I found an Albino/Gold Gar Today. Is It Valuable?

So, as the title states, I saw a gold colored, possibly albino gar today. It was with about 50-75 other longnose gar on Bankhead Lake. It stuck out like a sore thumb, almost shimmering in the water. I know alot my fellow crappie fisherman hate gar and this is not about that! I left him be because I did not have my throw net. I was wondering if anyone knows if it's worth anything (to a collector maybe?) to put in an aquarium. If anybody knows if this is worth going out in the rain trying to net it tomorrow I would love the input. I feel that it will still be there since they were obviously spawning. I may do that anyway. I have no intention of hurting the fish and some research said they were better off in captivity. Maybe for breeding purposes? I don't know. Any input will be greatly appreciated!

yes I hate gar.

Not sure about collectors but may check with local Bass Pro Shops to see if they interested in having it in an aquarium?????

I just found this thread but YES- they are extremely valuable. The gold/white gene is recessive and only about 1 in 10,000 have it. Furthermore for one to survive in a predator filled ecosystem with that color is even more Rare. There is a small market for them and they can fetch between $1,000 and $1,500 dependant on the quality of the fish and how the color pattern holds up. Ideal size is between 8"- to 20". Any larger and it's tough to find an aquarium big enough for them. Net catch it if possible, place it in a tub or 55 gallon aquarium with an airstone and keep it safe. They need to breath air so give them enough space to come up and gulp but cover the container because they jump. Other rare gar morphs are pure/jet black and also Red ones- they are worth less but still can get $100-$200 each. If you catch it please call me at 612-369-4698 Stan

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Originally Posted by AUTiger

Not sure about collectors but may check with local Bass Pro Shops to see if they interested in having it in an aquarium?????

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X2 on Bass Pro

If you catch it post some pics!

If anyone's wondering the hunt is on and I will definitely post plenty of pictures if I can catch it. I just wish I had known sooner that there was a demand for such a thing. I am pretty confident that gar don't travel very much in the river that I fish. I think it's just a matter of getting down there right behind a good cold front when they all seem to hang around the surface.

Good Luck!:fish

Here is what they look like from the sideAttachment 124436

The more orange/pure orange- the more valuable they are: This one is complete orange and worth more consequently:)Attachment 124437

Thanks for the pictures Energy. I'm 100% sure the gar that I found is similar to those. It wasn't as orange colored as the one in the tape measure picture, but the water was somewhat stained so the color wouldn't have been as vibrant. Hope to have number 3 for you by Sunday!

P.S. This may be a stupid question but if two of these fish with 1/10,000 gene breed does that increase the odds of some uniquely colored offspring?

I was out on Logan Martin today and seen a big gold carp! Never seen one before, looked like a giant goldfish!

I have always wondered what happens to all the goldfish that are sold for bait around the lakes that are popular for stripe fishing. Something to think about! I know that they are bullet proof because I have released them for serving their time after catching a 10 lb stripe that tried to eat them. They always swam off too! At least the ones that didn't get shaken off the hook during the fight. It's not exactly a sure bet that I'll see 'em after the fight though.

was about 18 inches long and fat

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Originally Posted by sjprkr1

Thanks for the pictures Energy. I'm 100% sure the gar that I found is similar to those. It wasn't as orange colored as the one in the tape measure picture, but the water was somewhat stained so the color wouldn't have been as vibrant. Hope to have number 3 for you by Sunday!

P.S. This may be a stupid question but if two of these fish with 1/10,000 gene breed does that increase the odds of some uniquely colored offspring?

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I hope Sunday is a lucky fishing day-that would be Awesome if you caught it! If the Gold Gars bred there would be a greater chance of the offspring carrying that Gene- The problem is they have never bred outside of their natural Habitat. Their is an artificial way to get them to spawn but it involves killing them and harvesting the eggs-which is something I am not willing to do.

BTW if you ever come across a True Albino Gar -This would be a Totally White Gar with Red Eyes- It would be extremely valuable as one has never been found!

I made it down today and found the fish again! I had five great chances with a cast net and it was a split second quicker than I was every time. I never thought it would still be there. It finally vanished in the weeds and never reappeared. I figure if it's been there for a month it's not going too far. I'm really good with a cast net by the way. The gar just had an extra instinct it seemed like. Maybe from being born without camouflage? I'm not giving up and did manage a picture between attempts. Not a good one but it will have to do. If you're wondering why the picture looks a little distorted, my hand was trembling really bad from the adrenaline rush I got from seeing such a valuable critter.
Attachment 124685

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Originally Posted by usafret99

was about 18 inches long and fat

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Wow. That does look kind of a like a big goldfish/koi. I think you may have found an extremely rare carp! I'm far from an expert but that has the same structure as every carp that I've seen.

Wow! That is so cool that it was still in the same area. They will go to the bottom and stay there when they are being hunted but they have to come up for air about every 30 minutes. They are very wary once they know they are being stalked. Patience and a little luck. Bring a cooler or something to keep it in once you catch it and keep it covered as they jump. :ThumbsUp

Never knew a gar could look so good, really like the aquarium pics

I used to live in Michigan and bass fish close to where the Grand River emptied into Lake Michigan. I've sen hundreds of orange/gold giant carp in the backwater areas around there. They were very common.

