'Monster' 283-Pound Alligator Gar Fish Caught and Released in Texas Will Likely Set 2 Records

A Kentucky fisherman reeled in a big one — a really big one.

While fishing in the Sam Rayburn Reservoir in eastern Texas last month, Art Weston, 52, caught a massive, 283-pound alligator gar fish that is likely to set records. At the time, he was aboard a boat operated by renowned fishing guide and expert Kirk Kirkland.

Kirkland recounted the once-in-a-lifetime catch in a Facebook post, calling it an "angler's dream."

"We weighed, measured and released the largest alligator gar ever caught with rod and reel — and did it on a 6-lb. line — quite the accomplishment for both angler and guide," he wrote, before describing just how difficult the catch was to pull off.

"It takes both [of us] to do everything right with lots of shifting forward and reverse, spinning the boat around, the angler putting just the right amount of drag, not letting the line touch the boat, and 2 hrs and 45 long minutes later I was able to get a rope on a very tired alligator gar," Kirkland continued.

Weston, he said, was "shaking and visibly fatigued" after the tremendous effort of tussling with and reeling in the huge catch, despite being a seasoned fisherman who holds 56 International Game Fish Association (IGFA) records.

When the pair began taking measurements of the fish and put it on the scale, they were astounded.

"When I put the tape on her, she was an amazing 100 inches long with an impressive 48-inch girth," Kirkland recalled. "We quickly set up our tripod system to get the weight of our catch. We both had a look of shock when the scale just kept going higher and higher. When I got her tail off the ground, we both said, 'OMG this is a new all-tackle world record.'"

Now, the alligator gar, which the fishermen released back into the reservoir, is being reviewed by IGFA for two potential records. The first is the All-Tackle World Record for alligator gar, which currently stands at 279 pounds, set by Bill Valverde in December 1951 in Rio Grande, Texas.

"I won't lie — we both jumped up and down as Art shouted we just beat a 72 yr old record," Kirkland wrote of the incredible feat.

Weston's fish is also a contender for the record for the largest gar caught with a 6-pound test line. The proud fisherman reflected on the experience, saying he had "absolutely no intention" of setting records when he went out to fish that day, especially while using a light line.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I don't know if I'll ever experience the same level of astonishment as when the 283-pound gar appeared by the side of the boat, allowing us to get a close look at her," Weston told the IGFA. "I remember my eyes widening in amazement!"

Solomon David, an aquatic ecologist at the University of Minnesota who studies alligator gars, told Live Science that alligator gars that are more than 8 feet long are actually quite rare. He said the species can grow so large because they have an expansive habitat with an abundance of food.

He went on to explain that alligator gars grow quickly in their early years, but their growth rate significantly slows once they reach 6 feet in length, often by around age 20. However, they can continue to grow throughout their lifespan, which can surpass 100 years.

Solomon said he's glad to hear Weston and Kirkland released the fish back into the water, as it safeguards the species' future.

"Alligator gars of this size are a true rarity, and if we want to continue to see large alligator gars, we need to conserve them, especially the giants," he told Live Science. "If we continually remove the largest individuals of a population or species, we remove the genes for large growth, which can eventually result in smaller-sized individuals in a population."

While Weston awaits the results of the IGFA's review, he's already turning his thoughts to chasing another new record.

"I've become intrigued by the idea of record hunting for musky in Wisconsin and might plan a trip for that in 2024," he told the organization.