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Gar: Florida Gar

Florida Gar
(Lepisosteus platyrhincus)

Common Names - gar, garfish, spotted gar

Description - They have irregular round, black spots on the top of the head and over the entire body and on all the fins. Other gars, except for spotted gars, have spots on the fins and usually on the posterior part of the body. They can be distinguished from other gars, such as spotted gars, by the distance from the front of the eye to the back of the gill cover. In Florida gars, the distance is less than two-thirds the length of the snout. In spotted gars, the distance is more than two-thirds the length of the snout. Other characteristics of Florida gars include a shorter, broader snout with a single row of irregularly spaced sharp teeth on both upper and lower jaws and no bony scales on the throat. The coloration is olive-brown along the back and upper sides with a white-to-yellow belly. The young sometimes have dark stripes along back and sides.

Subspecies - There are no recognized subspecies.

Range - They are found in the Ochlockonee River and waters east and south in peninsular Florida.

Habitat - They inhabit medium-to-large lowland streams, canals and lakes with mud or sand bottoms near underwater vegetation. Like all gars, they use an air bladder to breathe air to survive in poorly oxygenated water.

Spawning Habits - Spawning occurs in late winter and early spring. Groups of fish of both sexes congregate in shallow weedy waters where the females discharge their adhesive eggs among the submerged aquatic plants. The newly hatched young possess an adhesive organ on the end of their snout and stay attached to vegetation until they are about 3/4-inch long.

Feeding Habits - Young fish feed on zooplankton, insect larvae and small fish. Adults primarily feed on fish, shrimp and crayfish.

Age and Growth - Florida gars grow rapidly and can reach a length of 30 inches.

Sporting Qualities - See longnose gar.

Eating Quality - Although edible, they are unpopular as food. The roe is highly toxic to humans, animals and birds.

World Record - 21.19 pounds, caught in Boca Raton, Florida, in 1981.

State Record - 7.00 pounds, caught in Ocklawaha River, Putnam County, in 1988.

For more info on gar fishing check out the Gar Anglers' Sporting Society page at http://www.garfishing.com/