All language subtitles for River.Monsters.S01E02.Killer.Catfish.10p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-NTb

TRY AND CATCH ME!

IN THE DEEP SOUTH, A MONSTER IS ACCUSED
OF A SERIES OF VIOLENT ATTACKS.

AAH!

A CREATURE AS DEADLY AS A SHARK
AND AS BIG AS A GATOR IS BLAMED.

WHEREVER WE HAVE ALLIGATOR GAR,
THERE ARE MYTHS OF MONSTERS.

THE STATE AUTHORITIES SAID
IT SHOULD BE ELECTROCUTED.

NOW I'M ON A MISSION TO GET FACE-TO-FACE
WITH THIS RIVER MONSTER... WHOO!

YOU BETTER BE STRAPPED IN.

TO FIND OUT IF THIS ANIMAL REALLY IS
GUILTY OF THE CRIMES IT'S BLAMED FOR.

I'M JEREMY WADE, A FISHERMAN AND A BIOLOGIST
WITH A PASSION FOR FRESHWATER GIANTS.

I'VE TRAVELED THE GLOBE,

PUTTING MY LIFE ON THE LINE TO
FIND TRULY MONSTER-SIZED FISH.

IT'S BECOME SOMETHING
OF AN OBSESSION FOR ME

TO GET INTO REALLY REMOTE PARTS
OF THE WORLD

AND TO FIND THE ANIMALS
THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN.

BUT THE CREATURES
I HUNT AND FIND

ARE NOT JUST MONSTERS IN SIZE,
BUT IN ATTITUDE, TOO.

AND NOW I'M ON THE TRAIL OF ONE THAT
HAS A REPUTATION FOR ATTACKING HUMANS.

I'VE HEARD SOME ALARMING STORIES
OF THIS CREATURE OVER MANY YEARS,

BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE
IN THE FLESH.

IT'S THE ALLIGATOR GAR,
A TRULY PREHISTORIC MONSTER.

THERE ARE FIVE SPECIES OF GAR
THAT INHABIT THE UNITED STATES.

ALL GAR ARE ANCIENT FISH.

THEY'VE EXISTED ON EARTH
FOR OVER 100 MILLION YEARS.

THEIR SURVIVAL IS IN PART BECAUSE
OF THEIR UNIQUE DEFENSE SYSTEM...

SCALES MADE FROM A SUPER-HARD
ENAMEL CALLED GANOIN.

THIS ARMOR PLATING HAS SEEN THEM
SURVIVE PREDATORY DINOSAURS.

THE ALLIGATOR GAR, HOWEVER,
IS IN A CLASS APART.

NAMED FOR THE PROFILE OF ITS SNOUT,
IT'S THE LARGEST OF ALL GAR,

REACHING SOME 10 FEET IN LENGTH
AND WEIGHING OVER 365 POUNDS.

IT HAS A FURTHER DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC...
A DOUBLE ROW OF DAGGER-POINTED TEETH

ALONG THE LENGTH
OF THE UPPER JAW.

BUT THESE ATTRIBUTES
HAVE NOT BEEN ENOUGH

TO DEFEND IT AGAINST
A MORE MODERN THREAT... MAN.

BEFORE 1930, THEIR RANGE EXTENDED
BEYOND AMERICAN BORDERS,

BUT THE IMPACT OF PEOPLE MEANS
THAT NOW THEY'RE NOT FOUND

ABOVE THE BOOTHEEL
OF MISSOURI AND TENNESSEE.

ALLIGATOR GAR STAND ACCUSED
OF SAVAGE ATTACKS ON HUMANS.

I'VE TRAWLED THE ARCHIVES, AND
ALL THE ATTACKS I'VE COME ACROSS

ARE CONCENTRATED
IN THE DEEP SOUTH.

THEY CERTAINLY HAVE
THE TEETH FOR IT,

BUT I'VE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ANY HARD
EVIDENCE THAT THESE FISH ARE THE CULPRITS.

IF I'M GOING TO FIND AN ALLIGATOR
GAR GUILTY OF THESE CRIMES,

I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING
FOR A VERY BIG FISH.

THE EXPERTS I'VE SPOKEN TO
SUGGEST TEXAS IS THE PLACE

WHERE THE BIGGEST SPECIMENS
ARE STILL TO BE FOUND.

I'M HEADING DIRECTLY TO THE TRINITY
RIVER, A 710-MILE-LONG WATERWAY.

HERE PEOPLE HAVE CAUGHT GATOR
GAR LONGER THAN I AM TALL.

BIGGER WHEN YOU GET CLOSE,
ISN'T IT?

TO HELP ME,
I'M RECRUITING BUBBA BEDRE.

HE'S A SPECIALIST IN FINDING ALLIGATOR
GAR THAT WEIGH OVER 100 POUNDS,

SOMETIMES FOR FOOD, BUT NORMALLY
FOR BOW FISHERMEN AFTER TROPHIES.

BUT I'M NOT PLANNING
TO CATCH A FISH FOR A TROPHY.

I WANT TO FIND OUT IF THIS CREATURE HAS
COMMITTED THE CRIMES IT'S ACCUSED OF.

BUBBA IS TAKING ME STRAIGHT
TO A SECTION OF THE TRINITY

THAT HE BELIEVES HOLDS THE BEST
HOPE OF FINDING LARGE GAR.

WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS WE'RE
JUST DRIFTING WITH THE CURRENT,

AND WE'VE JUST COME TO A... A BEND
IN THE RIVER THAT DOUBLES 'ROUND.

AND BUBBA'S JUST SAID THIS IS THE
HOLE, THIS IS A KNOWN HAUNT,

AND I CAN IMAGINE THE CURRENT HAS
ACTUALLY DUG OUT A BIT OF A...

YOU KNOW, A BIT OF A HOLE
IN THE BOTTOM HERE.

AND APPARENTLY THEY ARE VERY AWARE...
MORE AWARE THAN A LOT OF FISH...

OF SORT OF KNOCKING
AND NOISES IN THE BOAT.

SO, WE'RE LITERALLY JUST
DRIFTING WITH THE CURRENT.

AND JUST LOOKING TO SEE IF WE CAN
SEE THEM COME UP AND BREACH.

GAR HAVE A SWIM BLADDER
THAT WORKS LIKE A LUNG,

AN ADAPTATION THAT HELPS THEM SURVIVE
IN OXYGEN-POOR BACKWATERS AND CREEKS.

HOWEVER, THIS BRINGS THEM UP
TO THE SURFACE TO BREATHE.

IT'S A CHINK IN THEIR ARMOR,
GIVING AWAY THEIR PRESENCE.

OOH, YES.

SO, THEY'RE JUST... THEY'RE JUST COMING
UP AND GULPING AIR AND GOING DOWN?

YEAH.
THAT FISH THERE IS MAD.

HE KNOWS WE'RE HERE.

