Natural Predator For Gar

[faded]

Just wondering what eats gar in the wild...I know they are fished by man but does anything else go after these fish.....I ask because I have noticed a trend on dead Gar bodies laying on gravel bars....typically they are gutted and just left....Looks like the work humans but got me to thinking about other predators.......

[wildhunter066]

Just wondering what eats gar in the wild...I know they are fished by man but does anything else go after these fish.....I ask because I have noticed a trend on dead Gar bodies laying on gravel bars....typically they are gutted and just left....Looks like the work humans but got me to thinking about other predators.......

Probably humans i know alot of guys that like to fish with their eggs for catfish but i think they have spawned by now.

[creek wader]

Probably a form of torture by humans. Ever since I was a kid, I've witnessed various samount of different torture/slayings of gar by fisherman. Mainly catfisherman. Since gar will usually take the same bait that's used for cats. Most fisherman view gar as a nuisance fish. I don't think there are anything in our area other them humans that can or will kill a gar.

[Guest]

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[mhall02]

Is there any way to catch small gar about 10 inches long. I bet those would be great bait as they are tough and would squirm when hooked on your line?

They will squirm till they drown, gar gulp air and yes, as funny as it sounds, they will drown.

[itsdesignateddave]

We have tons of them in the Kansas river around these parts. They are so thick in shallow water that you can net then with a dip net. Otherwise run an upgraded blugill rig, small splitshot under a large bobber about a foot or so down. You can catch them close to where they are surfacing with either pieces of bacon or nighcrawlers. It can get frustrating at they spit the hook about half the time.

[wildhunter066]

We have tons of them in the Kansas river around these parts. They are so thick in shallow water that you can net then with a dip net. Otherwise run an upgraded blugill rig, small splitshot under a large bobber about a foot or so down. You can catch them close to where they are surfacing with either pieces of bacon or nighcrawlers. It can get frustrating at they spit the hook about half the time.

I love it when the get shallow up on those gravel bars you want to talk about some awesome bowfishing. Its not uncommon to get two in one shot when the get stacked up. I knew a guy that would take a piece of rope about a foot long and unravel tie it to a swivel and let it float to the gar they would hit it and get thier teeth wrapped up in it. We have snagged them with a small trebble on bass rods and they are a lot of fun also caught some whit bassin with with jigs.

[faded]

thanks for the input....The area I typically see the bodies in I have never seen a catfish ( very clear water).....Quite a few Heron but these are larger than the bird could manage... upon doing a little research it seems gators in Florida will eat them... I am sure it is humans none the less...Seems kind of a waste just to leave them.......I understand fishing and hunting ( catch and release, eat what you catch or kill, hell even make a mount, or use the remains for somethingelse ....I don't understand killing just to kill....

[Chief Grey Bear]

They will squirm till they drown, gar gulp air and yes, as funny as it sounds, they will drown.

Gulping air is not the primary source of oxygen. Gar have gills and will "breathe" like other fish. They have a lung like air sack so that in times of low dissolved oxygen, they can gulp air to supplement the air that comes from the gills.

[Samkam1]

I kill those nasty things every time I catch one...they proliferate and are a nuisance. We have hooked some 20-30 lbers while striper fishing. Often times they will strip every line of it's bait that took hours to catch and if your lucky enough to snag one while hes stripping...time to take the club to him! We usually move when we get into gar...if they are around the game fish are not it seems.

I wouldn't mind catching a few dozen 8-12 inchers and trying them out for bait. I bet they would work well.

I have heard some old timers say they are pretty good eating..but man they sure are slimy and stinky! I have heard some old timers say skunks and possums are good eating too..

SK