The '1% Likelihood' Catch That Set A New World Record For Largest Freshwater Fish
The thrill of the catch, especially if it's a behemoth, is a passion and bragging point for many fishers. Yet, Kentucky native Art Weston has long made it a career focal point to break fishing records. Along with captain Kirk Kirkland aboard the aptly named Garship Enterprise, Weston is a multi-title holder, with a personal best of capturing a 283-pound alligator gar on September 2, 2023, at Sam Rayburn Lake in Texas. His prior record was 251 pounds. In April 2025, Weston continued to prove his knack for tackling the difficult-to-catch alligator gar with another world record, catching one weighing 153 pounds at being 7 feet and 3 inches in length using ultra-light tackle.
Weston would take to Facebook on April 9, 2025, to relay the difficulty of his most recent triumph, stating, "It took nearly 4 hours to land, and we chased it for over 2 miles in Lake Livingston, Texas," adding, "We worked so hard to land her (almost lost her multiple times). A true 1% likelihood catch." While not the largest alligator gar that Weston has reeled in, the catch will mark a new world record with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for the largest freshwater fish caught using ultra-light tackle. This will add to Weston's impressive history of 81 total records across 15 fish species, with 44 of his epic catches still standing.
Holding world records across multiple line and tackle classes for the alligator gar with the IGFA has made Weston a renowned angler. He's made the pages of International Angler, and his record-breaking 280-pound catch was even mentioned on the "Weekend Update" segment of a 2024 episode of "Saturday Night Live." Still, part of Weston's success is owed to the prize catch itself.
The alligator gar is a prized catch
Unlike other freshwater fish, the alligator gar boasts an impressively long lifespan (much longer than cats and dogs!), with females known to live into their 50s, older than the koi that's cherished for living longer than other types of pet fish. The alligator gar's long lifespan is also reflected in its birthing rates, with females maturing between five and 10 years and reproducing a few times each decade afterward. While the primitive fish isn't considered endangered on a global scale on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, it has been listed as either endangered or rare in several states, including Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Arkansas.
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In Texas, the alligator gar faces fewer restrictions than in other states. Favored hotspot Trinity River allows enthusiasts to harvest alligator gar, but with a length limit and a prerequisite of applying for a draw — a lottery used to limit the number of large alligator gars that can be fished per season. Comparatively, Falcon Lake has a bag limit of five and doesn't apply restrictions to size. At Lake Livingston, where Art Weston had his latest record-breaking catch, harvesting restrictions align with the Trinity River. The rules and the daunting size of the monstrous fish make for a prized catch for any angler.
Ultimately, this is one fish that puts up a fight. With its longevity and ability to grow to a massive size, perhaps Art Weston's impressive record-breaking catches will be beaten in the future. Want more stories about big fish now? Check out Contender, the great white shark that's one of the Atlantic's largest ever tagged.