Need Alligator Gar?

[Rudypoo4444]

I thought the EXACT same thing when I first heard about the KDFW re-stocking this species. Do we "really' need these things back in our waters? It seems that in order for a predator fish to sustain, on average of 6 to 7 feet in length and 150 lbs, they're going to have to eat a LOT of other fish on a DAILY basis.

Sure, if the alligator gar choose to dine on the asian or silver carp then I'm all about it...but we all know they will eat anything and everything they can get their teeth on. Which means yet one more thing for our sport fish to have to compete with in order to survive. I fully support our KDFW officers and officials, but I have to disagree with re-stocking the alligator gar.

With the growth/maturity rate of alligator gar, do you really think they are going to even put a dent in the bass population? Lets be realistic, there are plenty of bass in KY waters that alligator gar are never going to touch their numbers. They grow too slow and reproduce even slower.

[BassBest]

With the growth/maturity rate of alligator gar, do you really think they are going to even put a dent in the bass population? Lets be realistic, there are plenty of bass in KY waters that alligator gar are never going to touch their numbers. They grow too slow and reproduce even slower.

You're thinking solely about our generation. Think about have hundreds of alligator over 10 ft long and a couple hundred #'s 20 yrs from now, or even 40 yrs or however long they will survive. They will feed on bass, let's just hope rough fish take up most of the menu.

[BassBest]

It sounds like they are less threatening to gamefish as the other gar we have, but knowing the seniority of the other gar we already have here makes adding another sound like a bad idea.