The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

75.8 kg. , 167.2 lbs.

Gar, Alligator Atractosteus spatula

Record Category: Men Speargun

Diver:		Christopher Ricouard
Date:		5/13/2018
Location:		UNITED STATES

We as a group had been hunting big alligator gar for the last several weeks as this is the spawning season and makes it a little easier to target them in the shallow ponds of the Louisiana swamp. With the conditions getting right, I was given the blessing to go diving on mothers day morning for a few hours as long as I took the girlfriend and her son along for a boat ride. The morning started slow as we found dirty water and not the cleaner water we had expected. Moving to a new area we found "better" water and lots of catfish. Myself and 3 other dive partners exited the boat in search of dinner and some excitement in the shallows with the catfish. After a 10 minute swim into the area, I found a deep trough draining the shallow pound into a larger area several hundred yards away. As I swam the deep trough I scared something which kicked up the bottom and cause a dirt cloud and trail in the water. After following it for 20-30 yards, I found the big garfish laying on the bottom. After a nice mid body shot and one hell of a ride, the tip held true and deep. I was able to eventually control the fish enough to drag her to land and then back to the boat. Biggest fish of my life and a story for a lifetime.