According to Kirkland’s Facebook post, the duo caught the fish on a six-pound line and spent 2 hours and 45 minutes reeling it in.

On measuring, the fish was found to be 100 inches long (over eight inches) with an impressive 48-inch girth. The average length of this fish usually goes up to eight inches.

With its unique size and weight, the alligator gar broke the existing Texas state record, water body record, International Game Fish Association all-tackle world record and the 6-pound line class record.

The previous IGFA all-tackle record was held by a fish weighing 279 pounds, which had remained unbroken since December 2, 1951.

Kirkland told Fox News Digital: ‘It is extremely rare to catch a fish that size on a six pound line. It’s quite a feat.

‘It broke the existing Texas state record. It broke the water body record. It broke the International Game Fish Association’s all-tackle world record. And it broke the 6-pound line class record.

‘Four in one fell swoop. That’s pretty nice when you do one fish that gets four records for you.’

Weston was elated and ‘on top of the world’ when he heard the news.

‘It feels surreal to be honest, that a single fish and story would create so much interest,’ he said.

Alligator gar can live for many decades and scientists suspect they can live to be more than 100 years old.

These fishes develop quickly, reaching lengths of up to two feet within their first year of life. By the time they turn 20, they can be up to six feet long. Growth typically slows down from there, though it doesn’t stop altogether.

Alligator gars are known to be sluggish, docile and can be slow or hesitant to swallow bait. They do not cause serious harm to humans.

They only poses danger to people when anglers try to land and handle these large, powerful fish.

In addition to hosting a mouthful of sharp teeth, alligator gar are also covered with sharp, bony scales. If anglers are not careful, they can easily get cut or bruised.