------------------------------------------------------------------

Oklahoma Record:  153lbs 10ozs.

World Record: 215 lbs.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Description They are one of the most distinctive freshwater fish species. Alligator, the largest of all gar, get their name from their distinctive, reptilian head. They can be distinguished from all other gars species by the 2 rows of teeth in the upper jaw, their short-broader snout and their size when fully grown. The body is long, slender, olive or greenish brown (sometimes black) along the back and upper sides with white to yellow bellies. The sides are mottled toward the head with large black spots toward the rear and on the rear fins. The young have a light stripe along their back from tip of snout to upper base of caudal fin
------------------------------------------------------------------
Range: The gar is in just about every major tributary in the state, along with most major lakes that are fed by a river or creek system
------------------------------------------------------------------
Habitat: They inhabit sluggish pools and backwaters of large rivers, and lakes. They rarely are found in brackish  water living in large, navigable river systems stack up in large numbers below dams at this time. After spawning, gar move deeper and relate to drop-offs and weed edges where they prowl for food. In large bodies of water, packs of gar roam wide, open expanses while following schools of baitfish. They are often caught long distances from structure and well above the bottom.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Feeding Habits: They mainly feed on fish but are known to eat ducks and other water birds
------------------------------------------------------------------
Growth: They are one of the monsters of fresh waters. They can reach lengths of up to 10 feet and weights of more than 200 pounds
------------------------------------------------------------------
Eating Quality: Alligator gar are edible but hardly considered a food fish. When eaten, their meat is normally served smoked. Alligator gar roe is poisonous, to birds, animals, and humans, but safe for other fish to eat. There is very little commercial interest in this fish.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Sporting Quality: Despite their huge size and great strength, alligator gars are not very popular with anglers. They are not a fish that is caught easily because its sharp teeth will cut most lines in an instant. But one of my favorite fish on off times, using a inline spinnerbait replacing the hook with unwound nylon rope. The rope catches in the Gar's teeth and they don't cut the line. I fish for them in the tail waters of Kaw Lake, we call them "Poor Man Marlin", because when you hook one he will jump 5 or 6 times, kind of like a marlin! They are sought often by bow-fishermen

Hottest Lakes