Identifying Gar

Author
Mr.Slickfish
Pro Angler
  • Total Posts : 4528
  • Reward points: 0
  • Status: offline
2011/03/27 19:30:40 (permalink)

Identifying Gar

I'm having some trouble identifying which kind of gar we have in presque isle bay. I used to believe they were spotted gar, now I'm questioning it... are they longnose or spotted? Endangered or no? I'm looking for a "for sure" answer.

Thanks

Slick

I don't always snag fish, but when I do...
I choose Little Cleos

I'm the best looking smartest snagging poacher alive...
#1

21 Replies Related Threads

    heyiknowyou
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 1279
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2009/09/17 12:41:25
    • Location: erie
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/27 19:48:01 (permalink)
    #1 rule in Erie: they're only snagged/undersized/endangered if you get caught dude

    but seriously... i think the lake is home to both

    go back to spain
    11-12-11: the last time i got punched in the face
    #2
    steely34
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 1280
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2006/03/12 17:43:05
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/27 19:51:06 (permalink)

    Slick - can't help you much on this but you've got the stuff to bring 'em in....

    http://forums.fishusa.com/New_Product/m_385975/tm.htm

    "They say you forget your troubles on a trout stream, but that's not quite it..... you begin to see where your troubles fit into the grand scheme of things, and suddenly they're just not such a big deal anymore."

    John Gierach

    #3
    Mr.Slickfish
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 4528
    • Reward points: 0
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/27 19:51:46 (permalink)
    Think the taxidermist will rat me out?

    I don't always snag fish, but when I do...
    I choose Little Cleos

    I'm the best looking smartest snagging poacher alive...
    #4
    Mr.Slickfish
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 4528
    • Reward points: 0
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/27 19:54:57 (permalink)
    It appears to me spotted are "spotted" heavily over the whole fish and head. Longnose seem to have spots on the tail and fins.

    I don't always snag fish, but when I do...
    I choose Little Cleos

    I'm the best looking smartest snagging poacher alive...
    #5
    Catchabigone
    Expert Angler
    • Total Posts : 509
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2007/02/13 20:20:21
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/27 20:06:49 (permalink)
    This is off the PA fish Commission website click on number 7
    daryl
    http://fishandboat.com/pafish/fishhtms/chapindx.htm

    Look to the heavens and thank God everyday that hunting is such a grand part of our lives.
    Ted Nugent



     
    #6
    Mr.Slickfish
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 4528
    • Reward points: 0
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/27 20:12:53 (permalink)
    Thanks I've looked at that...and thats what has me wondering.

    I just read bowfins are protected too?....crap!

    I don't always snag fish, but when I do...
    I choose Little Cleos

    I'm the best looking smartest snagging poacher alive...
    #7
    hiclassHilbilly
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 1052
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2009/01/07 22:46:38
    • Location: Glendale, pa
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/27 21:48:29 (permalink)
    Slick,

    I have seen multiple gar together on a local river, was there when one was caught and had a 3' monster on for a little while. The longnose gar that I saw caught and the majority of gar that I have seen have been very silvery with very little or no spots on the main body.

    I am looking for the picture I have of the longnose. If I can find it I will post it.

    Once or twice I saw multiple gar together and one of them was MUCH different than the rest. it had spots all over it and the others were very silver. I think the differences should be pretty obvious if you see them together.

    "A Homewood man led police on an hourlong car chase that ended with a crash injuring three officers.

    "The car was driving itself," Wright said. "The car has a GPS. It's a Lincoln Navigator. They drive themselves. I wasn't running nowhere."
    #8
    indsguiz
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 6405
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2005/03/24 01:59:54
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/28 01:55:38 (permalink)
    The spotted one was the pimp!

    Illegitimis Non carborundum
    #9
    Cold
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 7358
    • Reward points: 0
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/28 08:08:55 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: Mr.Slickfish

    I just read bowfins are protected too?....crap!



    Yeah, but its easy to tell them by the way they curl when you drop them on the ground.
    #10
    bulldog1
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 5203
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2008/06/05 12:23:00
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/28 09:15:08 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: Mr.Slickfish

    Think the taxidermist will rat me out?


