Description  They have    irregular round, black spots on the top of the head and over the entire body and on all the fins. Other gars, except for spotted gars, have spots on the fins and usually on the posterior part of the body. They can   be  distinguished from other gars, such as spotted gars, by the distance from the front of the eye to the back of the gill cover. In Florida gars, the distance is less than two-thirds the length of the snout.  In  spotted  gars, the distance is more than two-thirds the length of the snout. Other characteristics of Florida gars include a shorter, broader snout with a single row of irregularly spaced sharp teeth on  both upper  and lower jaws  and no bony scales on the throat. The coloration is olive-brown along the back and upper sides with a white-to-yellow belly. The young sometimes have dark stripes along back and  sides.    Biology   Like all gars, they use an air bladder to breathe air to survive in poorly  oxygenated  water.   Spawning occurs in  late winter and early spring. Groups of fish of both sexes congregate in shallow weedy waters where the females discharge their adhesive eggs among the  submerged aquatic  plants. The newly hatched young possess an  adhesive organ on the end of their snout and stay attached to vegetation until they are about 3/4-inch long.  Young fish feed on zooplankton,  insect larvae and small  fish. Adults primarily feed on fish, shrimp and  crayfish.   Florida gars grow rapidly and can reach a length of 30 inches.   Although edible, they are unpopular as  food. The roe is highly toxic  to humans, animals and birds.  World Record -  21.19 pounds, caught in Boca Raton, Florida, in 1981.   Distribution  They are found in the Ochlockonee River and waters east and south in peninsular Florida.    They  inhabit medium-to-large lowland streams, canals and lakes with mud or sand bottoms near underwater vegetation. Bowfishing Facts  This species of gar can give the bowfishermen a shot or two that is for sure!  Like the name  implies, Florida is where to find them.  They resemble Longnose gar in size and  quality. They look very much  like shortnose gar.  Any way you look at them make sure it is through the sites of your bow, and  then release the string.  They should be taken with chiseled points and  heavy gauge line to prevent  fraying of the braided string.  They can be found basking in the afternoons in the summer in warm still  water.  Night fishing is also a good choice for these skittish  creatures!   [Home Page] [Links] [Species] [Tourneys] [Boat Rigs] [Photos] [Equipment] [Contact Us] [The Store]