Gar Eggs

Ark. family learns the hard way gar eggs are toxic
The Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 8:28 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 8:28 p.m.
Take it from Darwin Aaron and his family in Cleburne County: gar eggs are poisonous. Tiffany Aaron said her husband, Darwin, and brother-in-law, Russell Aaron, took a long-nosed gar while spearfishing at Greers Ferry Lake on April 5. Gar meat is edible, so they figured they'd try the roe.





They prepared the eggs that evening, with Darwin and Russell Aaron eating some, along with Darwin and Tiffany's 10-year-old son, Carson.

Carson was the first to start vomiting at about 1:30 a.m. Russell and Darwin soon were sick, too.

Tiffany Aaron looked online and read that gar eggs are poisonous.

All three family members recovered after a few days.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said eggs from all gar species are highly toxic.

I use to love spear fishing for gar, however eating them never crossed my mind. Glad to hear they all recovered.

I guess we've all hooked our fair share on crank baits and top water lures, the hook usually comes out, but every once in a while you get one embedded into the snout and it's on. They jump like tarpon, run like bone fish, and put up a whale of a fight. Lots of fun until it's time to try and get your lure back.