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Spotted Gar

The spotted gar can be found from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico down through the Mississippi River drainage system.

Region

Midwest, South

Catch Ease

Easy

Habitat

Lake, Pond, River

How to identify a Spotted Gar

Where to catch Spotted Gar

It occurs all along the Gulf coast from central Texas to the western portion of the Florida panhandle. East of the Apalachicola drainage, in the remainder of Florida, the spotted gar is replaced by its closest relative, the Florida gar. Both species occur in the Apalachicola drainage itself, where they are believed to hybridize to some extent. In the north of its range, it occurs eastward to the north and south shores of Lake Erie in northern Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario, but is not known to occur much west of Illinois. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

Channel Entrances

Gradual Shores

Inside Turns and Coves

Lily Pads

Overhanging Trees and Bushes

Points and Break Lines

Shoreline Shallows

Sunken Objects

Freshwater Lakes and Ponds

Inlets and Outlets

Islands or Sand Bars

Open Water