Shortnose Gar
Lepisosteus platostomus
No statewide daily bag or minimum length.
Identify your catch
Shorter snout than longnose gar; confirm head and spotting characteristics with the species reference.
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
Occurs in large rivers, backwaters and reservoirs.
General Shortnose 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 ↗