Legendary fishing help

[Sidartha]

I'm trying to catch the Legendary Gar. I'm in the right spot and using the special lure. I assume iI keep hooking him but I can't reel it in. I assume there is some trick I'm not doing properly because no matter what I do the line breaks.

If you keep reeling in when the fish is fighting the line breaks. If you only reel in when the fish isn't fighting you lose ground, run out of line and the line breaks. This is so aggravating. I just can't reel in fast enough to outpace the fish. I hit space and R repeatedly when the fish isn't fighting. I hold them down. Nothing works.

Also, worth noting that the in game icon it flashes to reel in the fish is wrong. It just shows the mouse moving "up" or something but that doesn't do anything. However, clicking left mouse seems to bring the rod tip up allowing you to reel in more...it's just not enough. I'm wondering if there is some other thing that is bugged/not obvious that I'm missing? I did manage to catch one large fish but it was a lake sturgeon..not the legendary fish unfortunately. Anyone have any tips or suggestions?

[GhostyOsty]

Controlling the fish, pulling the pole and down gives you the advantage when you're reeling the fish in. Also being in a good position where there's a lot of fish gives you more of a chance. When you see something coming towards your lure, bring your lure in as close as possible without the fish becoming uninterested.

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Using mouse
press left mouse down hold to cast the longer you hold the further it goes, and release Left mouse, press E to hook fish then hold right mouse down once hooked .

Reel in using slowly using R to speed it up release the left mouse once the fish starts to jump swing rod slowly left and right to follow then immediately start R again to reel it in pulling back on the rod using the mouse as you reel him in release but keep holding right mouse down when he starts to jump again. The instructions appear in the game which keys to use and mouse keys to use. It takes practice :)