"Here are a few tips for Gator gars!

Your going to need large cut baits for the big one's, most people use carp, and buffalo, But I caught these on cut Skip jack (ladyfish), mullet, hardhead catfish, and bowfin.

For rigging, I use a slip float rig (see picture below).
Its just a 6ft 170lb wire leader, a 5/0 mustad Treble hook, 1oz running lead, and a running float.
Your going to need to know how to tie a float stop knot.
Set the stop knot at *twice* the depth of the water your fishing, as the float is just for showing the fishes position while it's running.

Ok, now that you have your bait, and rigs ready, when you find the spot your going to fish, cast, or boat your bait out to the shallows. Set your reel to clicker, for free spool and wait for the fish to run!
When it runs, it will start moving off with the float in trail. Let the fish fun for a short while, and set the hook. The Bait should be still in it mouth. You don't want to gut hook a fish your not going to keep! Now get ready for a fight few fish can provide!

 

How I land the gar is by putting a rope around the gar *Under his pectoral fins* and lift in to the boat.
Then *Get out of the way* because his is going to thrash. after his done thrashing, this toothy critter is very docile for the most part.

 

Be sure to take pics to post on the forum, and release him safely, if you don't plan to eat them. ;)

 

Gar will bite! Keep your limbs out of the way of the gar!"

 

 

 

"I have been able to catch large alligator gar in the Nueces River near Corpus Christi by fishing a large J-hook, a large live mullet, stout wire leader, a large bobber, and a very stout and long rod (I used surf tackle). Hang the bait below the bobber, but only about 18" deep. Don't use any weight. I used a big popping bobber, because that is what I had, but I think that sometimes popping it a little did get the attention of some gar. I admit that hooking percentage was low, but I was able to catch some gar in the mouth by waiting until the fish was swimming away from me with the bait in its mouth, and then setting the hook like there was no tomorrow. Every fish I landed was hooked in the corner of the jaw. There is essentially no penetrating any other part of the mouth.

Watch the teeth, when you get one in the boat. Like longnose or shortnose, They don't have to have their mouth open to tear you up pretty bad. Don't try to grab the snout and keep the mouth closed to keep from being hurt. The fish will shake its head and tear you up badly with those fangs that are on the outside of the end of the snout. Also, gar flopping in the boat is very dangerous, especially, but not only, to bare legs and arms."