To an outsider, the sight of a fisherman carefully unhooking a gar might seem like a routine part of the day. To the angler, however, the experience is often a source of deep frustration, transforming a potential trophy catch into a battle for survival against a prehistoric-looking adversary. This complex relationship explains why do fishermen hate gar, viewing them not merely as a different species, but as a symbol of challenges that test patience, gear, and resolve.
An Unwanted Bycatch
One of the primary sources of animosity stems from the simple fact that gar are frequently an unwelcome bycatch. For the dedicated bass or trout fisherman, setting a line is an exercise in targeting a specific prize. Instead, the heavy throb of a gar takes the reel screaming, turning a quiet morning on the water into a test of strength against a fish that was never the intended quarry. This unwanted interruption wastes precious fishing time and often results in the loss of expensive lures, bait, and terminal tackle, fostering immediate resentment.
The Nightmarish Dental Structure
A Mouth Full of Sheer Destruction
Few underwater sights are as intimidating to an angler as the gaping maw of a gar. Unlike the soft palate of a bass, the gar’s mouth is a landscape of densely packed, needle-sharp teeth. The purpose of this biological design is to secure slippery prey, but for the fisherman, it represents the end of their fishing day. A gar will destroy a fishing line with chilling efficiency, slicing through mono-filament and even heavy braid as if it were twine. The moment a fish runs with a lure firmly locked in that dental vice, the angler knows their gear is in mortal danger, leading to a profound hatred for the destructive capability of the fish.
Fight and Fortitude
Strength and Stubbornness Beyond Expectations
Gar are survivors, and their fighting ability reflects millions of years of evolutionary refinement. They possess a body built for power, with dense, armored scales and a thick, muscular frame. When hooked, they do not offer the acrobatic jumps of a bass; instead, they engage in a brutal test of endurance, rolling and diving with immense force. This gritty, stubborn resistance is not what most sport fishermen are looking for. The sheer difficulty in wearing down a gar, combined with the constant threat of escape into heavy cover, turns a fight into a laborious chore rather than a thrilling contest.
Economic and Ecological Impact
Beyond the personal inconvenience, the hatred for gar is sometimes rooted in a broader ecological and economic context. In managed fisheries, particularly for bass and catfish, gar are seen as apex predators that compete for the same food resources. They consume significant quantities of fry and small fish, directly impacting the growth rates and population numbers of desirable game species. In commercial fishing operations, especially in systems like the Mississippi River, gar are often considered a nuisance because they can become entangled in nets intended for more valuable species, leading to lost time and revenue.
Handling and Safety Hazards
A Hazardous Catch
Unlike a fish that can be safely lip-gripped, the gar is a handling nightmare. Their long, slender bodies are covered in ganoid scales—hard, rhomboid plates that feel like sandpaper and provide excellent protection against predators. More dangerous are the fins, particularly the pectoral and dorsal fins, which are equipped with sharp spines. These spines can easily puncture gloves and skin, posing a significant risk of puncture wounds and potential infection. The difficulty and danger of safely removing a hook from a thrashing, toothed gar make them a fish that anglers actively avoid and, consequently, hate.
