Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Fly Fishing & Other Fish Species Long nose gar

Dang TJ, you and Bruce are just too nice. Ta take time to stock large trash fish is above and beyond. I'm real happy I'm 800 miles from you generous fellas.
Maybe I'm confused (it does happen on occasion) but are you all referring to Alligator Gar as Longnose? I've seen some 7-9 lb Gar in Indiana but 30 is huge. I know most things grow quicker and larger down south. The films of guys bowhunting and fishing for Alligator Gar are getting em over 100lbs.

You better believe I will be posting a picture. That is if I can catch her.

Longnose gar can grow to 60+lb the Georgia record is 30 and change.

In Louisiana the alligator gar record is 179 lb, though a 215 lb fish was caught last year. Didn't qualify as state record, though, as it was bowfished.

Don't know about longnose gar here. When I checked it seemed like there were no entries as of 2012.

Anyway, about that 215 lb fish...

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/fiel...na-state-record

Cray,
We've caught some big gar in the Trinity River here in SE Texas. I had the opportunity to fish with a group of guys that fish gar for a living. Gar don't bite like other fish species. Gar will not pick up anything that they cannot swallow whole. If the bait is too big, they will not pick it up. When they do pick it up, they will hold it in their mouths and swim off with it (must be a predator thing). When they stop swimming they will swallow the bait whole. When they proceed to swim again...set the hook aggressively. We used cut up carp as bait hooked with a big treble hook on a 3-4' leader. Without the leader, a garfish's teeth and hard mouth will cut your line. Patience is a virtue when fishing for garfish. But, once the bait is swallowed and a hook set is made in the soft stomach tissue...the fight is on...Good Luck!

Go online and check out "the gar guys" website.

Hey Charlie,

How do you fish gar for a living? Is there value in a gar or is it by making videos of fishing gar or .......?


Bill

Bill -

In some regions gar meat sells for $3 per pound. So there is an industry for it - it isn't a fishy taste and the texture isn't flaky.

basslover,

is it like Spoonbill/paddlefish??? I find that mush less flaky and not very "fishy" when cleaned and prepared well. I love paddlefish meat!

CMM

Bill,
I saw these guys (The Gar Guys) on TV fishing with Bill Dance and Johnny Morris of Bass Pro Shops (BPS)a few years back. They were catching 100+ lb garfish with Johnny Morris to put in live tanks on display at his BPS Missouri location. I was amazed because I have a river place on the Trinity River. I, the kids, and grandkids have all swam in the Trinity for years and honestly never thought about big garfish. Come that Christmas, my wife bought me a guided trip to fish with these guys. They picked me and (2) buddies up at my place in an airboat and I ended up catching a 6'4" 140lb alligator gar that morning....and yes, what do you think Ms. Paul's fish sticks are??? These guys also sell guided Bow Hunting trips for gar. I hear some folks like to get the big 100+lb ones mounted by a taxidermist to hang in their game rooms.
Charlie

CMM,
When cleaned correctly ( Much like cutting a backstrap out of a deer), the meat holds together well. I have fried it, made a red gravy with it, and cooked it on the gas grill. I don't find it to be a very flavorful fish, but if seasoned well, it is very good.
Charlie

Awesome fish! Must have been a terrific fight...

Whenever I fish at Crockett Melody Acres, I try to have lunch at the Moosehead Cafe in town. (Terrific chicken fried steak, by the way.) Beyond the food, another reason I enjoy it is that they have mounted a gigantic alligator gar up on the wall. I think it was close to 200 lb and was caught on the Trinity River.

Great tips thanks. I will downsize my bait and see how it goes.

Is a longnose gar the same as a needle nose gar??

James,
Yes, they are of the same genus and species.
Charlie

Cray, when are we gonna see some pictures???!!!!

Don't give up Cray. This forum needs a record holder. We really gotta see how large that is.

Check out this long nose gar...

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/ou...942210ef8e.html

I'm trying to get her but she has turned her nose up at everything I have offered up so far. But I'm Determined to catch this fish. I will try to get a picture of it swimming near the surface.

I land them all the time on hot dogs and shrimp. I cut the hot dogs into 1.5 inch sections and bury the hook in the middle.

I buy the frozen large shrimp, thaw a few out, and again, bury the hook.

I only fish the bottom. Toss the bait, leave the bale arm open and watch it. First run ignore it - don't set the hook. Run, pause, run. That second run is when you want a good hook set.

I catch them jug fishing a good bit at Clarks Hill lake. I use circle hooks jugging, so I know they work, but if you can deal with a treble hook that would probably work better. I use cut bait. Blueback Herring is local to Clarks Hill, but I bet cut panfish of whatever is in the pond would work. They seem to hit best at night especially at dusk and dawn. If you just want it out of the pond, try leaving some jugs in it overnight. Just be sure to use circle hooks so you don't accidently gut hook a catfish and kill it. The gar will most likely be gut hooked, even on a circle hook.

They are the biggest pain in the butt to clean of any fish I've ever dealt with. Not worth the trouble to me.

May 20, 2015

This is why the Trinity River in Texas
from Trinidad to Highway 7 is currently
closed to alligator gar fishing.



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