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Shortnose Gar

Shortnose Gar

The Shortnose Gar is a primitive freshwater fish native to Texas, though it's the least common and least known gar species in the state.

Scientific Name: Lepisosteus platostomus

Physical Characteristics:
  • Shortnose Gar are distinguished from other gar species by their relatively short, broad snout that is only about 5.5 times as long as its narrowest width - much shorter than the longnose gar's beak.
  • They typically grow to 25-35 inches and weigh 5-6 pounds, with a maximum length around 35 inches.
  • Their bodies are brown to olive green above with yellowish sides and white undersides, covered in interlocking rhomboidal ganoid scales that provide armor-like protection.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • These fish primarily inhabit the Red River basin on the Texas-Oklahoma border, with their native range extending from South Dakota to the Ohio Valley and south to Alabama and Texas.
  • These fish inhabit calm waters in large rivers and backwaters, oxbow lakes, bayous, and slow delta rivers, preferring areas with little to no aquatic vegetation.

Key Locations

  • Focus fishing efforts in the Red River basin along the Texas-Oklahoma border where this species is most abundant.

Specific Spots

  • Target calm backwater areas of rivers, oxbow lakes, and large quiet pools, especially those with little aquatic vegetation around submerged logs or structure.

Shortnose Gar FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Shortnose Gar in Texas?

Traditional tackle includes cut bait, minnows, spoons, and spinner baits. Live bait like shiners, shad, or suckers are effective, as are crayfish and large perch.

What flies work for Shortnose Gar in Texas?

For fly fishing, use rope flies (frayed nylon that tangles in their teeth) or stinger hook flies with white baitfish patterns. Size 8-10 red squirmy worm hybrid flies with tungsten beadheads work well, tied on Firehole 315-316 hooks.

When is the best time to fish for Shortnose Gar in Texas?

The best time to target Shortnose Gar in Texas is during the summer months, particularly July and August when water temperatures are warmest. This spawning period should be avoided for fishing to protect reproducing fish (April, May, and June when water temperatures reach 61-70°F).

How do you catch Shortnose Gar in Texas?

Employ ambush fishing techniques - cast baitfish-imitation plugs near surfacing gar but keep the lure relatively still with only occasional twitches. Practice extreme patience, allowing gar to approach the bait slowly before giving it the smallest motion to trigger a strike.

What do Shortnose Gar eat?

As efficient ambush predators, Shortnose Gar feed primarily on fish but consume more invertebrates than any other gar species, including crayfish, insects, and other invertebrates. During seasonal flooding, they exploit newly accessible floodplains to reach terrestrial prey like insects and amphibians.

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