A photo of the fish was sent to TWRA Fisheries Biologist John Hammonds, who identified it as a melanistic longnose gar.

Essentially, the gar is the opposite of an albino. While the TWRA reports that pigmentation mutations can occur in most species of fish, this all-black deformity is especially rare.

Ursin told News Channel 11 that he originally had no plans to cast at the gar after spotting it and couldn’t tell it was black at first. After his guide told him to go ahead and try, Ursin said the fish was on in moments.