YEAH, EXACTLY. DO YOU KNOW... WHEN
HE SPLASHES HARD LIKE THAT...

I'D GUESS...
ASSUME TO SPOOK US OFF.

YEAH, I'VE COME ACROSS EXACTLY
THE SAME THING IN THE AMAZON.

THERE'S A FISH THERE
THAT COMES UP AND GULPS AIR,

AND IF THEY DO IT GENTLY,
THEY DON'T KNOW YOU'RE THERE.

IF THEY'RE LIKE THAT, YOU THINK,
"OH, THAT'S A GOOD FISH,"

BUT IT IS ACTUALLY GETTING UP AND
GOING DOWN AS QUICKLY AS IT CAN.

SO IT'S THE SAME BEHAVIOR.

THE RIVERS HERE
HAVE MURKY WATER.

WITH VISIBILITY LIMITED, GAR USE A BAND
OF HIGHLY SENSITIVE VIBRATION RECEPTORS

ALONG THEIR BODY
CALLED THE LATERAL LINE.

THIS ENABLES THEM
TO LOCATE PREY AND PREDATORS.

TO AVOID DETECTION, WE DECIDE TO ABANDON
THE BOAT AND FISH FROM THE SHORE.

I'M STILL EXPERIMENTING
WITH BAITS,

AND I'M GOING TO START OFF
USING A TREBLE HOOK...

STANDARD ISSUE
FOR BIG, PREDATORY FISH.

ALTHOUGH THE WATER'S MUDDY, I'VE SEEN
SEVERAL COME AND BREAK THE SURFACE.

SO, I KNOW THEY'RE HERE.

I KNOW THERE ARE FISH
OF 100-POUNDS-PLUS, YOU KNOW,

WITHIN A 25-YARD RADIUS
OF MY BAIT, YOU KNOW?

THAT'S QUITE A FEELING.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS IN FISHING WHERE
THINGS CAN GO FROM BEING VERY QUIET,

LIKE THEY ARE AT THE MOMENT,
TO... YOU KNOW,

SUDDENLY CAN HAVE
AN ANIMAL OVER 100 POUNDS

ON THE END OF YOUR LINE,
TRYING TO PULL YOU IN THE WATER.

BUT IF THERE IS A MONSTER GATOR
GAR IN THESE TEXAN WATERS,

IT'S NOT
GIVING ITSELF UP EASILY.

IF I'M TO FIND ONE THAT FITS THE
CRIMES IT'S ACCUSED OF... AAH!

IT HAS TO BE AT LEAST AS BIG
AS ME, A REAL RIVER MONSTER.

AT LAKE LIVINGSTON
ON THE TRINITY RIVER IN TEXAS,

I SEEK OUT LEGENDARY FISHERMAN
BOBBY FLY

FOR SOME CLUES ON HOW TO FIND
A GIANT SPECIMEN.

HE CAUGHT ONE SEVEN FEET LONG
THAT PUT HIM IN THE HALL OF FAME,

AND HE BELIEVES THERE ARE STILL
BIG GAR AROUND ON THE TRINITY.

YOU AIN'T GOT TO MOVE YOUR BOAT
100 YARDS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER

TO CATCH GOOD GARFISH
RIGHT THERE.

NOW, I HAVE SEEN ONE 14 FOOT
LONG DOWN THERE... GARFISH.

OH, REALLY?
MM-HMM.

I WAS TIED UP ON TOP OF A WILLOW
TREE WITH A 14-FOOT FLAT-BOTTOM,

AND THIS BAD BOY COME RIGHT UP BESIDE
ME AND JUST SURFACED RIGHT THERE.

AND I SEEN THE FRONT OF MY BOAT
AND THE BACK OF MY BOAT,

AND I SEEN FISH ALL THE WAY.

SO, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED UP THE SLACK,
UNDONE MY ROPE, AND WENT ON TO THE HOUSE.

I DIDN'T HANG AROUND.

BUT THIS SIGHTING WAS IN 1987, AND
HIS RECORD CATCH WAS LANDED IN 1991.

OTHER ANGLERS HAVE PULLED OUT
LARGE SPECIMENS,

BUT NO FISH OVER 8 1/2 FEET IN LENGTH
HAS BEEN CAUGHT IN THE LAST DECADE.

THE BIG QUESTION IS...
ARE THERE STILL ANY GAR LEFT

LARGE ENOUGH TO COMMIT
THE ATTACKS THEY'RE ACCUSED OF?

AND IF SO,
HOW WILL I CATCH ONE?

THAT'S INTERESTING. I MEAN, THAT'S A BIG,
FIERCE... BOBBY FLY CAUGHT HIS GIANT

USING A BAIT OF A CARP-LIKE
FISH CALLED A BUFFALO.

AND HOW DID YOU PREPARE THE BUFFALO TO...
OKAY, YOU TAKE THE BUFFALO,

AND YOU WANT A NICE ONE
ABOUT, OH, 5, 10 POUNDS.

THEN YOU TAKE A MALLET
AND BEAT HIM UP.

WHAT, LIKE A HAMMER?

A MALLET.

WELL, A... A LITTLE BASEBALL
BAT'S WHAT WE USED.

AND YOU JUST WHUP ON HIM
REAL GOOD.

AND THEN YOU TAKE YOUR CLAWS,
YOUR FINGERNAILS,

AND JUST GET ITS TAIL,
AND YOU JUST STRIP THE FINS OFF.

YEAH.

AND THEN YOU CUT HIM UP IN LITTLE,
BITTY SQUARES, LIKE 1/4-INCH SQUARES.

AND THE BLOOD... THE REASON WHY YOU
BEAT ON THE FISH WITH A MALLET

IS TO GET THAT BLOOD
ALL INTO THE MEAT...

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT
THEY'RE SMELLING OUT THERE.

THEY WANT THAT BLOOD.

YOU JUST PUT IT ON THAT HOOK
AND THROW IT UP THERE.

THAT'S ALL VERY INTERESTING.

ALL I GOT TO DO NOW IS GO OUT AND TRY
AND GET SOMETHING SIMILAR-SIZED.

SOMETHING CLOSE TO THAT
WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY, I THINK.

WELL, YOU WILL.
YOU WILL.

THERE'S SOME BIG ONES
OUT THERE.

YOU GO DOWN THERE, WHERE I TOLD YOU
TO GO, AND YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

BOBBY FLY'S OPTIMISM ABOUT THE SIZE
OF THESE FISH IS RINGING IN MY EARS.

BUT I'M STILL UNSURE WHETHER THIS FISH IS
AS AGGRESSIVE AS ITS REPUTATION SUGGESTS.

I'VE HEARD MANY STORIES
OF THESE FISH ATTACKING HUMANS,

BUT ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT STICKS
IN MY MIND, A REALLY GRUESOME REPORT

FROM THE NEIGHBORING STATE,
LOUISIANA.

