Thread: Cleaning Gar

I just saw 'Gar Cleaning' and Tin Snips mentioned together again in a current post. There is another way; it is up to you if it is better. I've cleaned gar like this a couple times and it works fairly well.
If you have a chopping block or good size piece of firewood, take a good sharp ax and cut the gar into about 4-5" lengths. Next, run a fillet knife around the inside of the armor. You can then push the inside out of the armor tube. Use the fillet knife to bone the meat off of the skeleton. The meat will be ready to soak and prepare. It eats just fine but I don't mess with them often.

I think the best way to clean gar is to let someone else do it..... then let them eat it. I've heard they are good, but then again I heard someone say the moon went in front of the sun yesterday. Can't believe everything your see on the internet.

Gar are indeed good eating, just don't eat the eggs. I generally use a hack saw or sawzall to remove the head, then snips down the back. Spread the armor plated hide and remove the back straps. The axe method sounds like a recipe for squished guts... But since I've not tried it I'm only guessing.

Never considered eating one

Originally Posted by HobieKen

Never considered eating one

Really pretty fish, but a healthy snake probably has as much meat on it. Do you know what species of gar that one is?

No idea, just bit my crankbait while fishing a tournement, Paris TN. I was on my way home from Gulf Shores, I noticed a Gulp shrimp in the tray of my kayak after I posted that pic, lol.

Originally Posted by DRH

Really pretty fish, but a healthy snake probably has as much meat on it. Do you know what species of gar that one is?

It looks like a spotted gar. The shallows on the TN river are swarming with them this time of year.

Originally Posted by chillinfish

It looks like a spotted gar. The shallows on the TN river are swarming with them this time of year.

The spotted gar are really common. We also have long nose gar and short nose gar. If we have alligator gar, I've never seen one.