Not true.

"Without length regulations, long-lived fishes such as Alligator Gars and sturgeons risk overfishing."

"Alligator Gar populations were impacted at even lower levels of exploitation; a rate of only 3% harvest halved the number of trophy fish available. Binion and Buckmeier recently reported that the current exploitation rate in Texas is about 3%, indicating that the size of these populations has probably been reduced already. Based on our model results, increasing interest in Alligator Gar fisheries in Texas may further threaten the size of remaining trophy populations because at an exploitation rate of 7% the number of trophy fish available was reduced to only 20%."

Responses of Alligator Gar Population to Harvest

Gar are a prehistoric species and the species number is at historical highs. To protect them from extinction is a joke, they have been here longer than us and will survive us, regardless of whether the State regulates their harvest or not. From a Species standpoint, I don�t care either way, as I will never target them anyway. As a former trotliner, I think they are a nuisance fish, nothing more, nothing less. As such, when I catch one they end up on the dinner plate, just like bass, buffalo, and catfish. Personally, the state regulation of these fish is just another example of government over reach to me. Incidentally, where possible I prefer limited State and Federal government size, in an effort to reduce the significant government burden currently in place in our country. Basically restated, just another taxpayer burden, championed by a few, at the expense of many.

My house over looks the lake and I have seen how the #'s of fishermen have increased in the last few years . Also I have seen how the #'s of all types of fish have drop

There is more involved than just numbers of fishermen.
Just as an example, the technology has skyrocketed over the last 30 years with all the advancements in electronics its almost cheating.

Where are those spots at? I live in anahuac, tx and like far fishing but can�t find where they are. I�ve caught some under trinity river under I10 bridge and fort anahuac park. Where is a good bank fishing spot nearby? Livingston dam downstream may be good. Struggling with no boat at the moment

If they want to eliminate the taking of Alligator Gar by bow fishing then they also need to eliminate ALL fishing for them. The stress from the long fight to bring in a trophy gar along with gut hooked fish still kills many. As for making bow fishing daylight only statewide is a joke. Try to bow fish for carp and buffalo at any other time than when they are in the shallows spawning (witch I don't do) and you will come home with an empty boat.
Whats next, no bass fishing when they are spawning? How about when bream or crappie are spawning, or catfish. Heck lets just close all the lakes to fishing and rivers and let the wake boats and jet fleas take over.

You will never impact fish populations by rod and reel.

Stand together for all legal pursuits.....or we will lose it all fighting seperately.

..... look at how red snapper has gone the last few years with people claiming populations decline. One year not to long ago the season was like 4 days. Keep it up and this will be your fishing future for whatever you like to hunt or fish for.

I personally support whatever TPWD decides is best for the fisheries....
If they call to protect alligator gar, they have a reason. If they call for bowfishing daylight only, that'll suck but that's what I'll do. I don't see the ban on night time bowfishing happening, except in regards to the alligator gar anyway. Simply too many rough fish as it is....

I would love to you know where you came to that conclusion. Here's a link so you can examine the historical range vs current distribution if you would like to educate yourself.
Alligator Gar, Atractosteus spatula



I wish y'all would read the commissioner meeting minutes. Not only was the night time ban struck off from the proposal, but it only applied to Alligator Gar fishing.




We are still waiting for your data to back this claim.

You guys take this too serious. Gar have been here forever and will more than likely be here much longer than human anyways unless all rivers and lakes go dry. Direct your attention else where....

We all have things we are passionate about. Gar happen to be one of those things for me. Until the Wanton Waste and disregard for the conservation of these fish ceases, I will continue to argue with any person that wants to keep these topics alive with unfounded claims and hearsay. If you are tired of seeing these topics at the top, you should take that up with those people.

Slim, you need to come out on the bowfishing boat with me one night at Lake Whitney or any other lake. You will be blown away at the sheer numbers of carp, gar, and buffalo. The numbers are insane! And that's just the little piece of the lake you see in a night. If you figure you might see .001% of the lake (can only cover so much water and vision is usually only 4' deep, AT BEST) and see thousands of fish in a night. I can only imagine the total numbers that are there!!
My girls go with me sometimes and they just watch in amazement at the fish and wads of minnows, snakes, turtles, nutria rats, beavers, deer, wild hogs, etc that you never see during the day time in and around the lake.

SIGNED, absolutely! TPWD should definitely at least carefully monitor these fish populations.

Here is what bothers me about statements such as these from bowfishermen in general....If you listened to or read the minutes of the TPWD commissioners meeting, there were many bowfishermen representing several organizations arguing that there was "no data" to show that we need more Alligator Gar regulations. However, I keep hearing these arguments that rough fish are overpopulated and need to be removed based on how many you "can see" in the water when you go bowfishing. So why is it that bowfishermen feel that they get to decide what lives and dies with no actual studies, but have a problem with the TPW deciding we need more Alligator Gar regulations based on harvest data and increased pursuit of these fish? Seems like a bit of a double standard to me.


I respect you for that, and I understand your stance on the Alligator Gar. The problem is that from the meeting it appears that most bowfishermen that are passionate about their sport do not agree with what the TPWD decided. We have statements from state biologists indicating that these new regulations needed to be passed. These are biologist who spend every day of their job managing our fish populations. Who else is better qualified to make that determination than them?