asherman Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 I have caught a few gar over the years, but this guy in Texas caught one that was a bit bigger. http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/33939/texas+fisherman+prevails+in+epic+battle+with+enormous+alligator+gar/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Yikes! Beats the heck out of my 44 incher. Everything is bigger in Texas . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben K. Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Amazing specimen Nans on calling him a fisherman though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 Wow! That is a monster! Though supposedly they're non-existent in Illinois, I have seen one gator gar in my entire life in Illinois and although it was huge, as long as my boat oar, nothing close to that one. I love the fact that he was using an old recurve with an old "outdated" shoot thru spool reel. Good for him. Hmm, wonder what those fillets would taste like from a fish that old? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 Rob, I read an article last year that said the IDNR planted about a dozen small alligator gar in a lake near Hennepin, supposedly introducing the species back into the state. Sharpen those arrows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 John, they're protected in Illinois so you can't shoot them. I may have stated this before but I did have one come up right next to the boat one night at 3 AM while bowfishing on the Sangamon River just west of Decatur, IL. It's head was as wide as a dinner plate but he was mostly submerged so I couldn't see his exact length. But he sure put to shame even our largest Illinois longnose gar that can get up 25 lbs. Below is my personal best at 60" and 20+ lbs, what a pup compared to that Texas thing, he would probably have eaten mine for lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted June 24, 2012 Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 Rob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Biggest Illinois gar I have ever seen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted June 24, 2012 Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 I have shot one larger but it was on the Tennessee River at night so it wasn't an Illinois fish but a friend of mine got one near the confluence of the Wabash and Ohio rivers a year or two ago that went 25 lbs, it wasn't that much longer than mine but had an enormous belly and was getting ready to spawn. Again a mere pup when compared to a 300+ lb Gator gar in that article. I simply can't imagine getting that beast in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 btw, John have you eaten any of our Illinois gar? Like those Asian carp, can be decent table fare if a few steps are taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 No I haven't Rob. I have seen some recipes for them. I think I'll stick with the carp. More meat for the effort . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 Well you're right on that account but with gar, you don't have to do any de-boning, just two long strips of boneless white meat. A couple tips though, a pair of tin snips works wonders when making the one initial cut needed down the superior mid-line through their armor like scales. Also don't let the fillets soak in water in the fridge for any length of time, they absorb too much water and become somewhat "rubbery". If you change your mind, I've got some great recipes for fried gar balls. (Not what you're thinking) Also never eat the eggs of a gar as they're very poisonous. Next up, spoonbill recipes from my grandmother's kitchen Ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 Sounns like snake. Just ribs and white meat. I've eaten fried rattlesnake before and it was quite good. I would give gar a try if you were the cook Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 John, just recently read an article that several states are reintroducing gator gar in the hopes that they can reduce the Asian carp population, Ha, like that's going to happen! Btw, yesterday while fishing smallies, the gar wouldn't leave my flies alone. I caught and landed 3 or 4 but had several on and too many hits to count. They were unusally agressive yesterday so I'm heading over tomorrow with some rope flies in hand and see if I can get any takers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 I'd like to see a pic of those teeth snared in a rope fly. Keep us filled in Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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