TRY AND CATCH ME!

ON A WARM, HUMID, SPRING DAY, A 9-YEAR-OLD
SCHOOLGIRL, ELIZABETH GRAINGER,

AND HER 13-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, GEORGE, ARE
PLAYING ON THE SHORELINE OF THE LAKE.

RACE YOU!

IT'S NOT FAIR.
YOU ALWAYS WIN.

ELIZABETH, ONLY A FEW FEET AWAY FROM HER
BROTHER, DANGLES HER FEET IN THE WATER.

YOU ALWAYS WIN.
YOU ALWAYS DO.

AAH!

SUDDENLY SOMETHING GRABS HOLD
OF HER LEG.

AAH!

DR. ROBERT B. PAYNE HAS WORKED AS
A PHYSICIAN FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.

BUT HE HAS NEVER SEEN
WOUNDS LIKE THIS.

WHAT HAVE WE HERE?

MY GOODNESS.

THE PRESS REPORT GEORGE'S CLAIM THAT WHAT
ATTACKED HIS SISTER WAS SEVEN FEET LONG...

AND THAT HE BELIEVED IT
TO BE A GARFISH.

IN HIS MEDICAL REPORT,
DR. PAYNE DESCRIBES THE WOUNDS

AS BEING LIKE COARSE NEEDLES
INSERTED IN A BOARD.

A WAVE OF PARANOIA SOON FOLLOWS, AND
THE ALLIGATOR GAR IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE

FOR MANY SIMILAR ATTACKS.

ALTHOUGH THIS WAS
A WELL-DOCUMENTED EVENT,

THE IDENTITY OF THE ATTACKER RESTED ENTIRELY
ON THE TESTIMONY OF A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY.

BUT WAS AN ALLIGATOR GAR
REALLY THE CULPRIT?

OR, WITH ITS THREATENING, PREHISTORIC
APPEARANCE, WAS IT JUST AN OBVIOUS SCAPEGOAT?

I TURN TO MARK SPITZER,
AN EXPERT ON THE GAR.

YOU'VE GOT A...
SORT OF AN INCH-THICK OR SO...

IS THAT WHAT YOU...
IS THAT THE SORT...

THE OFFICIAL GAR HISTORY, AS FAR AS
YOU'VE... WELL, THIS IS MY GAR HISTORY.

I'VE BEEN INTENSELY RESEARCHING
GAR FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS,

AND, YOU KNOW,
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY,

WHEREVER WE HAVE ALLIGATOR GAR,
THERE ARE MYTHS OF MONSTERS.

THESE FISH WERE THE FISHES
OF NIGHTMARES, AND SO...

I MEAN, ONE RUMOR
THAT WAS CREATED

WAS THAT THESE FISH EAT TWICE THEIR WEIGHT
IN A DAY AND STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW,

AND THAT THEY ATTACK
HUMAN BEINGS.

SO, I MEAN, WERE THERE LOTS OF
STORIES OF THAT KIND OF NATURE?

THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT APPEARED
IN THE NEW ORLEANS NEWSPAPER CALLED

"ALLIGATOR GAR MORE DANGEROUS THAN
SO-CALLED 'MAN-EATER' SHARK."

AND HERE'S...
THIS IS A COPY OF THE ARTICLE.

IT WAS WRITTEN BY AN ANONYMOUS JOURNALIST
WHO BASICALLY SAID IF YOU SHOULD EMERGE

FROM SWIMMING OR TAKING A BATH AND YOU
FIND OUT THAT YOU HAVE A LIMB MISSING,

DO NOT BLAME THE SHARK.

IT IS PROBABLY THE ALLIGATOR GAR
THAT DID IT.

IT'S WHERE DOES THE FACT END AND THE
IMAGINATION AND... AND SORT OF FANTASY START?

THE GAR CAN CERTAINLY GROW
TO A LARGE SIZE.

AND IT HAS A FEROCIOUS ARMORY
OF TEETH.

BUT DOES THIS PROVE AN
INCLINATION TO ATTACK HUMANS?

IS IT A NATURAL

I NEED TO FIND HARD EVIDENCE.

USING THE ADVICE OF FISHING LEGEND BOBBY
FLY, I'M GOING FOR A BAIT OF BUFFALO FISH.

THIS, I HOPE, WILL LET ME GET MY
HANDS ON THE ALLEGED CULPRIT.

BUT I'M LEARNING ON THE JOB.

MY BEST HOPE IS TO TRY AND GET
INTO THE MIND OF THE GAR.

I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE
A VERY SHORT TIME.

AND BECAUSE SO FEW PEOPLE FISH
FOR THESE FISH...

IT'S A BIG, UGLY,
STUPID-LOOKING FISH.

SO, LET'S USE
FAIRLY BASIC TACKLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY
IT'S A THICK BIT OF WIRE,

SOME HEAVY LINE,
AND A BIG TREBLE HOOK.

I THINK THEY'RE
ACTUALLY QUITE SENSITIVE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN STILL...
YOU CAN STILL BE SENSITIVE

EVEN IF YOU'VE GOT
SORT OF A BOGEY MOUTH.

AND I THINK THICK WIRE...
THEY ACTUALLY...

THEY CAN FEEL THAT
WHEN THEY'RE CHOMPING ON IT.

AND I THINK A TREBLE HOOK,
AS WELL...

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A NICE,
SOFT, SUCCULENT BIT OF FISH,

AND THERE'S...
THERE'S SOMETHING IN THERE.

"NOW, WHAT'S THAT?"

AND I THINK
THEY CAN SPIT IT OUT.

SO, I'M USING A SINGLE HOOK.

AND THE THING ABOUT THAT...
IT CAN JUST FOLD DOWN NICELY.

IT'S NOT STICKING OUT LIKE...
YOU KNOW, THREE POINTS ON IT.

BOTH MARK AND I CAST LINES INTO THE RIVER,
BUT IT'S THE BAIT ON THE SINGLE HOOK

THAT GETS PICKED UP.

SOMETHING'S GOT IT.

IT'S MOVING.
IT'S MOVING AROUND TO THE LEFT.

IS IT?

YEAH, IT IS.

I NEED TO LET THE LINE RUN VERY
FREELY TO AVOID THE FISH REALIZING

THE BAIT'S ATTACHED
TO ANYTHING.

SOMETHING'S TAKEN OFF.
IT'S ON THE END.

IT'S STOPPED.

IT'S OFF AGAIN.
HE'S OFF AGAIN.

REALLY?
YEAH, REALLY.

IT'S GOOD.
IT'S THE LINE.

ALL RIGHT,
IT'S GONNA BE VERY SOON.

YEAH.

OH, I THINK IT'S OFF.

AW.

OH, NO. NO, NO.
NO, NO.

IT'S COMING TOWARD US.

THAT'S A SMALL... I THINK IT'S
A TURTLE OR A SMALL FISH.

