Gars are a relic from a large group of primitive fishes.  They are long, slender with toothy mouths and hard, diamond-shaped scales.  Gars are most common in warm, sluggish rivers and lakes and feed primarily on other fish.  Gars are challenging to catch and are generally considered a nuisance.  Gar eggs (roe) and gonads are extremely toxic if eaten.  Eggs are deposited in shallow water when the temperature reaches 60-68 degrees.

 

There are four members of the gar family in Arkansas.  The alligator gar, spotted gar, longnose gar and shortnose gar.  Use the hyperlinks below to learn more about these fish.