Never got the chance to go hunt the cool creature today due to rain and such. I also had to take my boat to the shop for a little maintenance. I have a loner that I can use though. If tomorrow is rainy, I hope to track the fish some more by Wednesday.

Man its great to see this. I saw one several years ago in a lake in Arkansas, everyone I told about it thought I was crazy so I guite talking about it.

Good luck !!!

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Originally Posted by dko

Man its great to see this. I saw one several years ago in a lake in Arkansas, everyone I told about it thought I was crazy so I guite talking about it.

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Which Lake? There is a good chance it could still be there since they can live up to thirty years.

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Originally Posted by sjprkr1

Never got the chance to go hunt the cool creature today due to rain and such. I also had to take my boat to the shop for a little maintenance. I have a loner that I can use though. If tomorrow is rainy, I hope to track the fish some more by Wednesday.

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Any Luck?:fish

Believe it or not, it was still in the same place again today. I got my throw net out about 50 feet away from it and it disappeared in the weeds, as soon as I stepped up on the fishing deck of the boat, never to be seen for the rest of the trip. I did manage a little better picture today. The river was really murky so this should show how bright it is.

Attachment 125131

I am very open to suggestions on how to catch it unharmed. I'm thinking of a hook-less gar lure. I practiced on some other unsuspecting gar today and as soon as I start my throwing motion with the net they would blast off. I need a new strategy. I feel that I can get within 20 feet of it anytime it's just too fast for my net. Anyone have any electro-fishing gear that can guarantee the safety of the fish? Haha. Doubt it. Ideas?

Found this idea on another forum:
"I've never done this personally, but I've been told that if you get some nylon rope, and fray the end, and whip it on top of the water (like a fly rod) they'll bite at it and get their teeth tangled up in the rope, so you can drag em in. I snagged one on accident the other day, and almost lost an expensive lure."

"nylon rope does work well with them. White and red color combo makes them go nuts when you cast it to them. i just need to land one this year, i caught some last year but havent landed one yet"

More info:

Originally Posted by fishin' fool http://www.bassfishin.com/bassfishin...s/viewpost.gif I dont' know if this has been mentioned yet, but rope lures work awesome! Take about a 6 or 8 inch piece of rope, unwind the rope so the end is fraided. Take about a 1/0 hook and tire the rope on the the shank of the hook like you would tie a fly on to a hook. Put a small bit of superglue on the line so the knot stays. The hook isn't really what catches the gar. When a gar bites the rope lure its teeth and mouth will get tangled up in the fraided rope, and the more it roles the better. Its very hard to hook a gar with a hook since it's mouth is so narrow and hard. A rope lure is fairly light, so a spinning rod works the best. A rope lure actually swims awesome in the water, its like a giant hair jig. The rope end flairs out, and it has a big swimming motion as it falls really slow. There is an article in IN-fisherman about the rope lure, definetly worth trying to tie! Good fishin

and more:

Growing up in Houston, TX and fishing the Houston ship channel down around the San Jacinto Monument for Gar was a regular adventure and a teenage passion! We would take Surf Casting Rigs (long spinning rods and Spiing reels, spooled with 25 # test mono). The business end would usually be about 18" of frayed red or yellow nylon rope. We would catch both fish gar and alligator gar as long as the tide wasn't moving. It also had to be hot and dead calm. They would come to the surface to feed on schools of shiners and shad. All you needed to do was get that rope in front of them and the rest was pure fun!http://www.bassfishin.com/bassfishin...es/biggrin.gif

Thank you Youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S79DFtd2hYw

I like it! My next try will be a bit more stealthy. I've heard the old folks talk about this and never tried it. Looks like the time is now.

Night time and lights. Shine the light on him and he can't see what's coming.

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Originally Posted by eminart

Night time and lights. Shine the light on him and he can't see what's coming.

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Good info and a smart way to sneak up on a wary fish. Isn't this the same way they catch gators?

I still haven't got a chance to make a night run at the fish yet. I'm waiting on my spot lighter to have a chance to go with me. As far as the gators go, I believe that's how they do it on TV anyway. I don't plan to "choot 'em" though! Haha

Another Video showing how to make the rope lure but at the end of this one he has a pretty clever contraption to help remove the entangled rope from the fish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB9gtG9X5JE

I haven't tried putting the lights to it yet. But I have tried everything else that I know of including the rope lure. I'm still wide open for suggestions! No suggestion is a bad one until it doesn't work! Remember that I need to catch THE gar, not just any gar.

How about a net gun?
Build A Net Gun

Does anybody think this could work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPtysfZiGp4

[QUOTE=Energy;2343111]Does anybody think this could work?

First, I'm sorry that I forgot to text you back. I didn't get any fresh ideas that I was hoping for. Secondly, way to think outside of the box! I would love to have a net gun anyway! As soon as I get over all of these consecutive days of working, I will give it another try in the dark with my spotlight.

Had to come back and edit this one. I just saw where the net guns start at $1395 which I cannot afford. My patience may be worth more than I thought. Haha.