IT'S COMING IN
VERY EASILY.

OR IT'S A LITTLE GAR.
IS THAT A NEEDLE NOSE?

LOOK AT THAT GREEDY THING,
THAT GREEDY THING.

AH!

THIS GATOR GAR HAS EYES
BIGGER THAN ITS STOMACH.

BUT AT THREE FEET LONG,
IT'S A CHANCE FOR ME TO TEST

WHETHER THESE FISH HAVE
AN AGGRESSIVE CHARACTER.

RIGHT.

THEY GROW 18 INCHES
THEIR FIRST YEAR.

SO IT'S PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,
BETWEEN A YEAR AND TWO.

THAT TONGUE'S INTERESTING,
ISN'T IT?

YEAH.

THERE'S THOSE TWO ROWS OF...
OF TEETH ON THE TOP.

THESE TEETH
ARE 3/8 OF AN INCH LONG,

1/4 OF THE LENGTH OF THOSE
OF A FULLY GROWN GATOR GAR.

UNH!

THAT'S IT.

OH, MY GOD,
YOU GOT BIT, HUH?

I WAS JUST IN THERE
TRYING TO GET THE HOOK OUT.

SCORE ONE FOR THE FISH.
YEAH.

THAT'S A VERY YOUNG ALLIGATOR
GAR WITH A BIG APPETITE.

I'M JUST GONNA LOB HIM BACK
IN THE WATER... WHOOPS!

BACK IN THE WATER.

MY IDEA THAT THE GAR IS
JUST A MISUNDERSTOOD,

BIG, UGLY, STUPID FISH
HAS CAUGHT ME OUT.

MAYBE IT DOES DESERVE
ITS REPUTATION, AFTER ALL.

THIS FISH HAS ACTUALLY STILL GOT
A LOT OF ENERGY LEFT.

I BROUGHT IT IN
ON VERY HEAVY GEAR.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY GOT A LOT
OF ENERGY LEFT.

NORMALLY THEY'D BE
PRETTY TIRED OUT.

I THINK I'M JUST GONNA
SLIDE HIM OVER THE SIDE,

WELL AHEAD
OF OUR NEXT FISHING SPOT.

SO, HERE WE GO.
BACK YOU GO.

EVEN A FISH THIS SMALL
HAS MANAGED TO DRAW BLOOD.

GOOD BATTLE SCARS.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THE SORT OF...
THE CUT ON IT.

THIS IS A SETBACK TO MY THEORY THAT THE
GATOR GAR MAY HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY BLAMED

FOR THESE VIOLENT ATTACKS.

THE CONSEQUENCES, IF THIS FISH WERE
SCALED UP TO A MONSTROUS 8 TO 10 FEET,

ARE BEGINNING TO HIT HOME.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A GAR THAT SIZE WITH
TEETH TO MATCH AND A BODY LIKE A TORPEDO,

IT REALLY IS
A TERRIFYING PROSPECT.

YOU'VE JUST GOT A LIVING
WEAPON OF DESTRUCTION.

THAT WAS JUST A GENTLE BRUSH
WITH ITS TEETH.

OKAY, IT WASN'T PARTICULARLY DEEP,
BUT THEY CERTAINLY DREW BLOOD.

WHOOPS!
BACK IN THE WATER.

YET THIS ALLIGATOR GAR
IS ONLY THREE FEET LONG.

AAH!

GEORGE GRAINGER REPORTED THAT WHAT
BIT HIS SISTER WAS SEVEN FEET LONG.

AND OTHER REPORTS STATE THAT THESE
FISH CAN REACH DOUBLE THAT LENGTH.

NOW, I HAVE SEEN ONE
14 FOOT LONG DOWN THERE.

ITS REPUTATION FOR VICIOUS ATTACKS ON
HUMANS IS BEGINNING TO APPEAR JUSTIFIED.

IT'S NO WONDER
THAT PEOPLE TOOK FRIGHT

WHEN YOU CONSIDER
A BEAST OF THOSE DIMENSIONS

WITH A COUPLE OF HUNDRED
RAZOR-SHARP TEETH.

BUT I STILL DON'T HAVE
HARD PROOF.

I BELIEVE
THE JURY IS STILL OUT.

IN PAST TIMES, FOR MANY OF THOSE
LIVING IN THE DEEP SOUTH,

THIS WAS A FISH
GUILTY AS CHARGED,

ONE THAT SHOULD BE ERADICATED
FROM ALL RIVERS AND LAKES.

SO, THEY TOOK IT
REALLY SERIOUSLY, THEN,

THE WHOLE BUSINESS OF "LET'S CLEAR
THESE THINGS OUT OF THE WATER."

"THEY'RE... YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE AN ABOMINATION.

THEY'RE NOT FIT TO SORT OF
SHARE THE PLANET WITH US."

THEY OBVIOUSLY LOOK GUILTY.

THEREFORE, THEY MUST BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THESE OCCASIONAL INSTANCE

WHERE SOMEONE GETS
THEIR LEG BITTEN OR WHATEVER.

BUT... BUT...
BUT WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE?

BASICALLY, THEY LOOK SCARY,
AND SO THAT ADDED TO PEOPLE

JUST WANTING TO RUN THEM
OUT OF TOWN.

AND SO THEY WERE
RUN OUT OF TOWN.

I MEAN, I HEARD OF, YOU KNOW, JUST SORT
OF HEAPS OF THEM UP IN THE... YOU KNOW.

YEAH, BULLDOZERED PILES, LOTS
OF PEOPLE SHOOTING THEM,

JUST A VERY DESPISED,
HATED FISH.

IN 1933, THE TEXAS GAME FISH COMMISSION
BEGAN A CAMPAIGN OF EXTERMINATION.

THEY BUILT
AN ELECTRIC GAR DESTROYER,

RIGGED WITH A 200-VOLT
ELECTRIC NET TO KILL THE FISH.

OVER THE NEXT THREE DECADES,
MILLIONS OF GAR WERE DESTROYED,

IN AN EFFORT
TO BE RID OF THEM FOREVER.

PERHAPS THE PREJUDICE THAT THE
ALLIGATOR GAR HAS ALWAYS SUFFERED

EXPLAINS THE EXTREME FISHING
METHODS USED TO CATCH THEM TODAY.

UNLESS THEY GET THE PROTECTION
THEY NEED TO REACH FULL SIZE,

GIANT ALLIGATOR GAR
MAY WELL BE WIPED OUT.

NOW IN TEXAS, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE AUTHORITIES

ARE TRYING TO WORK OUT WHAT THE COST
HAS BEEN TO THE GAR POPULATION.

ON THE LOWER TRINITY, WE'RE EN ROUTE
TO SET WHAT ARE CALLED JUGLINES,

BAITED HOOKS
ATTACHED TO FLOATS.

OUR PLAN IS TO CATCH AS MANY
GATOR GAR AS POSSIBLE

AND THEN MONITOR THEM
WITH ELECTRONIC TAGS.

