Freshwater

Spotted gar

Catán pintado (pejelagarto pintado)

Lepisosteus oculatus

FreshwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

2–5 lb.

Depth

1–15 ft.

Best time

Daytime.

Found in

7 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Long, olive-brown gar with a short, broad snout and round dark spots all over the body, fins AND the top of the head and snout (the Florida gar has no spots on the top of the head).
Typical size: 2–5 lb.
Maximum size: About 3½ ft and close to 10 lb.
Diet: Small fish and crayfish.
Behavior: Lies still near the surface in weedy, clear backwaters and gulps air; strikes fast with a sideways snap.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Louisiana & Mississippi Delta, Texas & Oklahoma Lakes, Ozarks & Mid-South, Midwest & Ohio Valley Lakes, U.S. Great Lakes, Southeast Lakes and Florida Freshwater. Weedy lakes, swamps, oxbows and bayous from Lake Erie and the Mississippi basin to the Gulf Coast, from Texas to the Florida panhandle.
Habitat: Weedy lakes, swamps, oxbows and bayous from Lake Erie and the Mississippi basin to the Gulf Coast, from Texas to the Florida panhandle.
Depth: 1–15 ft.
Fishing depth: Near the surface in 2–8 ft.
Best season: Spring through fall.
Best time: Daytime.
Best tides: No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.
Best weather / conditions: Warm, calm days.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live minnows under a float.
Best artificial lures: Rope lures (nylon frayed rope) that tangle in the teeth, and small topwaters.
Tackle setup: Medium spinning rod.
Hook size: Small treble or rope lure.
Line: 10–20 lb braid.
Leader: Wire or 30 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Lure Hooks Leader Tool

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Weedy lakes, swamps, oxbows and bayous from Lake Erie and the Mississippi basin to the Gulf Coast, from Texas to the Florida panhandle.
Rig up: Medium spinning rod. Wire or 30 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live minnows under a float. Lures: Rope lures (nylon frayed rope) that tangle in the teeth, and small topwaters.
Fish it: Cast a rope lure past a gar lying at the surface and drag it slowly by; let the gar chew before you pull.
Time it: Daytime. No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.

Fishing techniques: Cast a rope lure past a gar lying at the surface and drag it slowly by; let the gar chew before you pull.
BigJoe's tip: Look at the top of the head: spots mean spotted gar.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Tough armored skin; the white backstrap meat is good fried or in gar balls. Never eat the roe.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Needle-sharp teeth. The eggs are poisonous to people — never eat gar roe.
Regulations: Some states set limits on gar; check local rules. Licenses, limits and seasons are set by each province, territory or state, and many lakes and rivers have special size limits, slot limits or closed spawning seasons — check the current regulations for the water you fish.
Conservation: Native fish that play a role in keeping small fish in balance.

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Sources & photo credits