Gar Guy guide Sam Lovell tries to hoop a 7-foot gar. The hoop, or catch loop, is a noose made from metal cable extending from a length of pipe. The guide slides the noose over the animal's head and cinches it tight behind the gills before attempting to bring the gar into the boat.

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Barclay thinks it's neat that his client was able to not only take a trophy fish, but to do it on his first trip. Most clients are happy with gars that range between 130 and 150 pounds, but Gouliquer wanted more.

"He had his heart set on taking a true monster," Barclay said.

After the first shot, Lovell didn't think that Gouliquer had found a big fish. All he could see was the sinking arrow sticking up. But when the gar surfaced and Gouliquer shot it a second time, the fish took off. That's when the guys realized they had a struggle ahead.