Huge, once-hated fish now seen as weapon against Asian carp

[Sanders]

That's what happens when you go messing with the ecosystem. You may get rid of something you think is a pest, only to have it replaced with something even worse.

It's a toothy giant that can grow longer than a horse and heavier than a refrigerator, a fearsome-looking prehistoric fish that plied U.S. waters from the Gulf of Mexico to Illinois until it disappeared from many states a half-century ago.

Persecuted by anglers and deprived of places to spawn, the alligator gar — with a head that resembles an alligator and two rows of needlelike teeth — survived primarily in southern states in the tributaries of the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico after being declared extinct in several states farther north. To many, it was a freak, a "trash fish" that threatened sportfish, something to be exterminated.

But the once-reviled predator is now being seen as a valuable fish in its own right, and as a potential weapon against a more threatening intruder: the invasive Asian carp, which have swum almost unchecked toward the Great Lakes, with little more than an electric barrier to keep them at bay. Efforts are now underway to reintroduce the alligator gar in the northern part of its old range.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/huge-o...053052931.html

[hangfire]

I used to catch them all the time here. Still can.

[aviator]

I used to shoot them in the mud during the dry season when I was a kid.

[4thIDvet]

We have a lot of the Florida Gar here. I am sure their are some Gator Gar's around but I have not seen one on the St. John's. Maybe down aviator's way their may be some still living?
If the boa constrictors ain't ate em..

https://www.takemefishing.org/fish-species/florida-gar/

ADD. When the gar show up all fish leave the A.O.. Their a pain in the ass.

[WWes]

Originally Posted by 4thIDvet

We have a lot of the Florida Gar here. I am sure their are some Gator Gar's around but I have not seen one on the St. John's. Maybe down aviator's way their may be some still living?
If the boa constrictors ain't ate em..

https://www.takemefishing.org/fish-species/florida-gar/

ADD. When the gar show up all fish leave the A.O.. Their a pain in the ass.

We've got skinny little gar up here but when they set up camp the fishing is over. Worse than beavers.

[4thIDvet]

Yeah same here Wes fishing be done. The alligator gar will for sure eat the Asian carp but what their not saying is they will eat anything they can get ahold of.
Good game fish will be on the menu also. My neighbor swears by them being the best fish he ever et. He takes the back strap out and cooks em up.

[Pogo]

Worse than the Asian Carp is the Snakehead. If they ever get in the Great Lakes the eco system will be changed forever.

[baboon]

I've seen some huge alligator gar in the Brazos river. Very cool fish in my mind. I know shitskins & chilishitters will eat them. Indians made arrow heads out of their scales. Frayed out nylon rope with catch them. They get their teeth caught in them.

[4thIDvet]

Originally Posted by Pogo

Worse than the Asian Carp is the Snakehead. If they ever get in the Great Lakes the eco system will be changed forever.

Interesting I had to look them up Pogo. Yeah not good. Now we have the Armored Catfish here tearing up the river. They can cost some money if they undermine a homeowners sea wall.

"Armored catfish wreaking havoc in South Florida lakes"

"A species of "armored catfish" are damaging South Florida's lakes, causing coastal erosion and even burrowing holes that trip up humans walking along the water's edge."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/blogs/sid...182812663.html

[ColonelKorn]

Gar are supposedly tasty, but you need a pair of tin snips to skin them

[500grains]

I will eat them.

[baboon]

Originally Posted by ColonelKorn

Gar are supposedly tasty, but you need a pair of tin snips to skin them

I have heard that too, but never from a white guy!