Spotted Gar

The spotted gar can be found from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico down through the Mississippi River drainage system.

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY A SPOTTED GAR

 

 

 

WHERE TO CATCH SPOTTED GAR

It occurs all along the Gulf coast from central Texas to the western portion of the Florida panhandle. East of the Apalachicola drainage, in the remainder of Florida, the spotted gar is replaced by its closest relative, the Florida gar. Both species occur in the Apalachicola drainage itself, where they are believed to hybridize to some extent. In the north of its range, it occurs eastward to the north and south shores of Lake Erie in northern Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario, but is not known to occur much west of Illinois. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

CHANNEL ENTRANCES                   GRADUAL SHORES

INSIDE TURNS AND COVES              LILY PADS

OVERHANGING TREES AND BUSHES        POINTS AND BREAK LINES

SHORELINE SHALLOWS                  SUNKEN OBJECTS

FRESHWATER LAKES AND PONDS          INLETS AND OUTLETS

ISLANDS OR SAND BARS                OPEN WATER

PIERS, DOCKS AND PILINGS           MERGING CURRENTS

SPRING HOLES                       WALKWAYS AND BRIDGES

HOW TO CATCH SPOTTED GAR

The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:

DRIFT FISHING   BAIT CASTING   SPIN CASTING   FLY FISHING

STILL FISHING

 

SPOTTED GAR LURES, TACKLE & BAIT

The following are lures, tackle or bait that can be used to catch this fish:

CUT BAIT    MINNOWS   SPOONS    FLIES    SPINNER BAITS