Alligator Gar

Description

Long torpedo-shaped fish with a short, wide snout. Once seen never forgotten. They are generally dark brown or dark grey in color.

Size

In Texas these monsters grow to 10 ft long and can weigh over 300 pounds. However, here in Florida they don’t come that big. The biggest we have caught has been about 4 ft long and weighing under 20lbs.

Food value

We haven’t been brave or silly enough to try to cook one yet. Apparently the Indians used to just chuck them on the fire for a couple of hours and then peel off the armour plated-like skin before eating them.

Game qualities

After an initial run or two, they come to the top and float in like logs. It appears that they don’t quite realize that they have been hooked.

Tackle and baits

The only place that we have caught them is up by the “Trestles” in shallow water. On a couple of occasions, we have caught them on cut baits while fishing for sharks and I have caught a couple on Mepps’ lures when seeing them feeding.