there is no regulation on size or numbers of Alligator Gar fish that can be taken.

Shrinking habitat, commercial fishing, unregulated limits have taken there toll on the Alligator Gar in Texas. While their exact numbers are a mystery, there is no doubt that large Alligator Gar (over 100lbs) are getting more rare every year.

Anglers all across Texas (and from all over the world) are becoming more and more aware of the thrilling angling experience Texas Alligator Gar can provide.

We are asking the Texas Parks And Wildlife to upgrade the status of the Alligator Gar to game fish and impose a daily bag limitation.

Other states that have populations of Alligator Gar already understand the importance of these mighty prehistoric fish that swam with the Dinosaurs.

States like Alabama and Arkansas already have daily bag limits for Alligator Gar.

Alabama: (Daily Bag: 2)
http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/

Arkansas: (Daily Bag: 2)
http://www.agfc.com/rules_regs/fishing_regs_limits.html#Daily

It should also be noted that in states where there are Sturgeon, these fish are protected and in almost all cases they are catch and release only.

We want the grand state of Texas to become aware that the 2nd largest freshwater fish in the United States is located in our great state and we want to preserve the gene pool of this mighty fish for generations to come.

Proposed Regulations:

Daily Bag: 2

All fish over 100lbs must be released. However each season a Trophy Alligator Gar tag allows the angler to keep one fish of 100lbs or more.

Annual Trophy Tag: 1 Fish Over 100lbs per fishing season.

We, the undersigned ask the Texas Parks And Wildlife to upgrade the status of the Alligator Gar to game fish with a daily bag of 2 Alligator Gar under 100lbs, and grant each angler an annual Alligator Gar Trophy Tag which permits each angler to keep one Alligator Gar 100lbs or more per fishing season.