A Kentucky angler has found himself back in Texas to reel in some massive monsters.
Art Weston, state and world record fisherman, returned to Sam Rayburn Lake in the hope of setting another International Game and Fishing Association record.
Last year, with the help of professional fishing guide Captain Kirk Kirkland, Weston set the all-tackle world record after reeling in a 293-pound alligator gar on a six-pound line, as Fox News Digital reported.
Ready to find another beast, the duo ended up reeling in something truly unexpected.
Weston and Kirkland came close on three different occasions to catching another world record-sized alligator gar, but couldn’t hold on after spending nearly an hour-and-a-half battling with one, Weston told Fox News Digital.
The massive fish pulled the two into a “stumpy area” of Sam Rayburn Lake, which ended up being the perfect spot to fight off another monster.
“The only consolation was a very unusual and unplanned catch: a 200-plus-pound alligator snapping turtle,” Weston said.
“When the turtle took the bait, Kirk had a good idea it was a turtle based on the way it was fighting, and he was right, as it came to the surface quickly. What we didn’t expect was how big it was,” Weston added.
The two men had to be careful to protect themselves and to make sure the reptile was safely placed back into the water.
“We had to remove the hook from his foot and [this reptile’s] bite can remove fingers — so you have to be extra careful with them. They also have to be released unharmed since they are a protected species,” Kirkland told Fox News Digital.
Weston and Kirkland were able to skillfully remove the hook and avoid getting bitten by the large reptile before releasing it back into the lake.
“The entire time, the turtle was tracking my movements and had its mouth open ready to strike if I made the wrong move,” Weston said.
“We were able to get it back in the water after just a few minutes,” Weston said.
A catch of this size is rare and remarkable because of the reclusive nature of the protected reptile.
“They are a very old, slow-growing species that are rare to see outside of the zoo, much less catch,” Kirkland added.