Gar are crazy, incredibly unique fish of the Lepisosteus family. The only exception is Alligator Gar, which are in the Atractosteus genus. Fun fact: the two families can interbreed, which can result in a very large fish called a "crocodile gar" hybrid!
On this tour we focus on longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus, one of the most interesting fish in Texas waters. They can grow more than 5 feet long and weigh over 50 pounds! They sport single rows of needle sharp teeth, with a beak that is 10 times longer than it is wide. They are equipped with incredibly thick overlapping scale armor which makes them nearly impossible for other water creatures to kill. They have powerful tails sporting colorful spots.
Gar are generally very sluggish fish. They do not like to move fast and sometimes prefer not to move at all. They like to ambush small fish and are frequently seen lurking in shallow water under vegetation. This makes their predation style unique. They can move in rapid bursts of speed when they want to, snapping at passing fish then slowly chewing to work the meal back to their throats. Their brutal technique is one that fisherman like us can exploit to catch them!
Gar have a modified swim bladder that allows them to breath air and remain out of water for long periods of time (even 24 hours or more). This makes it easy to spot them since they frequently come up to the surface and gulp air, especially in warmer temperatures.
Gar eggs and babies are toxic to most creatures except fish, which gives them a really good chance at growing up. And grow they do! Gar can get as long as a 6 year old largemouth bass in just one year!
Gar have excellent eyesight and even better smell, the latter of which they frequently use in Texas as so many of our waterways are muddy. As fishermen we can use both visual cues via lures and also smelly cut bait to catch gar with ease! The technique to catch these brutes and the experience of fighting such an aggressive predator is unlike anything else.
This tour is truly an amazing opportunity that we are proud to offer here at MGS, and we can't wait to share this adventure with y'all!
