Download the mobile app!
Hooking Up Anglers Since 2011.
Check out our new Android or iOS app for Fishing Status.
The long awaited return of our mobie app is back on Apple App Store and Google Play
Alligator Gar
Species Information
| Scientific Name: | Atractosteus spatula |
| Common Names: | alligator gar |
| Environment: | Lake, River |
| Ideal Temp: | |
About Alligator Gar
Alligator Gar is a large freshwater fish found in North America. It is one of the largest freshwater fishes in North America. The world record for hook and line is 279 pounds and came from the Rio Grande River, Texas on December 2, 1951. The largest ever caught in a net was 8 feet long and weighed 327 pounds.
The body of the alligator gar is long, cylindrical and covered with thick, diamond-shaped scales that are olive-green or brown in color. Its head is long and broad with a broad, rounded snout filled with large, sharp teeth that resemble those of an alligator. This is where it gets its name from. The alligator gar has a powerful tail that it uses to move through the water and can swim at speeds of up to 25 mph (40 kph).
The alligator gar is a predatory fish that feeds on a variety of aquatic animals such as fish, turtles, and waterfowl. They typically spawn in shallow, slow-moving waters such as backwaters, swamps, and bayous during the spring months when water temperatures reach around 68-75°F (20-24°C).The female alligator gar lays eggs on submerged vegetation, logs, or other underwater structures, and the male fertilizes them externally. A single female can lay up to 30,000 eggs, and the eggs hatch in about a week.
Live bait is a popular method for catching them. Yes, alligator gar is edible, and it is consumed by some people. However, because of its large size and bony structure, it is not considered a popular food fish in the United States.
Alligator Gar Fishing
| World Record: | 279 pounds (127 kg) - Rio Grande River, Texas - 12/2/1951 |
| # Fish Caught: | 71412 documented in database. |
| Earliest Record: | 1/1/1830 12:00:00 AM and located at 29.36728, -100.67874. |
| Latest Record: | 2/13/2023 8:19:20 PM and located at 22.88102, -109.90894. |
| Common Techniques: | Bottom Fishing, Casting |
| Popular Lure Types: | Bottom Rig, Crankbaits, Jigs, Plugs, Spinnerbaits, Spoons, Topwater, Trolling |
| Fishing Spots: | 48 Alligator Gar fishing spots. |
Latest Alligator Gar Fishing Reports and Spots
What is a gar fish? A member of the family Lepisosteidae gars have a long body covered with diamond-shaped ganoid scales. They range in size fr (
View)
(
View)
(
View)
(
View)
(
View)
(
View)
(
View)
(
View)
(
View)
(
View)