Many Many Gar

[DaveR]

Do Gar have any natural predator? Are they any good to eat? Seems like there are many of them in Nolin (for example) Just curious how then may affect or change a fishery. What do they eat, shad? Just thinking that too much of anything can eventually be a bad thing.

[Brick]

They eat other bait fish. Not sure on how they play a role in the eco system on a lake. I have never tried to eat them but have heard they are not very good to eat and have a lot of bones, similiar to a Northern Pike. They also have a slime on them that is very smelly. Hard to get the smell off your boat.

I have caught them trolling using shad, imitation shad, and bucktail jigs. My son caught a 9lb gar this summer. Great fight but I made the mistake of bringing into the boat. Took almost all summer to get the smell out.

[RoadToad]

Do Gar have any natural predator? Are they any good to eat? Seems like there are many of them in Nolin (for example) Just curious how then may affect or change a fishery. What do they eat, shad? Just thinking that too much of anything can eventually be a bad thing.

These are real good questions to address to your local KDFWR Fisheries Biologist. My experience with them has been that they're always happy to answer any question you send them, and they usually do so pretty quickly. You can get a listing from KDFWR's web site. But I can tell you that gar are prehistoric fish, native to Kentucky waters, so it would be their absence, not their presence, that would change the fishery. Also, I'd guess that there probably aren't more of them present; you may be just seeing more of them because of the hot dry summer we've had. Gars like warm water.

Do a Google search on "gar fishing" (leave out the quotation marks), and you'll find more info than you ever wanted to know about gars.

[bull_bluegill]

I have heard that gar can be tastey. Not that I have tried them personally. I'll stick to my panfish when I want to eat fish.
However, I will say that gar can be fun to catch. During the dog-days of summer (like now), when its too hot to do any good with other fish, we'll go out and rig up minnows about a foot deep under a small float. I like to use the natural cork balls ~3/4 inch diameter. Cast the minnow toward an area where you see them close to the surface, or where they are 'gulping' air. When one takes it, put the reel in free-spool, and let him take line for 30 seconds or so, so that the hook will actually be in his mouth, and not just out on his beak amongst all those teeth. Then set the hook, and have a fun battle.
Note: Removing the hook can be dangerous to your fingers, so it may be better just to cut your line.

[artcarney_agr]

I have eaten gar and it was pretty good. A cajun friend of mine said that it's a common thing to eat down there in Louisiana. They are a bony fish and best prepared as "gar balls" that look much like hushpuppies. They take an ice cream dipper and use it to get balls of meat off of the gar rather that try to fillet it or any other method. They take the balls, roll them in a batter, deep fry them, and then eat the heck out of it! It's pretty good!

[DJD]

It's amazing what people will eat I figured a man can deep fry just about any meat and it would be tasty! I have tried Mullet from saltwater which was pretty good and it was baked.

[artcarney_agr]

I agree! Cajuns eat nearly anything, but the way they can cook they make anything taste awesome! I love Cajun food! Doesn't matter what it is, duck, deer, squirrel, rabbit, dove, kangaroo, or snake, if you make a gumbo out of it, it'll be awesome!

I've heard of people eating mullet...I'd have to pass on that - I've always thought of mullet being a better bait than a meal. The same goes for Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel. I've eaten both, but would prefer not to again!

[buzzking]

I'm not eating anything's balls, much less a gar....

[CTFSHWHISKER]

commercial fishing is about the only control for gar,carp,buffalo,drum etc.
when my uncle net fished rough river many years back with gill nets all those fish were sold to be eat even gar. if you grind them up and can them in a pressure cooker,like grandma,them make salmon like patties carp buffalo etc are actually pretty good,the pressure cooking dissolve the bones.
just don't put tails and fins and main skeleton in it..