Gar Cooking

[Guest Brian B.]

They are brawlers aren't they? I don't eat em, but they do throw down.

[Feathers and Fins]

Well, I did it. Got me a garrrrrrrrrrrr permit. Heck, I never knew you even had to have a permit, but I was just checking on length requirements and all. Interesting. Now I'm torn between chasing after one, or completing my mission for a 10lb+ striper. Tough one. May just have to carry the flyrod with me on my outings is all.

Psst Nathan... Those are for ALLIGATOR GAR ONLY! The ones up here are primarily Longnose Gar listed as Rough Fish – Gar (except alligator gar), bowfin, common carp, Asian carp (grass carp, bighead carp, silver carp), sucker (including buffalo), bullhead and drum.

[Old plug]

YEP Nathan remember those two words rough fish. I just got through about 45 minutes ago roughing it up with a 38"er. Thst was bing very much the rough fish.

How do you guys measure them from tail to end of snout. ??? That is what I did this evening. Also I have 18 1/2 ft Tracker Targa. Being a deep V it does presents some problem with landing at times. If you forget your landing net as I did this evening how do you safely land them. This one the evening was not as nasty as the big one I caught last week. I had no idea though how I was goIng to get it into the boat safely. Finally got him so tired I decided that I was going to pick him up by the snout. I got my hand on it hand he took off in another run. Finally he got very tired and I slipped my gaff around his pictorial fin and lifted him out.

[Guest Brian B.]

You catch today'son that rope deal?

It does sound like fun.

[Old plug]

It could have been a rope lure ,but the one I was using was made from nylon shipping straps that were given to me by wrench. He designed a fly type that is different. All I did was add weight and bulk to his design to use with bait casting.

[Feathers and Fins]

OP I use to use a net a lot but they seem to have the ability to leave the net as fast as you get them in and they are a pain to get out when they do stay so I just use a set of welders gloves now and grab the bill.

Cool thing about Gar is when summer comes around and others species get harder to catch Gar become plentiful and somewhat simple to catch. The perfect Summer fish if you think about it. They fight hard, they are good size and they are perfectly designed for the BBQ. I measure them from tip of snout straight to tail myself.

[Chief Grey Bear]

We used to smoke them and there were really good. But once they cooled, you just as well stuff a handfull of rubber bands in your mouth and chew.

Never did try frying them up. But as they say, you put enough salt and pepper on something, you can eat it.

[nathanhooper]

Well go figure. I don't know why I confused the two. I guess I was just thinking gar. Well, if I run across an alligator gar I'll be prepared. lol

So is it kind of like deer and other animals where the smaller the species the more tender the meat?

[Feathers and Fins]

Meats good on all sizes of gar but easier to clean the larger ones. I am fond of baking fish or grilling or ok ok im found of eating fish lol

[hoglaw]

Can we get a consolidated post on the best way to catch these things with minimal effort? I've caught them on spinnerbaits and crankbaits occasionally, but it seems like for the most part when I try to catch them, they pay no attention to my offering or they sort of follow it around but never commit. I'd love to try for some at Twin Bridges on the White. Not sure I'm ready to make the jump to cleaning them yet, but I sure would like to try my hand at catching some. My fiancee needs to use a spinning or baitcast rod. She's a little intimidated by the fly rod at present.

So with that in mind, what are some lures that are easy enough to put together and catch gar with? I saw the post about the rooster tail type lure with a strand of frayed rope behind it. If you catch one on a contraption like that, are they easy enough to get off the lure? If y'all can share some suggestions, I'll chase them this weekend.