Guest entry by NerdyUserName

The island gar is one of two known species of gar that swims within marine waters, the other being Atractosteus tristoechus. Typically, other gars prefer murky and brackish waters like rivers and lakes. Island gars are typically known for their long snouts and vicious-looking row of jagged teeth. Like their freshwater counterparts, they are also heavily armored with ganoid scales. These scales are covered in a substance called dentin which is analogous to human enamel on teeth. The island gar’s scales are sharp and serrated, but their tough texture makes them an ideal candidate for unique jewelry. Before hanging a scale around your neck, be sure to shave down the sharp serrated edges.

With their unique terrible smile and colorful scales, the island gar was for a time a popular fish to have in saltwater aquariums. While small and cute when young, their maximum size would often lead to owners dumping the large fish in local rivers and streams. Ironically, this has led to the island gar being an invasive species in the eastern United States. The native island gar which inhabit the reefs of the Mossfells are less populous than the island gar which now occupy North American estuaries. Unlike the lavish and relaxing lives faces by young island gar in aquariums, the native fish face a challenging existence. The native island gar can typically be found in the shade of sailtrees and other mangroves where the fish hide from the and predators within the convoluted root system.

The precarious island system once provided a better form of protection for the gars with shallower waters, verdant life, and tall rocks that protected against the marine current. As the island ecosystem teeters precariously due to human interference, the island gar have fewer places to find respite from the stronger tides and to hunt smaller prey.

Island gar usually grow to be nearly four feet long, but the largest gar skeleton found preserved in archaeological sites on the island was over five feet long and estimated to be nearly 75 pounds. To the untrained eye, the skull of a large island gar might easily be mistaken as the skull of a small alligator. Unfortunately, the precarious ecosystem is threatening the habitat of the island gars and they no longer flourish. Restrictions against fishing smaller gar were instituted, but the number of island gar that grow long enough to feed the island population and populate gift shops with scale souvenirs are becoming increasingly slim.

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The steady tempo of the waves beat gently on the side of the short wooden dingy, sounding out a hollow thud and rocking the otherwise still figure perched on a carved wooden seat. With a gaze of concentration focused on figures within the moving waves, the woman in the boat steadied her breath and slowly flexed her hands on the fishing rod to bring blood back to her sore fingers. Though the sailtree canopy provided some shade, she could feel the sun laying heavy on her back, shining up onto her cheeks from the crest of the waves, and casting light on shadowy figures beneath the tree.

The woman and the shadows were locked in a contest of stillness. The long shapes could easily be mistaken as logs under the water, but a yellowish tint and a thin snout revealed their true form. They were Island Gar, swimming along at the pace of the marine current to stay perfectly still. So far, they remained undeceived by the shiny silver lure that moved at the end of her line.

Suddenly, a shadowy figure broke from the pack and struck sideways at the silver lure. The woman broke her tense pose and began to reel ferociously. The gar was strong, but the woman was patient. Slowly, she tired out the fish before bringing it out of the water and into her boat. Carefully, she dawned a glove to protect her hands from the serrated edges of the glistening scales. Under her hand, she could feel the hard armor of the fish. She heaved a heavy sigh as she compared the fish to a stretch of rope at the bottom of the boat - this Island Gar was too small. She would face a steep fine if she brought it back to shore to sell its meat and turn its hard scales into jewelry. The shiny round eyes and its long toothy grin seemed eerily smug as she returned the fish to the water.

She stretched her arms and cast another line beneath the waves. With the commotion resolved, the waves began their steady drumming in an otherwise still scene.