LONGNOSE GAR

The Longnose Gar is a living fossil — a sleek, armor-plated predator with roots dating back over 100 million years. Known for its ridiculously long, needle-like snout packed with sharp teeth, the longnose gar is built for speed, stealth, and sudden attacks. This fish is a true river missile, ambushing smaller fish with lightning-fast sideways strikes.

Found across much of the eastern and central U.S., this gar is incredibly hardy. It thrives in lakes, large rivers, and backwaters, often cruising just under the surface or lurking motionless near submerged logs. While often overlooked by casual anglers, longnose gar are a blast on the line, known for hard runs and epic thrashing when hooked.

Record Size: 43lbs

Where to Find Them: Near the surface of slow rivers, weedy backwaters, shallow bays, under logs and bridges.

Gar in the Pan Recipes | Bass Pro Shops 

1. Longnose gar can breathe air using a specialized swim bladder — they surface to gulp air in low-oxygen waters.
   
   

2. Their ganoid scales are so tough that Native Americans used them as arrow tips and armor.
   
   

3. Despite their fierce look, longnose gar are not dangerous to humans and often get mistaken for alligator gars.