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Or the closest thing that we have to it! Had been seeing allot of gar spawning lately so it was time to bust out the bowfishing gear and pick off some gar. I clean enough of these to make a few meals here and there for something different. It really ain't to bad! Recently got my first double with bowfishing gear and been having lots of fun..
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Hey Skinner what do gar taste like? I've been wanting to try them but can't get past the thought of trying to cut through that tough hide.
They are suprizingly good white meat just don't try eggs !
I guess I don't know what I would compare the taste to. To me it is a little unique guess that is what keeps bringing me back. You are right the skin is rediculously hard to get through. I use tin snips and it is still a chore. The more you do it the more you develop you own way I guess. There is allot of videos etc online showing ways to do it.
You're supposed to say "tastes like chicken" :biggrin You are a bigger man than me, I won't even touch them.
I doubt thatQuote:
Originally Posted by crappiedoc
I've heard you need a chainsaw to clean them! Also heard it is pretty good eating, never had it though.
Skinner, that's some straight up CAV stuff!!! Cool double! Brad
There is a good video a guy over in Missouri made about cleaning them. He bad some nice looking boneless filets when he was done. We used to catch them with nylon close line and use a technique similar to fly fishing. .
When my dad would clean them he would lay them on a board, take a hatchet and cut them into chunks and then take a fillet knife and go around the inside of the skin and pull out fillets that way. Taste pretty good just haven't had any in a long time. My dad would catch at least a 4' long nose each year. I remember him putting one in the canoe with use one time......I wasnt very fond of that idea.
Love bowfishing spawning gar. Had a guy try to explain to me how to clean them one time, but once he got to "And then you put them on the bandsaw," I stopped listening.
Have you tried a power saw? Posted this before I read the above post. Either one would work for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by skinner80
Have done it that way also but trying to do it enough that I can do it anywhere without it being a hassle as far as equipment and power with me. Machete is the next tool will be packing!
ever caught one in a throw net....that has some size to it? definitely a tussle to get them out and keeping your throw net in one piece.
summer time they are a good barometer for finding shad...specially over river channels in out reservoirs.
glad to see somebody taking the time to clean them and eat them. Will have to look at the video to see the best way to clean them.
Go to Perry there is a good population of them and are big.
Here's one of the longnose gar we caught during fall test netting at El Dorado last fall. We used to target gar with rod and reel when I was a kid. Hanging in to a 52-inch gar with a 6 foot rod and a baitcaster was a BUNCH of fun!! Seeing a four foot plus fish tail walk across the water gets the adrenalin pumping! The guys I've talked to split the fish down the back with tin snips and then peel/fillet the scaly skin down the sides of the fish and then cut out the 'back straps' for the skillet.
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