DR. DAVE BUCKMEIER
LEADS THIS PROJECT.

DAVE, WHAT'S THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE
ON THE GAR AT THE MOMENT?

ALLIGATOR GAR, ALONG WITH OTHER
GARS AND BUFFALO AND THINGS,

HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED
KIND OF ROUGH FISH,

WHICH NO ONE REALLY
CARED MUCH ABOUT.

IS THAT THE SAME
AS TRASH FISH?

"TRASH FISH" WOULD BE
ANOTHER COMMON NAME FOR IT.

AND SO THERE WAS ACTUALLY EVEN EFFORTS
TO TRY AND ERADICATE ALLIGATOR GAR

AND OTHER GARS
FROM POPULATIONS

'CAUSE THEY WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE
EATEN DESIRABLE FISH, IF YOU WILL,

LARGEMOUTH BASS AND THINGS
THAT WE HAVE, CATFISH.

THEY HAVE RECENTLY BEEN LISTED AS VULNERABLE
BY THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY,

AND THAT'S BECAUSE IN MOST STATES
THEY'RE DEFINITELY ON THE DECLINE.

YEAH.

SO, WE HAVE SOME REAL REASONS FOR
CONCERNS ABOUT THIS SPECIES.

SHALL I CHUCK THIS OUT?

YEAH, GO AHEAD.
THROW THAT ONE OUT THERE.

AND IT UNWINDS ITSELF,
DOES IT?

YEAH, THEY JUST...
AS THE BAIT SINKS, IT'LL UNWIND.

AND THEN THAT LIES ON THE BOTTOM AND JUST...
RIGHT, AND THAT LIES ON THE BOTTOM,

AND WHEN THE GAR COME UP TO FEED THEY'LL
KIND OF COMB THE BOTTOM, PICK UP THE BAIT,

AND USUALLY RUN WITH IT
FOR 15, 20 MINUTES.

AND AFTER WE'RE CONFIDENT THEY'VE
SWALLOWED IT, WE'LL GO PICK UP THE BAIT.

IT'S SPINNING NICELY THERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONE TO REST.

NOT MUCH RESEARCH HAS YET BEEN DONE,
BUT IT'S THOUGHT FEW GATOR GAR

REACH THEIR MAXIMUM LIFE-SPAN
OF 60 YEARS.

AS WE MOVE ON
TO SET MORE LINES,

THERE'S A CALL FROM
THE OPPOSITE BANK OF THE RIVER.

WE'VE ACTUALLY JUST PUT OUT
SOME JUGLINES AND NETS,

BUT SOME LOCAL GUYS HERE...
THEY'VE GOT A TROTLINE OUT,

A LINE GOING ACROSS THE RIVER
WITH HOOKS AT INTERVALS.

AND THEY'VE JUST PULLED
A SMALL GAR OUT ON THAT.

SO, THE FIRST FISH
ACTUALLY NOW IS GONNA BE TAGGED,

AND THEN
ALL THE MEASUREMENTS TAKEN.

930,
AND 78 IS THE TAG NUMBER.

THE TAG WILL PROVIDE
THE BIOLOGISTS WITH DATA

ABOUT WHICH AREAS OF THE TRINITY
RIVER THE GAR ARE USING

SO THEY CAN FORMULATE A PLAN
TO PROTECT THE SPECIES.

SOUNDS LIKE A VISIT TO THE DENTIST
BUT ACTUALLY QUITE APPROPRIATE

BECAUSE THE SCALES OF THESE THINGS ARE
VERY... MADE OF SOMETHING CALLED GANOIN,

WHICH IS ACTUALLY VERY SIMILAR
TO TOOTH ENAMEL.

SO, HENCE THE NEED FOR A DRILL,
JUST TO PENETRATE THAT BODY ARMOR.

ENGINEERED LIKE MEDIEVAL CHAIN MAIL,
THE GAR'S SUIT OF ARMOR IS BUILT

FROM THICK, DIAMOND-SHAPED SCALES, PROVIDING
A FORMIDABLE DEFENSE AGAINST ATTACK.

THEY'RE SO HARD THAT NATIVE
AMERICANS USED THEM FOR ARROWHEADS.

AND THE FISH...
I CAN'T EVEN FEEL IT TENSING.

IT'S JUST LYING HERE VERY, VERY CALMLY, WET
TOWEL OVER IT... OVER THE EYES, AS WELL.

THAT HAS JUST COME OUT
OF A VERY MUDDY RIVER,

WHERE IT CAN'T SEE MUCH
INTO THE BRIGHT LIGHT.

UNLIKE MY LAST EXPERIENCE, THIS YOUNG
GAR DISPLAYS NO AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR.

IF YOU'LL READ THAT NUMBER,
THE TOP NUMBER.

OKAY, THIS IS 44433?

WE'RE GONNA JUST
LET THAT ONE GO.

OKAY.

THE GAR IS RELEASED UNHARMED.

OHH!

I GUESS HE WANTED TO GO.
HE WANTED TO GO.

THE ELECTRONIC TAG WILL NOW SEND A
SIGNAL TO A SERIES OF RECEIVERS

TO MONITOR
THE FISH'S MOVEMENTS.

AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, THE SCIENTISTS'
OWN SEARCH IS FINALLY SUCCESSFUL.

NOTHING ON THE JUGLINES, BUT ONE
CAUGHT IN A NET... A TWO-FOOT GAR.

THERE ARE NO SIGNS
OF ANY MONSTER-SIZED FISH.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE POPULATION OF THESE
FISH IS IN A WORSE STATE THAN I THOUGHT.

MAYBE IN THE OLD DAYS, WHEN THESE
FISH WERE LITERALLY EVERYWHERE,

CRUDE TECHNIQUES WOULD WORK.

BUT NOW I THINK I'M GOING TO
HAVE TO DEVELOP AN APPROACH

THAT IS MORE PRECISE
AND TARGETED.

I'M DETERMINED TO GET
FACE-TO-FACE WITH A GIANT GAR

AND FIND OUT THE TRUTH BEHIND
ITS MONSTROUS REPUTATION.

I'M HEADING FOR THE AQUARIUM
IN ATHENS, TEXAS,

WHERE CURATOR WAYNE HEATON
KEEPS SOME GATOR GAR.

I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
THE BUSINESS END OF THESE FISH,

JUST WHAT EXACTLY THEIR TEETH
ARE CAPABLE OF.

I THINK, AS FAR AS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
CONCERNED, THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO A SHARK.

AND IT'S IN FRESHWATER.
IT'S IN A RIVER NEAR YOU.

YOU KNOW? SORT OF,
"DON'T GO IN THE WATER."

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH US, ESPECIALLY IF
IT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT,

WE ALWAYS ASSUME THE WORST.

