Gar
Lepisosteus (genus)
Record Weight
327 lbs 0 oz
Rio Grande, Texas
Average Size
5-20 lbs
Preferred Temp
70°-85°F
Lifespan
15-50 years
Fight Rating
3/5
Taste Rating
1/5
Identification
Gar have a distinctive elongated, torpedo-shaped body covered in thick, diamond-shaped ganoid scales that function like armor plating. Their most recognizable feature is a long, narrow snout filled with sharp teeth, used for slashing at prey. Longnose gar have the most elongated snout, while alligator gar have a broad, alligator-like snout. Gar have a single dorsal fin positioned far back near the rounded tail. Their coloring is typically olive-green to brown on top with lighter sides and a white belly.
Habitat & Behavior
Gar are found in slow-moving rivers, bayous, oxbow lakes, reservoirs, and backwater areas throughout the central and southern United States. Alligator gar are most common in the lower Mississippi River basin and Gulf Coast drainages. Longnose gar have the widest range, extending into the Great Lakes and Northeast. Gar prefer warm, sluggish water and are tolerant of low-oxygen conditions thanks to their ability to breathe atmospheric air using a modified swim bladder.
Gar are surface-oriented ambush predators that lie motionless near the surface or in shallow water, using their camouflage to ambush passing prey. They can often be seen basking or gulping air at the surface — their modified swim bladder allows them to supplement gill breathing with atmospheric air. This adaptation lets them survive in stagnant, oxygen-depleted water that would kill most fish. Gar are most active during warm months and feed primarily during daylight hours.
Best Techniques
Best Baits & Lures
- live shiners
- cut shad
- live sunfish (where legal)
- rope lures (nylon frays tangle in teeth)
- topwater plugs
- cut mullet
- live minnows under a float
- chicken breast strips
Seasonal Patterns
SpringSpring Fishing
Gar become increasingly active as water temperatures climb into the 60s and 70s. Spawning occurs in late spring when gar congregate in shallow, vegetated backwaters and flooded areas. Pre-spawn and spawning fish can be seen rolling and splashing at the surface, making them easier to locate. Spring is an excellent time to sight-fish for gar in clear, shallow water.
SummerSummer Fishing
Summer is peak gar season as warm water temperatures boost their metabolism and feeding activity. Gar can be found basking at the surface in backwater areas, near river bends, and along vegetation lines. They are most active and most willing to strike during warm summer months. Surface presentations and live bait fished under a float produce the best results.
FallFall Fishing
Gar remain active through early fall as water temperatures stay warm. As temperatures drop below 65 degrees, gar begin slowing down and moving toward deeper, slower water. Early fall still offers good fishing, particularly in the southern parts of their range where warm weather persists longer.
WinterWinter Fishing
Gar become largely dormant in cold winter water, congregating in deep, slow pools and barely feeding. In the Deep South, gar may remain somewhat active throughout winter during warm spells. In northern portions of their range, gar essentially hibernate near the bottom and are not realistically targetable until spring.
State Records
| State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 240 lbs | 2011 | Lake Conway |
Tips & Fun Facts
- Gar have existed for over 100 million years — they swam alongside dinosaurs and have changed remarkably little since the Cretaceous period.
- Alligator gar can grow over 8 feet long and weigh more than 300 pounds, making them the second-largest freshwater fish in North America after the white sturgeon.
- Gar scales were used as arrowheads by Native Americans and as tools for plowing by Caribbean islanders — the ganoid scales are so hard they can deflect a knife blade.
- One of the most effective methods for hooking gar is using a "rope lure" — a frayed nylon rope that tangles in the gar's teeth without requiring a conventional hook set.
- Gar eggs are toxic to mammals and birds. The bright green eggs should never be consumed by humans, though the flesh itself is edible when prepared properly.