Alligator Gar Restoration-Survey

[peter]

Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources News Release


Survey to gauge public opinion on restoration of alligator gar in western Kentucky

Frankfort, Ky. – The fisheries division of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources invites the public to take a confidential, online survey to provide their opinions on the restoration of alligator gar in western Kentucky.

“They were once native to Kentucky, but are no longer here,” said Ryan Oster, federal aid coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “The focus is solely directed at stocking the alligator gar in its original habitat in the sloughs of the Mississippi River and lower Ohio.”

In southern states, alligator gar may grow to nearly 10 feet and weigh 300 pounds. They are highly sought by anglers wanting to catch one of the biggest freshwater fishes in the United States.

This species of gar hasn’t been documented in Kentucky for nearly 50 years. Federal funds will pay for half of the restoration costs.

The survey is located on Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s homepage at fw.ky.gov. On the right side of the page, click on the photo of an alligator gar with the statement “We Need Your Help! Take the Alligator Gar Survey.” It takes less than five minutes to answer the questions.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife plans to stock sloughs and oxbows on department-owned property in western Kentucky. Many of these waters no longer offer good fishing for bass, crappie and catfish because they have been taken over by Asian carp.

“The alligator gar would also be a predator on those Asian carp,” said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

The survey will be online for approximately two weeks.

[peter]

I saw a stuffed/mounted whatever you want to call it one of these things on the tombigby River in southern Al and I thought it was a hoax. Looked like an alligator with no legs. That would be some extreeme, wild fishing.

Peter

[raincheck]

If they eat those carp i'm all for it.Terry Adolph

[leakinwader]

In-Fisherman recently had an article on them. From memory they called them an untapped bonanza. Or something similar. I'd love to catch one, or imagine a kid on the other end of one.
In my humble opinion, they should be brought back!
Gone for the survey............

[jcclark]

If they eat those carp i'm all for it.Terry Adolph

They'll eat everything else too.

[kygorski]

Hey its only money, so were going to spend money on a problem that was supposed to solve some other problem. The problem with problems is , there are two ways to look at the solution. I remember reading once, there is always a negative side to a good solution.As far as it was a native fish, bnring it back? wolves were also native, and some folks out west curse them because of the cattle, that graze on a lot of federal land.Elk were native to this area, beforwe cars, hit one of those monsters, and you'll wonder whose idea that was.

[JD7.62]

Survey will be taken for sure~!

Though I would like to see money go to PEOPLE first, Atractosteus spatula, is an AMAZING annimal. I just hope the .gov doesnt do what it usually does and spends WAY too much money on a simple project. I could order a thousand lot of gator juvis for around $7-10ea and I am sure they can get them alot cheaper. I just dont want to see them spending $100,000 on something like this.

I also hope they dont allow bowfishing for these ancient beasts. I am all for bowfishing for rough fish but nothing peeves me off more then a bow "angler" stalking an 8ft 50-60year old animal that still has another 50+ years in her, in 2ft of water just to kill and use it for fertilizer. Wouldnt catching one on rod and reel with a C&R be more fun anyhow?

Ive been folowing a similiar restocking initiative in MO with gator gar and a good friend of mine shocked the area for a survey. Sadly even the giant gator gar couldnt compete with other natives and project isnt doing so well so far.

[bassin_bug]

They'll eat everything else too.

No they won't. I've lived on and fished the Tombigbee River and its tributaries all my life. It has large numbers of fish of all species native to that area and some very exciting fishing. You can catch as many large bass, bream, crappie, catfish, eels, etc. as you can from a place that's never heard of the alligator gar. btw I caught a 9# largemouth bass out of the same hole of water where I had, thirty minutes before, caught a 12# alligator gar. The difference was that I was fishing red wigglers (live worms) when I caught the gar and was using a spinner bait when I caught the bass. In my area, the gar tends to like creeks that join the river. It may be, in part, because of the deep grass beds and dense cover the creeks provide.

As a matter of fact, I hope to be fishing in a bass tournament on the Tombigbee River within in a few months.

I think it's a good idea to re-introduce the gar to your area. jmo

[peter]

If they eat those carp i'm all for it.Terry Adolph

10-4 If they eat the Asian Silver and Buffalo carp and not other fish and not people bring em on. They look lke they might eat dogs and cats though.
Peter

[JD7.62]

10-4 If they eat the Asian Silver and Buffalo carp and not other fish and not people bring em on. They look lke they might eat dogs and cats though.
Peter

The fish will not eat JUST exotic carp and if by buffalo carp you mean buffalo sucker, they are native. Their presence shouldnt hurt what little game fish are found in their preferred habitat. Also, like all gar, they are easily spooked and would never and have never attacked a human. If you bring a good sized "green" one in the boat they could easily snap a leg with that body built like a tank!

[peter]

You are right. I meant Big Head Carp. Haven't been fishing in a while...forgetting my fish.
Peter

[bassin_bug]

I saw a stuffed/mounted whatever you want to call it one of these things on the tombigby River in southern Al and I thought it was a hoax. Looked like an alligator with no legs. That would be some extreeme, wild fishing.

Peter

I've caught alligator gars on the Tombigbee River and they come out of the water snapping at you like a Pit Bull. They have some bad looking teeth. I promise you will do some fast dance steps you never knew about when one of those things drops off the line and falls between your feet. They snap their teeth and will bite the heck out of you.

That stirred up some funny memories of seeing people climbing up on boat seats, slipping and falling on the Gar, and even diving into the river to get away from them. It seems like one Gar can take control of a whole boat load of people. LOL

If you don't use a steel leader they will bite your fishing line in two and you have to use big pliers to remove the hooks from their mouth or they will remove your fingers.