Fish Profile - Long Nose Gar

Known as "living fossils" to some biologists, longnose gar have been around for nearly 100 million years. They are very distinct in appearance, with long, narrow, well-toothed snouts, arrow-shaped bodies, and heavy, rough scales. Gar are large and can reach three feet in length.

Longnose gar are found around weeds and sunken logs in lakes and slack-water areas of large streams. They can survive in water with low oxygen levels because their unusual swim bladder allow them to breathe oxygen from the air. Adult gar often occur in groups and will float at the surface.

Longnose gar often spawn in groups. Newly hatched gar use an adhesive pad found on the tip of their snouts to attach themselves to vegetation. During their first year, gar are the fastest growing freshwater fish in the State, growing nearly five times faster than most other fish species.

Gar are voracious feeders, mostly eating other fish. Although some anglers blame them for eating sportfish, gar mostly eat fish species of no economic importance to people. Only a few anglers actively fish for gar. Gar eggs are extremely toxic to humans, but their flesh (though difficult to prepare) is edible.

Species Facts

Science Name: Lepisosteus osseus Other Names: gar, garfish Ideal Temp: 85 to 90 World Record: 5 lbs. 5 ounces Tx. Environment: river, lake Techniques: medium tackle

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