Alligator gar

[Doskil]

So the TWRA is stocking alligator gar?

Lets hope it works out, they get huge

 

[rukiddin]

Been stocking them for a few years now.

 

[tree_ghost]

Some good bowfishing right there!


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[rsimms]

Been stocking them for a few years now.

Where??? This is news to me and I sort of keep up with this stuff.

 

[rukiddin]

Been stocking them for a few years now.

Where??? This is news to me and I sort of keep up with this stuff.

I can more detailed info but I know they been stocking in the hatchie area.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Page 6

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/twra/ ... ocking.pdf

Hatchie River

Alligator Gar 700 07/11/2017
Alligator Gar 766 07/11/2017
Alligator Gar 1,321 07/13/2017
Alligator Gar 1,321 07/13/2017

 

[rsimms]

Page 6

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/twra/ ... ocking.pdf

Hatchie River

Alligator Gar 700 07/11/2017
Alligator Gar 766 07/11/2017
Alligator Gar 1,321 07/13/2017
Alligator Gar 1,321 07/13/2017

Thanks! Good to know.

 

[UpperTully]

I wonder why they chose the Hatchie for all those gar.

 

[TNReb]

Been stocking them for a few years now.

Where??? This is news to me and I sort of keep up with this stuff.

True. I have a good friend who is a manager at the TWRA fish hatchery. He told me about it several months ago.

 

[Dodge Man]

Alligator gar have declined drastically in abundance over the past fifty years and the decline has been attributed to habitat loss. Accordingly, there has been an on- going stocking program since 1999 to restore this gar in West Tennessee. For now, alligator gar are protected in the state and if one is caught, it must be released imme- diately. However, anglers are encouraged to report alligator gar catches to the nearest TWRA regional office, as this will assist the Agency in monitoring the restoration effort.


https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/twra/ ... sguide.pdf

 

[Dodge Man]

Alligator gar stocking efforts in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have begun on sections of the Obion River and the Forked Deer River. On July 30, 1999, 300 alligator gar fingerlings from Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery were stocked into the South Fork of the Obion River and 25 fingerlings were stocked into the Middle Fork of the Forked Deer River. On August 17, 1999, 100 alligator gar fingerlings from Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery were stocked into the South Fork of the Forked Deer River. On July 12, 2001, 61 alligator gar fingerlings were stocked in the North Fork of the Forked Deer River and 61 alligator gar fingerlings were stocked in the Hatchie River. All alligator gar stocked were eight to thirteen inches in length and in 2001 tagged with a binary coded wire tag. Figure 1 illustrates the locations of all alligator gar sightings and stocking locations in Tennessee waters from 1999 to present.

https://www.nicholls.edu/bayousphere/wo ... nessee.pdf

 

[Crosshairy]

I think the reason that the Hatchie and Forked Deer rivers were on the list is because of their meandering flow paths and tendency to flood (i.e. traditional alligator gar habitat). There's also significantly less boat traffic on those rivers, in case collision-caused mortality was a concern.

I have personally seen a mature alligator gar in the tailwater below Pickwick Lake probably 18-20 years ago. Certainly not a common fish to see on my trips.

 

[RUGER]

Some good bowfishing right there!

For now, alligator gar are protected in the state and if one is caught, it must be released imme- diately.

Both true statements.
I wonder what / if any rules will be in place to prevent them from being shot?
I wouldn't think it would be possible to tell the difference between the 4 (?) different species of gar in TN when bowfishing at night?

Just a thought.

 

[Bigmonts]

Ruger I would say the answer to that is like looking for a beard on a turkey, or when a deer had to have at least a 3" antler.

 

[UpperTully]

I think the reason that the Hatchie and Forked Deer rivers were on the list is because of their meandering flow paths and tendency to flood (i.e. traditional alligator gar habitat). There's also significantly less boat traffic on those rivers, in case collision-caused mortality was a concern.

I have personally seen a mature alligator gar in the tailwater below Pickwick Lake probably 18-20 years ago. Certainly not a common fish to see on my trips.

That's what I was wondering, I frequent the Hatchie and had no idea they were stocking them there.

 

[easy45]

I would love to catch a big one, it's on my bucket list for fishing.


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[Mike Belt]

How many of you guys have fished specifically for gar? We used to on the Hatchie out of Brownsville and Covington. Fun fish to catch.

 

[gecko7]

I've specifically fished for long nose, shortnose, and spotted gar. Yes, they are fun to catch.

 

[RUGER]

I used to down past the spillway at Reelfoot, pretty fun but hard to hook if you don't have the right equipment.

 

[Crosshairy]

I wouldn't think it would be possible to tell the difference between the 4 (?) different species of gar in TN when bowfishing at night?

Just a thought.

an alligator gar's snout is very wide compared to the other gar species, plus it obviously gets much bigger. To me, a small-ish alligator gar looks more like a musky/pike in terms of body shape.

 

[user 14220]

I read somewhere that alligator gar will eat Asian carp. Wonder if this might be one of the reasons for the restocking?