Alligator Gar
Atractosteus spatula
1 daily, no minimum; report harvest to TPWD within 24 hours.
Identify your catch
Broad snout, heavy armored scales and two rows of teeth on each side of the upper jaw.
Habitat on Sam Rayburn
TPWD lake records document alligator, longnose, spotted and shortnose gar. Historical catches document occurrence, not present-day abundance.
Fishing approach
Gar occupy a range of shallow and open-water habitats; confirm species and gear rules before fishing or retaining.
Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.
All gar: women of childbearing age and children under 12 DO NOT EAT; adult men and women past childbearing age 1 meal/month.
Harvest permission and eating restrictions are separate.
General species guide
A long-lived predator in large rivers, reservoirs and some coastal waters.
General Alligator Gar profile →Sources & lake evidence
TPWD Sam Rayburn lake guide and historical water-body records. Records establish occurrence, not current abundance.
Lake harvest rules ↗Eating guidance ↗Lake habitat & fishing guide ↗Species identification ↗