AND SO YOU SEE A BIG 6-, 7-, 8-FOOT GAR HIT
THE SURFACE WITH THESE MONSTROUS TEETH,

THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND
IS, "WELL, I'M NOT GETTING IN THE WATER."

WELL, YOU KNOW,
AND THESE TEETH...

THEY'RE NOT LIKE OUR TEETH.
THEY'RE NOT KIND OF BLUNT.

YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF HAVE A FEW
SHARP ONES FOR TEARING OR WHATNOT.

THESE THINGS ARE MADE TO... WHENEVER
THEY GRAB SOMETHING, IT'S THEIRS.

AND SO THESE TEETH
ARE VERY, VERY SHARP.

I WONDER IF PERHAPS
THEY'RE A BIT SIMPLE-MINDED

AND THEY'RE JUST SORT OF PROGRAMMED...
EVEN IF IT WAS DEAD,

THEY'RE STILL PROGRAMMED
TO SORT OF LIKE KEEP IT CLAMPED

FOR A LITTLE WHILE
BEFORE PROPERLY SWALLOWING IT.

WHEN THEY GRAB IT, THEY
KIND OF WANT TO MAKE SURE

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE
GONNA BE ABLE TO SWALLOW.

SO, YOU MIGHT SEE THEM
HOLD IT FOR A MINUTE

TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.

AND ONCE THEY DECIDE TO EAT IT, YOU'LL
START SEE THEM MOVING IT IN THEIR MOUTH,

AND THEN TO THE POINT WHERE
THEY'LL ACTUALLY SWALLOW IT.

BUT THEN, ONCE IT'S THERE... EVEN
THOUGH IT'S A BIG MOUTH, IT'S...

YOU KNOW, THAT PROCESS SEEMS
TO BE QUITE A SLOW PROCESS.

RIGHT. THEY WILL DO IT
AT THEIR LEISURE.

THEY'RE IN NO HURRY BECAUSE ONCE
THEY HAVE THAT IN THEIR MOUTH,

THEY KNOW
IT'S NOT GOING NOWHERE.

SO, IF IT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S GOT QUITE A BIT OF FIGHT,

THEY'LL JUST KEEP
THAT MOUTH CLOSED

UNTIL IT WEARS ITSELF OUT
TO WHERE THEY CAN SWALLOW IT.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE SOMETHING IN
THE WATER TO TRY TO FIND THE GAR.

YOU'RE BASICALLY GONNA
LET THAT GAR COME TO YOU.

AND HE'S GONNA GRAB IT.

AND SO WHEN HE GRABS IT, YOU MIGHT
NOT WANT TO TRY TO SET THE HOOK

RIGHT WHEN HE GRABS IT BECAUSE
HE MIGHT BE STILL DECIDING

WHETHER HE WANTS IT
OR NOT.

BUT ONCE HE GETS TO WHERE
HE WANTS TO SWALLOW IT

AND THEN YOU SET THE HOOK,
YOU BETTER BE STRAPPED IN.

WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I NEED
A CAUTIOUS, PATIENT APPROACH,

I HIRE ANOTHER FISHING GUIDE,
MARK MALFA,

TO TAKE ME TO A FRESH SECTION
OF THE TRINITY RIVER.

MY PLAN... TO HOLD OFF
SETTING THE HOOK

UNTIL I'M SURE THE GATOR GAR
HAS PROPERLY TAKEN THE BAIT.

THAT WAS DEFINITELY A FISH
MOVING OFF.

MM-HMM, FOR SURE.

NOT A DAMN THING.

THIS IS ACTUALLY VERY,
VERY FRUSTRATING FISHING.

I MEAN, SOMETHING DEFINITELY
HAD THAT IN ITS MOUTH

'CAUSE IT MOVED IT
SEVERAL YARDS.

BUT WHEN I TIGHTEN DOWN,
THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, JUST
TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO FISH HERE,

THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT ANYBODY'S
TOLD ME THAT'S ANY USE.

I MEAN, VERY FEW PEOPLE
FISH FOR THESE.

BOBBY FLY CAUGHT HIS
BY ACCIDENT.

AND THE FISHING THAT IS DONE
ON ROD AND LINE IS PRETTY BASIC.

YOU KNOW, IT DOES WORK.

IT'S A FAIRLY LOW-PERCENTAGE
SUCCESS RATE.

YOU CHUCK OUT A LUMP OF DEAD
FISH LIKE THIS AND YOU WAIT

AND YOU LET IT TAKE IT
FOR A LONG TIME.

AND MOST TIMES YOU TIGHTEN DOWN,
THERE'S NOTHING ON THE END,

BUT, YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES THERE IS,

AND IT HASN'T REALLY GOT ANY
MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN THAT.

BUT THAT WAS ANOTHER HALF-HOUR WITH
NOTHING TO SHOW AT THE END OF IT.

BUT FOCUSED ON MY TARGET,
I FISH ON, TOWARDS DUSK.

WHAT DO YOU RECKON...
TIGHTEN DOWN?

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

NORMALLY, GAR ARE CAUGHT BEFORE
THE WATER BEGINS TO COOL DOWN,

WELL BEFORE THE SUN SETS.

THAT'S GONE OFF.
IT'S GONE OFF AGAIN.

MOST GUIDES GIVE UP FISHING
BY MIDAFTERNOON.

SET IT. SET IT.
SET IT. SET IT. SET IT.

THERE WE GO.

THAT'S IT.

PLEASE BE ON IT.
YOU FEEL SOMETHING?

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
IT'S A FISH.

OH, YES!

YES!

WHOO-HOO!

OH, IT'S GONE UNDER THE BOAT, UNDER THE
BOAT, UNDER THE BOAT, UNDER THE BOAT.

JUST KEEP THE TIP AWAY.

THAT SOAKED ME.

I'M HERE, 4 FEET ABOVE THE
WATER, AND I GOT A SPLASHING.

YES!

FINALLY IT SEEMS I AM GOING TO GET
FACE-TO-FACE WITH MY RIVER MONSTER. WHOO!

I'M HOOKED INTO MY TARGET, A RIVER
MONSTER WITH A FEARSOME REPUTATION...

THE ALLIGATOR GAR.

IT'S PULLING DOWN.
IT'S PULLING DOWN.

LOOK AT THAT ROD TIP.

LET'S GET HIM UP.
LET'S GET HIM UP.

AFTER FISHING FOR 12 HOURS STRAIGHT,
JUST AS DUSK TURNS TO NIGHT,

I SET MY EYES
ON THE GIANT FISH.

DO YOU WANT ME TO DO IT?

THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF GAR FISHING
IS BRINGING THE FISH ABOARD THE BOAT.

COMING OVER.

OH, THERE WE GO!

THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED.

THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE WANTED.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED.
THAT'S A PROPER-SIZED FISH.

AS THE GAR COMES ABOARD, IT THRASHES ITS
SNOUT FROM SIDE TO SIDE LIKE A SCYTHE.

