29 Pounds 3/4 oz.
29 Pounds 3/4 oz.
Longnose gar are a drab olive-brown to dark green above and white below. They have numerous large round black spots on the dorsal, anal, and tail fins. The entire body is covered with thick armor-like scales, and the mouth is extended into a long, slender beak. There are usually 8 rays in the dorsal fin, and 8 or 9 in the anal fin. There are 60 to 63 scales in the lateral line.
The longnose gar spawns in May and June when the water temperature reach the upper 60's. Longnose gar spawning in shallow water of lakes or streams over weed beds or gravel. The eggs hatch in only 6 days at 68 degrees F. Longnose gar grow fast with young-of-the-year reaching an average of 18.1 inches. Females grow more rapidly than the males. Male longnose mature at 3-4 years of age and females mature at 5-6 years of age. Longnose gar will can live to be 30 years of age and reach lengths of over 56 inches.
The primary food of the gar is smaller fish.
