The Ultimate Guide to Alligator Gar Fishing on the Trinity River

The Ultimate Guide to Alligator Gar Fishing on the Trinity River

The Trinity River is the most productive alligator gar fishery on the planet. Stretching across East Texas from Dallas to the Gulf Coast, this ancient waterway is home to some of the largest freshwater fish in North America — and our team at Garzilla Guide Service has spent decades mastering every inch of it.

If you're looking for a trophy alligator gar guide on the Trinity River, here's everything you need to know before booking your trip.

Why the Trinity River Produces Record-Breaking Gar

The Trinity River's unique combination of warm, slow-moving water, abundant forage fish and miles of undisturbed habitat creates the perfect environment for alligator gar to grow to truly monstrous sizes. Fish exceeding 100 lbs are common. Our team regularly lands fish over 150 lbs, and we've helped clients land trophy gar over 200 lbs — including 41 IGFA World Record catches.

Unlike many Texas waterways that see heavy fishing pressure, significant stretches of the Trinity remain remote and wild. Our guides know exactly where the big fish hold at every time of year, every water level and every weather condition.

What to Expect on a Trinity River Gar Trip

Before You Go:

Fishing season runs April through September

Best months are June and July when gar are most active on the surface

All tackle, rods, reels and bait provided by our team

Texas fishing license required (purchase at tpwd.texas.gov)

On the Water:

Trips depart from multiple locations: Palestine, Huntsville, Livingston and Dallas area

Half-day and full-day trips available

Our custom jet boats reach remote stretches inaccessible to most anglers

100% success rate — our team guarantees you will encounter alligator gar

The Fish:

Average fish: 50–100 lbs

Trophy fish: 100–200+ lbs

World record potential fish present in the system

Prehistoric, powerful fighters that will test any angler

Why Garzilla is the Premier Trinity River Gar Guide

Our team has fished the Trinity River professionally since 2007. In that time we have:

Earned 41 IGFA World Records — more than any other gar guide service on earth

Hosted 28 celebrity clients — including Gordon Ramsay, Jeremy Wade (River Monsters) and Matt Hughes (UFC Hall of Famer)

Appeared on 30+ international TV programs — BBC, National Geographic, Animal Planet, ITV, Discovery and more

Guided clients from 172+ countries — our reputation brings anglers from around the world to the Trinity River

Maintained a 100% success rate — every client we take on the water encounters alligator gar

When River Monsters star Jeremy Wade wanted to film alligator gar for one of the most watched fishing shows in television history, he chose our team on the Trinity River. When Gordon Ramsay wanted a true Texas outdoor adventure, he called us. When international TV crews from Japan, Brazil, the UK and Germany want authentic Trinity River gar footage, they book Garzilla.

Our Trinity River Guide Team

Our team of professional, licensed guides has spent their careers on the Trinity River. Based out of Palestine, Texas, we cover the river from the Dallas area all the way down to Huntsville and Livingston. No matter which stretch of the Trinity is fishing best on your trip date, we have a guide stationed nearby who knows it intimately.

With multiple boats and guides operating across the full length of the river, no group is too large. We've accommodated solo anglers, family groups, corporate outings and international TV productions.

Book Your Trinity River Gar Trip

Ready to fish the Trinity River with the world's #1 alligator gar guide team?

Call: (903) 724-6888 Book Online: bookeo.com/garzilla Email: BubbaBedre@yahoo.com

Trips available April through September. Limited spots — book early for peak summer dates.

Garzilla Guide Service | Palestine, Texas | Est. 2007 | 41 IGFA World Records

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From then to now why I practice catch and release.

By Bubba Bedre • January 28, 2019

I grew up in the Trinity River bottom. My whole life has revolved around hunting and fishing there. I remember when you never even seen a boat on the river for weeks at time and the Alligator Gar were so thick in parts of the river it would seem like you could walk across them on the tops of there backs. Those days we killed every alligator gar we had the chance to kill. It was rumored that they eat all the game fish and we wanted to rid the river of them. One thing led to another. Now we have found a new way to kill them and it was fun and some what sporting. A cross between bow hunting and fishing. The sport took off fast. Wasn’t long everyone was wanting to come shoot one of these monster alligator with a bow. It wasn’t easy. You had to really know what you were doing to get up and close to shoot a big fish. Now the time is about 2007. The internet is growing and people from across the country and world are starting to hear rumors of this giant fresh water half alligator half fish creature that you can go kill in Texas. I now find myself guiding bowfishing trips. Having fun doing what I like to do and make a little pocket change to boot. That’s when we caught the attention of icon films from Europe. They contacted me and wanted to film the alligator gar with some guy named Jeremy Wade. I had never heard of this guy. So be it his show was a hit Success called River Monster , and aired on Animal Planet all over the world. Now we have anglers and bow fishermen alike traveling across the globe to see this prehistoric freak of a fish. Now I am now seeing other anglers, guides , and bow fishermen all over the once remote stretch of river. All trying to get a glimpse of this monster. Fishing holes that once held unbelievable amounts of fish are disappearing. I now find myself working harder to produce big fish for my guest. That’s when I realized and seen first hand the effect my hand played in the role of nature. I put my bow down and went catch and release only. I realized if we didn’t slow down on killing these really big fish that over time it would be to late. My days of running the river and not seeing a boat for weeks are now gone. The Trinity River has now turned into the most popular place in the world to go after alligator gar. I am seeing bowfishing tournaments bringing in people from across the county all set on killing as many of the big fish the law allows. I see numbers declining. Once good fishing spots with no fish there. I am traveling 30 miles of river just to keep my success rate as high as it use to be when I only had to fish 7 miles away from the boat ramp. I am seeing all this because I have seen what it was like before there was all of that. If you didn’t grow up on this stretch of river 40 years ago then you do not know what it used to be like. Now is the time we all need to set our differences aside. come together to protect the alligator gar for all likes of sportsmen. Texas is the best place in the world for trophy alligator gar. If we intend sustain enough big alligator gar for the growing population to enjoy then we must start with some kind of regulations that benefit us all. Capt. Bubba Bedre Garzilla Guide Service