I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN
THAT 3-FOOTER THAT GOT ME.

THIS FISH
IS ALMOST 7 FEET LONG.

SINGLE HOOK.

SINGLE HOOK.

SINGLE HOOK, SINGLE HOOK.

YEAH!

WE'VE DONE IT.
WE'VE DONE IT.

FANTASTIC, MARK.
THAT WAS REALLY... OOH.

UNH! UNH! UNH!
WHOO-HOO-HOO!

OKAY.
YOU GOT THE GAFF HANDLE?

YES.

ALL RIGHT.
SO, THIS WILL GO IN HERE.

OKAY.

THE TEETH OF THIS GAR
ARE ANOTHER HALF-INCH LONGER

THAN THOSE
THAT SCARRED ME EARLIER.

IT'S 123, 123 POUNDS.

GOOD, GOOD.
GOOD, GOOD.

YES.

FINALLY GETTING MY HANDS ON THE
FISH AND SEEING IT FACE-TO-FACE,

I CAN BEGIN TO WEIGH UP
THE EVIDENCE.

ACTUALLY LAYING HANDS
ON THIS PREHISTORIC BEAST.

THIS IS FANTASTIC.

I MEAN, THIS IS THE CREATURE
THAT I CAME HERE TO SEE.

I MEAN, YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY...
LIKE MARK...

THAT THESE THINGS...
THEY WON'T JUST DEVOUR A BAIT.

THEY WILL JUST...
THEY'RE SO FIDDLY, THOUGH.

THEY WILL JUST SIT AND CHEW IT AND...
MAYBE SPIT IT OUT.

YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD FISH
TAKE 100 YARDS OF LINE, EVEN.

IN 15, 20 MINUTES, YOU TIGHTEN DOWN,
AND THERE'S JUST NOTHING ON THE END.

GAR DON'T BITE PIECES
OFF THEIR PREY.

THEY ONLY EAT
WHAT THEY CAN SWALLOW WHOLE.

THIS PUTS HUMANS
OFF THE MENU.

FOR ALL THIS FIERCE REPUTATION,
YOU KNOW, THEY DO SEEM TO BE...

YOU KNOW,
THEY CERTAINLY LOOK THE PART,

THOUGH I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY
ACTUALLY ACT UP TO THE PART.

OOH, WHAT A THING,
WHAT AN ANIMAL.

THIS GATOR GAR SEEMS TOO GENTLE-NATURED
TO CAUSE DELIBERATE HARM.

INTERESTING
THAT HERE'S THE BAIT.

YOU KNOW,
IT HASN'T TAKEN IT DOWN.

THE BAIT IS... OH, THERE WE GO.
THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO.

YEAH, GIRL, DON'T WORRY.

YOU'RE GOING BACK IN THE WATER
IN A MOMENT.

MAYBE WE'LL THROW THAT AFTERWARDS
AS A LITTLE CONSOLATION.

BUT THAT WAS INTERESTING...
WHEN IT JUST DID THAT,

THE WHOLE UPPER JAW
SORT OF EXPANDED, DIDN'T IT?

YOU KNOW, WHEN IT ACTUALLY
CAME UP AND GULPED.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE GAPS WHERE
THERE'S ACTUALLY FLESH IN BETWEEN,

AND THE HEAD'S
ALLOWED TO EXPAND.

RIGHT THROUGH THESE TWO LITTLE VEINS RIGHT
THROUGH HERE AND UP THROUGH HERE...

YOU SEE THAT SEPARATION
OF THE JAW?

THAT ACTUALLY GIVES.

THERE'S FLESH IN BETWEEN THESE AREAS,
AS WELL AS UP IN THROUGH HERE.

SEE THAT?
THIS IS SOLID, SOLID.

RIGHT HERE'S FLESH
THAT ATTACHES THE JOINTS.

SO IT ALLOWS THE HEAD
TO FLEX AND MOVE.

THE SKIN THAT JOINS THESE ARMORED PLATES
ALLOWS THE GAR'S JAW TO EXPAND...

BUT NOT SO MUCH THAT IT COULD CONSUME
A PERSON OR EVEN A HUMAN LIMB.

IT'S VERY TEMPTING JUST TO KEEP
IT OUT AND ADMIRE IT, YOU KNOW?

BUT I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT...
ALTHOUGH THIS ANIMAL IS AN AIR BREATHER,

I THINK IT IS VERY MUCH TIME
TO GET IT BACK IN.

SO, I THINK ONE LAST LOOK,
AND BACK IN THE WATER.

UP. OHH!

LET'S SEE HOW IT'S DOING.
OKAY, YOU GOT IT?

OKAY.
IT'S VERY HARD TO HOLD.

AND YOU GOT THE HEAVIER END.

I'VE GOT THE HEAVY END.
I'VE GOT THE BONY END.

THIS FEMALE GATOR GAR
MEASURES 6'8".

SHE'S LONGER THAN I AM TALL.

THEN, ONCE AGAIN,
THE GAR DRAWS BLOOD.

SHE HAS A 14-INCH-LONG MOUTH,
FULL OF SOME 500 TEETH.

THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY THE TEETH
OF THE ANIMAL, THOUGH, IS IT?

THAT IS THE BACK OF A SCALE
OR SOME SCALES.

SLICING ACROSS YOUR... YEAH,
AS THE FISH... MY HAND...

WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE FISH ON MY
FOREARM THERE, THE FISH JUST SLID BACK.

SLIDING THAT WAY IS FINE.

SLIDING THIS WAY,
THE POINTS...

THE REAR POINTS OF THESE
TRIANGULAR SCALES STUCK IN.

THE NATIVE AMERICANS USED TO USE THEM AS
ARROWHEADS, AND I CAN SORT OF SEE WHY NOW.

I'VE GOT A BIG, OLD SCRAPE DOWN
MY ARM THERE FROM THE SCALES.

ANYWAY, SHOULD WE GET, UH... I BELIEVE
I'VE SEEN ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE GAR'S NAME.

YOU'VE GOT THAT, YEAH?

IT'S TIME TO RETURN
THE SPECIMEN TO THE WILD

AND REFLECT
ON OTHER POSSIBLE SUSPECTS.

OKAY.

LIFT THAT.
OKAY.

BYE-BYE, BABY.

THERE IT GOES.
THERE IT GOES.

EXCELLENT.

WOW.

HAS THE CLUE BEEN THERE ALL ALONG, IN
THE VERY NAME THE ALLIGATOR GAR SHARES

WITH ANOTHER PREDATOR?

IF YOU PUT LEGS ON THAT, IT WOULD
JUST BE LIKE AN ALLIGATOR.

IT WOULD GET UP AND WALK.

IS THE REAL CULPRIT THE ANIMAL IT COULD
SO EASILY BE MISTAKEN FOR... AAH!

