MATAGORDA BAY – There’s more lurking under Matagorda Bay than most might expect.
Fish and Wildlife technician Kevin Willis reeled in a gargantuan alligator gar while fishing at the bay. Texas Parks and Wildlife posted a picture of the massive catch on Facebook.
"Wow. that thing is a beast," Matt Menhennett wrote.
Alligator gars can grow up to eight feet long, weigh more than 300 pounds and live for decades. An alligator gar caught in Mississippi in 2011 broke a world record, weighing in at 327 pounds.
After taking the picture, Willis released it back into the water.
"It's cool to actually see a story where one this big gets released," Facebook user Kenny Rush wrote.
Alligator gar has a strong presence in Texas, but recent surveys indicate that the species is declining or has disappeared in southeastern parts of the country, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.