Spotted Gar

Body Type & Identification: Long, cylindrical body covered in hard, diamond-shaped ganoid scales with a long, cylindrical snout filled with sharp teeth. Olive to brown with dark spots on the head, body, and fins. Distinguished from other gar by spots on the head and pectoral fins. A primitive fish unchanged for millions of years.

Preferred Water Temperature: 68°F–82°F. A warm-water species found in slow-moving, heavily vegetated rivers, lakes, bayous, and swamps. Surfaces periodically to gulp air — an obligate air breather. Most active in warm months.

Habitat: Rivers, lakes, swamps, and bayous of the Mississippi drainage and Gulf coastal plain from Texas east to Florida and north to the Great Lakes region. Prefer slow, heavily vegetated water with clear to slightly turbid conditions. Found alongside Alligator Gar in the South.

Best Lures: Rope lures (frayed nylon rope that tangles in gar teeth) are the classic gar technique. Topwater lures produce surface strikes. Large swimbaits work near vegetation edges.

Best Baits: Live shiners are excellent. Live small sunfish produce good results. Dead small fish on a rope lure are effective. Large pieces of cut fish produce strikes. Long-nose pliers are essential for hook removal — handle teeth carefully.

Top 5 Destinations: Choctawhatchee River FL/AL, Flint River GA, Trinity River TX, Atchafalaya Basin LA, Lake Texoma OK/TX.

Long, cylindrical body covered in hard, diamond-shaped ganoid scales with a long, cylindrical snout filled with sharp teeth. Olive to brown with dark spots on the head, body, and fins. Distinguished from other gar by spots on the head and pectoral fins. A primitive fish unchanged for millions of years.

Rivers, lakes, swamps, and bayous of the Mississippi drainage and Gulf coastal plain from Texas east to Florida and north to the Great Lakes region. Prefer slow, heavily vegetated water with clear to slightly turbid conditions. Found alongside Alligator Gar in the South.

68°F–82°F. A warm-water species found in slow-moving, heavily vegetated rivers, lakes, bayous, and swamps. Surfaces periodically to gulp air — an obligate air breather. Most active in warm months.

Best Lures: Rope lures (frayed nylon rope that tangles in gar teeth) are the classic gar technique. Topwater lures produce surface strikes. Large swimbaits work near vegetation edges. Best Baits: Live shiners are excellent. Live small sunfish produce good results. Dead small fish on a rope lure are effective. Large pieces of cut fish produce strikes. Long-nose pliers are essential for hook removal — handle teeth carefully.

Choctawhatchee River FL/AL, Flint River GA, Trinity River TX, Atchafalaya Basin LA, Lake Texoma OK/TX.