THE AMERICAN ALLIGATOR?

AFTER YEARS OF ONE-SIDED TESTIMONY, IT'S
TIME FOR THE JURY TO REVIEW THE VERDICT

ON THE GUILT OF THE GATOR GAR.

THERE MUST BE A MORE LOGICAL
CULPRIT FOR THE MANY INCIDENTS

THAT HAVE BEEN BLAMED
ON THE GAR.

IN THE SAME RIVERS AND LAKES
THAT THEY INHABIT,

THERE ARE ALSO
MANY AMERICAN ALLIGATORS.

NOT ONLY DO THEY SHARE THE SAME HABITATS...
THEY HAVE SIMILAR TEETH.

THEIR SIZE AND THE PROFILE
OF THEIR SNOUTS

COULD EASILY BE CONFUSED,
ONE FOR THE OTHER.

I'VE COME TO THIS ALLIGATOR PARK
IN SOUTHERN TEXAS

TO GET A LOOK
AT SOME OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS

THAT SHARE THE WATER
WITH THE ALLIGATOR GAR

'CAUSE I'VE GOT A SNEAKING
FEELING THAT, ACTUALLY,

THE ALLIGATOR GAR HAS TAKEN
THE RAP FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND IT COULD BE
THESE CHARACTERS HERE.

WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO
IS GET A FAIRLY CLOSE LOOK

AT THE EQUIPMENT
OF THE ALLIGATOR.

AND WHAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD WOULD BE
TO ACTUALLY SEE THEM IN ACTION, AS WELL.

BUT I THINK THAT PART OF IT
IS PROBABLY BEST LEFT TO GARY.

GARY SAURAGE IS A KEY WITNESS
FOR THE GAR'S DEFENSE.

HE UNDERSTANDS
THE CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN THE BEHAVIOR OF A FISH
AND AN ALLIGATOR.

YOU CAN IMAGINE AN ANIMAL LIKE THIS WOULD
HAVE NO PROBLEM TAKING A FULL-GROWN MAN.

THEY'RE SNEAKY.
THEY'RE TREMENDOUSLY PATIENT.

AND THESE ANIMALS RIGHT HERE...
THERE'S NO TELLING HOW MANY DEATHS

THEY'RE REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
EVERY YEAR.

THIS IS THE APEX HUNTER IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RIGHT HERE.

LET'S SAY IT'S A HOT SUMMER DAY.

YOU DECIDE YOU'RE GONNA DIP YOUR
FEET IN THE WATER A LITTLE BIT.

THEY'RE DANGLING DOWN, AND...
WOW!... THEY COME ON UP AND HIT.

WHEN THE ALLIGATOR'S HUNTING HIS PREY,
HE'LL SHOOT UP OUT OF THE WATER,

AND THEY'LL GRAB
WHATEVER LIMB HE CAN GET.

AND ON THE WAY DOWN,
HE'LL DO A DEATH ROLL.

AND IF YOU WERE TO RESIST THAT,
IT'S WHATEVER LIMB HE GETS,

WHETHER IT BE HAND, FINGER,
OR TOES, IT'S COMING OFF.

THE ALLIGATOR GAR
DOESN'T HAVE NEAR THE PRESSURE.

THE AMERICAN ALLIGATOR CAN BITE DOWN
WITH 3,000 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH.

AND I'M SURE MANY, MANY TIMES
FOLKS MAY THINK

THAT IT'S AN ALLIGATOR GAR ON A BAD BITE,
BUT YOU CAN REST ASSURED IT'S NOT.

IT'S NORMALLY
THE AMERICAN ALLIGATOR.

GAR HAVE NEITHER THE POWER
NOR THE ATTITUDE

FOR PREMEDITATED
VIOLENT ATTACKS ON HUMANS.

ALLIGATOR GAR DON'T CHEW.

SO THEY ONLY EAT STUFF BIG ENOUGH
THAT THEY CAN SWALLOW WHOLE.

DEPENDING ON THE SIZE
OF THE GAR,

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT SIZE
THE FOOD ITEM THAT THEY'LL EAT.

BUT A GOOD 6- TO 8-FOOT GAR COULD VERY
EASILY TAKE OUT A 12- TO 14-INCH FISH.

I'M LEFT IN LITTLE DOUBT THAT MANY OF
THE ATTACKS ATTRIBUTED TO GATOR GAR

ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE THE
WORK OF THE AMERICAN ALLIGATOR.

I'VE HEARD ALL THESE MYTHS
ABOUT THE ALLIGATOR GAR,

YOU KNOW, RIPPING PEOPLE'S LEGS
OFF, CHOPPING ALLIGATORS IN HALF,

GENERALLY TERRORIZING
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, SINCE
HAVING COME HERE AND SPOKEN TO PEOPLE

WHO ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT THIS FISH AND
HAVING SPENT SOME TIME MYSELF ON THE RIVER,

I'VE GOT THIS IDEA THAT IT'S
ACTUALLY JUST GOT A BAD P.R. AGENT.

I THINK
IT'S A BIT OF A PUSSYCAT.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT HERE IS A TANK
WITH SOME VERY BIG ALLIGATOR GAR IN,

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY MY CHANCE
TO TEST MY THEORY FOR MYSELF.

I'VE BEEN AT THE SHARP END
OF A 3-FOOT GATOR GAR'S TEETH.

WHOOPS!

BACK IN THE WATER.

I'VE FELT THE MUSCLE POWER HELD IN THE
SERPENTINE BODY "OF A 6'8" MONSTER.

IT'S 123, 123 POUNDS.

BUT NOW I'VE GOT
TO WALK THE TALK.

I'VE GOT TO VENTURE INTO
THE GAR'S OWN UNDERWATER WORLD.

NONE OF THE GAR SHOW
ANY INTENT TO HARM ME.

IN MY VIEW, IT'S THE ALLIGATOR GAR
ITSELF THAT HAS BEEN THE VICTIM.

IT'S AMAZING TO GET THIS CLOSE.

THIS FISH REALLY IS A MIRACLE
OF EVOLUTION, A TRUE SURVIVOR.

BUT IF ANYONE IS GONNA SEE
THE REAL GIANTS,

THIS FISH NEEDS TO BE ALLOWED
TO GROW WITHOUT PERSECUTION.

MAYBE THEN WE'LL GET TO SEE
THOSE 14-FOOTERS AGAIN.

THAT WAS... THAT... THAT WAS...
THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE.

OHH. I HAVE TO SAY, THE SIZE... THE SIZE
AND THE ASPECT OF THOSE FISH, THOUGH,

WHEN I FIRST SAW THEM,
WAS REALLY QUITE INTIMIDATING.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A VERY, VERY MISUNDERSTOOD
ANIMAL, AND I THINK IT REALLY IS TIME

THAT WE JUST TRY TO UNDERSTAND
THIS FISH A LITTLE BIT BETTER.