i know i have posted before on here about what i believe were aligator gar, but i just did a web search and i don't believe what i've hooked in the past are longnose, but rather shortnose, or aligator gar, but i'd like to know what the definate variations look like, as i know they're spotted very well, and i've hooked plenty in excess of 3 feet, and also hooked some close if not exceding 4 feet easily...so can someone tell me or show me the complete differences?

also i'm fishing the trinity, near lower arlington, and i may go after them in a few days, and get pictures to find out for sure which type they are but i'd appreciate any help...thanks.

Longnose and Spotted are real easy to tell apart.

Longnose are the only, the ONLY gar with the long, slender snout. All three of the other species have a shorter, wider snout.

Spotted Gar are far and away the most common species in Texas. If you hook a gar under 3' long, and it has a short and wide Snout, odds are it's a spotted gar.

Regardless of the size, if it has a long, narrow snout, it's a longnose gar. I've caught longnose as small as about 10" before.

Spotted Gar also tend to have spotted patterns on their bodies, and along the tops of their heads, hence the name.

They are the most Common species of gar in Texas.

Longnose get a lot bigger, and a lot longer then Spotted Gar, so when they reach 30lbs or more, it's pretty easy to tell the difference. Spotted Gar rarely get that big.

As for the other two species.

Shortnose Gar are the rarest of all the species of gar in TX. Shortnose live ONLY in the Red River and it's drainage, so unless you're catching a lotta gar out of the Red River below Texoma, you shouldn't have to worry about them.

Alligatar Gar also have a wide snout, but it's usually a little "blunter" then that of a spotted gar. They also have a double row of teeth on the inside of the top of the mouth, so if you have a chance to examine that, it'll tell you for sure right away.

And of course, they'll break 300lbs lol.

ok thanks, i've had both long nose, and i geuss small gator gar, but the bigger ones i've yet to land, i have a spot that doesn't get very heated for gar, and the gar are pletiful there, and i've hooked a few in the 4.5 foot range, and just wasn't sure exactly what they were, but looks like a slim number of gator gar and a larger number of long nose gar...thanks for the help.