Yes, it was the gar.

Or as called in southern louisiana a shoepic....don't ask??? We used to catch these all the time in the atchafalaya basin and surrounding areas. Not sure on the spelling, that's exactly how it's pronounced.

They hit just like a bass, and put up a good fight. Never ate them, just managed to catch some here and there.

Correct name should be bowfin.

I caught one of these on Fork. Fights just like a bass. Thank God it fell off of the hook. I didn't want to touch the thing.

I have a coonarse friend who use to catch and eat shoepick all the time. He says you must clean them immediately and put the fillets on ice...if not gets mushy quick. I personally haven't eaten one but he says they are good eatin'.

looks like a dorkfish!! hehe

caught my Bowfin at Hubbard. Fought like crazy, then scared the heck out of me when I saw it surface.

fishstalker - absolutely correct on the iceing the fish immediately or better yet, if you let the bowfin die before using it, the flesh will get mushy...period. I've used them fresh killed for cut bait on trotlines/juglines baited right at dark and they caught great blues and channels. Then even tried them fried right after killing them and they were great...if you let them die on you and then try to eat them, the more you chew it, the larger the amount gets in your mouth...kinda like eating a cotton ball!

Only tried it once, caught them bass fishing and on trotlines before.

I believe that's call Mud Fish and is related to snakehead. They can do lots of damage on baits populations and Mud Fish mainly exist in Asia i am suprise that i see them here in USA

Steven, a Mudfish is just another name for a bowfin. They are related to snakehead yes, but not dangerous the way Snakehead is. They're quite spread out through the USA, and are in fact, Native to the USA.

Here's the TPWD link for the Fish:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/species/unique/bwf.phtml

It includes a link that tells the difference between native bowfin and invasive snakehead.

Try a hacksaw. That's what some folks use to clean a sheepshead.

What you got there is a choupique. At least that's what we called them where I grew up.

Choupique is what they are called in South Louisiana, and they are very comon over here. When you set the hook on them you think you have a hog for sure. If you do eat them you have to clean them and cook the pretty quick, because the meat gets soft.

Starless,

Thanks, learn new things everyday and keep up with carps reports, i went to grapewine all the time but catching sandies not carp i might try carp next time i go

Sure Steven, No problem! And good luck next time you hit Grapevine whether you're after sandies or carp!

Them fish are ugly. Glad they dont have them where I fish LOL.