Texas gar fisherman has amassed worldwide attention, records for his monster catches

Capt. Bubba Bedre, of Palestine, runs Garzilla Alligator Gar Service which is racking up the records, celebrity clientele and international attention. Capt. Bubba Bedre, of Palestine, runs Garzilla Alligator Gar Service which is racking up the records, celebrity clientele and international attention. Photo: Bubba Bedre Photo: Bubba Bedre Image 1 of / 51 Caption Close Texas gar fisherman has amassed worldwide attention, records for his monster catches 1 / 51 Back to Gallery

While an East Texas fisherman hooks massive alligator gars from sunrise to sunset, he has also managed to catch the attention of the international fishing world.

Capt. Bubba Bedre, owns and operates Garzilla Alligator Gar Guide Service in Palestine, about an hour south of Tyler, with the help of his wife, Sylvia Bedre, and a small staff. Clients, from novice fishers to seasoned outdoorsmen and celebrities have contracted the help of Bedre on their fishing trips down the Trinity River.

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Bedre told mySA.com his service began in 2007 with bow fishing, but decided against the technique in 2009 "for good" after witnessing what he calls its depleting effects on the fish population firsthand. Since then, his business has practiced catch-and-release.

Starting this year, Bedre began filing for International Game Fish Association (IFGA) records and has accumulated 11 thus far including his "favorite," for the "largest gar on fly rod" in May. He caught the 83-pound river creature using a 16-pound tippet line on a fly rod. Bedre noted the feat was special because the technique he used to take the catch is typically for "little fish," not gars requiring two men to grasp a hold of.

Bedre's celebrity clientele includes Bass Pro Shop's founder Johnny Morris and his son, John Paul Morris, as well as UFC Hall-of-Famer Matt Hughes.

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In 2007, he helped the Morrises catch an 8-foot-3-inch gar, prior to implementing the catch-and-release system. The gar is now showcased in a Bass Pro Shop in Springfield,. Mo. The experience helped him realize he could start a business on guiding bow fishing trips, he said on his website.

Years later, Bedre's work has been featured by River Monsters on Animal Planet and TV shows based in Japan, Europe and a list of other international spots. Later this year, crew's from National Geographic's "Monster Fish" will follow Garzilla Alligator Gar Guide Service, Bedre said.

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His wife joked the attention is partly due to the fact that her husband "is so good looking," but attested to his passion and work ethic that she believes sets his business apart.

Bubba Bedre, his wife, Sylvia and their children.

Each day she wants Bedre home by 5 p.m.

"But, he's never home by 5, he gets home at 7," she said, adding that his day usually begins at 5:30 a.m.

Social media also plays an important role in their marketing strategies. One of the most recent posts on the Garzilla Alligator Gar Guide Service is comprised of six photos showing a massive catch. The Bedres opted to not disclose the dimensions of the gar because the business is currently hosting a contest, asking fans to guess the correct weight and length to win fishing gear.

"(Bedre) does this with a lot of passion and love," Sylvia Bedre said. "There's a lot of family time that has been sacrificed, but he'll keep going until he sees a smile on (his customer's) face."

Click through the gallery above to see some of Bedre's most notable catches.

mmendoza@mysa.com

Twitter: @MaddySkye