Anyone have a successful way to fish for Alligator Garfish

[Laelkhunter]

Found a 3 acre pond that has some nice sized Garfish (some close to 4 feet). Water depth is about 8 feet deep, but we keep seeing them rolling on the top of the water for a second or two. Can't get them to bite on anything (cut bait, articificials, stink bait), and we have tried fishing under a float (cork) and on the bottom. No luck. Anyone have a suggestion for fishing for them? Dynamite is out of the question, but we are tempted (just kidding of course).

 

[rwc101]

I used to catch gar on dead shad with a treble hook in the back. Could try the old rope trick.

 

[TN2shot07]

We always seem to catch them on accident crappie fishing, either a minnow under a cork or a jig tipped with a minnow. Never targeted them, but they will miss up a perfectly good crappie rig

 

[bobbydean]

When I first starting fishing at least 50 plus years, we caught gar with worms. They were fun to catch. Fished the Pecos river, gar or catfish and some times perch.

 

[JTHOMP]

We’ve caught them incidental to running jugs or trot lines for catfish usually using worms or crawfish. Nothing over 3 feet though. One person I know that has targeted bigs one jugged for them. He used mullet and a big treble hook attached to a meter leader. The metal leader was run from the mouth of the mullet through the tail so that the points of the treble hook were just inside the mullet. Can’t say I’ve done it myself but he caught some big ones.

Could also look into a bow fishing rig and shoot one.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

I have seen people archery hunt them at night and also rigging tree
lines overnight with dead Bluegill/Perch.
Mulletman has a few nightime archery episodes on Y.T.

 

[PrairieHunter]

archery at night ^^

 

[wytex]

Live bait, decent sized with a treble hook.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Thanks for your replies. They seem to ignore the cut baits, but the turtles love it and won't leave it alone. I haven't tried any live minnows or other live bait- might try that. Lots of turtles in the pond, they will harass any kind of meat (live or dead).

 

[DUKRAZY]

Live bait on top

 

[Laelkhunter]

Another part to my question, if the gar are spawning, would that make them more aggressive toward an artificial thrown their way, or are they likely to ignore it while they are in "rut" and have other things on their mind?

 

[shootbrownelk]

Thanks for your replies. They seem to ignore the cut baits, but the turtles love it and won't leave it alone. I haven't tried any live minnows or other live bait- might try that. Lots of turtles in the pond, they will harass any kind of meat (live or dead).

Snapping turtles? I'd rather have the Snappers than the Gars. We used to catch Gars when we were Northern Pike fishing using large golden shiners. Never tried to eat one....too damned ugly.

 

[brushcreek]

6-9 inch strand of white rope

 

[SG25]

Caught a lot with live bait about a foot under the water with a cork/bobber. I've also shot a lot bowfishing at night.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Snapping turtles? I'd rather have the Snappers than the Gars. We used to catch Gars when we were Northern Pike fishing using large golden shiners. Never tried to eat one....too damned ugly.

It's a mix of snapping turtles, green turtles, and I have seen at least two soft-shell turtles.

 

[Laelkhunter]

6-9 inch strand of white rope

Is that where you unravel the end and the gar bites it, and gets tangled in it??

 

[noharleyyet]

"Can you eat alligator gar?
The flesh of the alligator gar is white and firm with a mild taste, comparable to the flesh of many sport fishes that anglers eat. ... While the flesh is tasty, it should be noted that the eggs of the alligator gar are toxic and may cause sickness if eaten."

Anyone cook em?

 

[3855WIN]

Unravel some rope.

 

[Laelkhunter]

"Can you eat alligator gar?
The flesh of the alligator gar is white and firm with a mild taste, comparable to the flesh of many sport fishes that anglers eat. ... While the flesh is tasty, it should be noted that the eggs of the alligator gar are toxic and may cause sickness if eaten."

Anyone cook em?

I had some a long time ago. Someone gave me some filets. It is firm, white meat, and doesn't have a fishy taste. I cooked it like fried chicken, cutting into two inch pieces, rolling in seasoned flour, then frying in Crisco until crispy. It honestly tasted like white meat chicken. I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[brushcreek]

Is that where you unravel the end and the gar bites it, and gets tangled in it??

correct