Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
No statewide daily bag or minimum length.
Identify your catch
Dark spots occur on the head, body and fins.
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
Usually associated with quiet water and aquatic vegetation.
General Spotted 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 ↗