So my buddies and I have decided we want to try for some gar. We are going to try to catch them on a hook and not bow fish. We live in Plano, McKinney, and Hurst and don't want to drive forever and a day to get to a good spot.

That being said, anybody know of a good spot?

West fork of the trinity or elm fork...I have also had big ones on the red river, bring big tackle and some rope.

Does gar taste any good ?

I've heard you can scoop out the meat along the spine with a ice cream scoop. I don't plan to find out though.

A avg gar up to about 3 ft is a very good eating fish. You don't really skin them you shell them. And all you keep are the back straps it is a nice thick white strip of meat. But the can be hard to clean. Other then that they are just a nice hard fighting fish that is under utlized.

Saw this earlier today in the Open Freshwater Discussion. He was bowfishing, but quick "how to" on processing the fish.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...ing#Post2254008

You might need the jaws of life to get that fish open though.

I wont give any gps numbers or nothing, but there are big ones in the red river and there a bit easier to find. I have never killed one but ive hurt myself badly on the release many times. I dont want to eat one, but I hear small ones are good to eat. You may catch 50 small ones before a bigone takes it, but its a lot of fun. Have side-cutters and scissors handy, Id rather lose a leader than a finger.

Thanks for putting up that link mattg1980. I was always told the gar were not edible or so full of small bones that it was not worth the time cleaning. I may have to keep one of the smaller ones I catch next time I head out the the river

wow, thanks for the link.

If the gar's taste and texture is like aligator meat, then i'm down for it. I'm going to try to catch one and eat it one day. Looks like lots of meat from it.

Gar have (for me) a soft bite and when reeling them in, I have problems landing them. They just seem to let go. Any ideas/recommendations?

never done it myself but know some ppl who fish the lakes in sa and river here in corpus and they got the meat off back and said if fried its awesome

There mouth is all bone. use a long leader andlet him swollow it. I count to five then simply real in. Don't set the hook.

THE SMALLER GAR BETWEEN 3 TO 5 POUNDS ARE OK TO EAT. IF YOU WERE IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA ANY LAKES ON THE GUADALUPE RIVER ARE VERY GOOD FOR GAR THIS TIME OF YEAR. THEY SHOULD REMAIN VERY ACTIVE UNTIL MID OCTOBER WHEN THE FIRST COLD FRONTS ARRIVE. AFTER THAT THEY SEEM TO SHUT DOWN UNTIL SPRING.

was out on lake worth last week and saw some 4-5 foot gars....and many 3 footers rolling on surface. Was out there twice and they were in the same area both times. From the 820 bridge head toward goat island (west) about half way there is a bay with houses and docks to your left or (south)start looking arounf the point and they are in there thick it was about 200 foot away from the docks. BIG gar......in 10 foot of water

I've drug several right up on the shore, unhooked but holding on to bait

I just reeled in super slow, using practically zero drag

It was fun enough


if you wanna eat one - do it !
Just break out the tin snips and heavy leather gloves for the peeling er uh, I mean cleaning


PS - the straps - cut'em cross ways and fry'em, quick for tasty gator flavor - or fry'em long and hard if you like dried out ex-wife style pork chops