    At $10 + per inch, they should keep their mouth shut...

    Seriously though, most of the gar that I've seen have been in a pic with you...
    #11
    bingsbaits
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 5035
    • Reward points: 0
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/28 09:31:21 (permalink)
    Saw what I will call a pod of Gar on Conneaut Lake while Bass fishing.
    Must have been 25-30 of them in a big ball along the bank.
    Hooked into about a 3 footer and never got it in the boat, the thing went ballistic at the boat.
    Not sure I wanted that crazed beast in the boat anyway...

    "There is a pleasure in Angling that no one knows but the Angler himself". WB
     
     


    #12
    Mr.Slickfish
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 4528
    • Reward points: 0
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/28 11:41:53 (permalink)
    Bings...they truly are a "ballistic" fish.

    So ya know...they are one of the few fish that actually will try and bite you....and they tend to slash that open beak around. Once you handle one of those things with a wide open slashing beak....you'll have a new respect for them.

    I don't always snag fish, but when I do...
    I choose Little Cleos

    I'm the best looking smartest snagging poacher alive...
    #13
    Mr.Slickfish
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 4528
    • Reward points: 0
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/28 14:34:32 (permalink)
    I talked to the presque isle park "environmentalist". He says we have both. Spotted gar primarily stay in the laggoons, and longnose in the bay. When asked how you could "definitely" tell them apart...the response was the longnose were a little more "golden". Duud tried to be helpful but I'm still unclear.

    Maybe I'll take a few to the park office and see if they can help

    I don't always snag fish, but when I do...
    I choose Little Cleos

    I'm the best looking smartest snagging poacher alive...
    #14
    RhnstnCowboy
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 2583
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2008/12/10 11:39:55
    • Location: The Ohio State Reformatory
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/28 15:31:07 (permalink)
    This doesn't answer your question, but impressive nonetheless:

    http://www.garfishingguide.com/NewPhotos.html




    "Part of being a Leftist is the smug conviction that you and people like you are smart, while everyone else is stupid and/or evil"
    - T. Fleming
    #15
    chrishinesg
    Expert Angler
    • Total Posts : 432
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2010/12/20 08:27:52
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/28 19:24:37 (permalink)
    killer link Rhnstn

    It's not how deep you fish...It's how you wiggle your worm.
    #16
    BloodyHand
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 2169
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2009/03/30 08:20:46
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/29 06:58:15 (permalink)
    Slick, I've seen you catch both, IN THE SAME DAY!
    #17
    350Z&Steelheads
    Expert Angler
    • Total Posts : 430
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2006/10/09 16:47:15
    • Location: MD
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/29 11:20:02 (permalink)
    Pics or it didn't happen... :)

    Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
     
     
    #18
    BloodyHand
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 2169
    • Reward points: 0
    • Joined: 2009/03/30 08:20:46
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/30 20:38:33 (permalink)
    Slick, I think they are on to us. We have to come up with better, more believable fishing stories. We should do one on some carp. Probably could get away with callin it a 50 pounder...........
    #19
    Mr.Slickfish
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 4528
    • Reward points: 0
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/30 23:29:22 (permalink)
    Duuds r gonna b sic when I post a 5ft gar with a shrek arse fly in it......


    news at 11

    I don't always snag fish, but when I do...
    I choose Little Cleos

    I'm the best looking smartest snagging poacher alive...
    #20
    Mr.Slickfish
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 4528
    • Reward points: 0
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/30 23:31:14 (permalink)
    I'm looking to purchase a new yellow rope....any suggestions?



    I don't always snag fish, but when I do...
    I choose Little Cleos

    I'm the best looking smartest snagging poacher alive...
    #21
    Cold
    Pro Angler
    • Total Posts : 7358
    • Reward points: 0
    • Status: offline
    RE: Identifying Gar 2011/03/30 23:51:23 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: Mr.Slickfish

    I'm looking to purchase a new yellow rope....any suggestions?



    Sportsmens Warehouse had some really nice ones on sale.
    #22
    Jump to: