Comments on: On A Quest For A Freshwater Giant: Alligator Gar On The Escambia River http://www.northescambia.com/2015/03/one-a-quest-for-a-freshwater-giant-alligator-gar-on-the-escambia-river Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:01:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Josh http://www.northescambia.com/2015/03/one-a-quest-for-a-freshwater-giant-alligator-gar-on-the-escambia-river/comment-page-1#comment-295512 Josh Wed, 01 Apr 2015 15:51:45 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=204107#comment-295512 i used to love catching these when I was a kid. There's a resident far in the little fishing hole behind the damn at Lake Stone if anybody wants to check one out. i used to love catching these when I was a kid. There’s a resident far in the little fishing hole behind the damn at Lake Stone if anybody wants to check one out.

]]> By: David Huie Green http://www.northescambia.com/2015/03/one-a-quest-for-a-freshwater-giant-alligator-gar-on-the-escambia-river/comment-page-1#comment-295288 David Huie Green Sun, 29 Mar 2015 20:37:57 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=204107#comment-295288 REGARDING: "Can/do they eat humans???" Per Wiki: They are opportunistic night predators and are primarily piscivores (they eat other fish), but they will also ambush and eat water fowl and small mammals (not humans, think mice, rats, rabbits dhg) that may be floating on the surface. Their method of ambush is to float a few feet below the surface, and wait for unsuspecting prey to swim within reach. Diet studies have shown alligator gars to be opportunistic piscivores, and even scavengers depending on the availability of their preferred food source. They occasionally ingest sport fishes, but the majority of stomach content studies suggest they feed predominately on forage fishes such as gizzard shad as well as invertebrates, and water fowl. Diet studies have also revealed fishing tackle and boat engine parts in their stomachs (probably small parts dhg) REGARDING:
“Can/do they eat humans???”

Per Wiki:
They are opportunistic night predators and are primarily piscivores (they eat other fish), but they will also ambush and eat water fowl and small mammals (not humans, think mice, rats, rabbits dhg) that may be floating on the surface. Their method of ambush is to float a few feet below the surface, and wait for unsuspecting prey to swim within reach.

Diet studies have shown alligator gars to be opportunistic piscivores, and even scavengers depending on the availability of their preferred food source. They occasionally ingest sport fishes, but the majority of stomach content studies suggest they feed predominately on forage fishes such as gizzard shad as well as invertebrates, and water fowl. Diet studies have also revealed fishing tackle and boat engine parts in their stomachs (probably small parts dhg)

]]> By: well http://www.northescambia.com/2015/03/one-a-quest-for-a-freshwater-giant-alligator-gar-on-the-escambia-river/comment-page-1#comment-295249 well Sat, 28 Mar 2015 19:04:56 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=204107#comment-295249 @Mary They prefer them with rice. @Mary
They prefer them with rice.

]]> By: Mary http://www.northescambia.com/2015/03/one-a-quest-for-a-freshwater-giant-alligator-gar-on-the-escambia-river/comment-page-1#comment-295119 Mary Fri, 27 Mar 2015 00:09:09 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=204107#comment-295119 Can/do they eat humans??? Can/do they eat humans???

]]> By: barrineau http://www.northescambia.com/2015/03/one-a-quest-for-a-freshwater-giant-alligator-gar-on-the-escambia-river/comment-page-1#comment-295118 barrineau Thu, 26 Mar 2015 23:39:56 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=204107#comment-295118 I have seen many of these on Perdido and Escambia rivers,but definitely not the size shown here . I have seen many of these on Perdido and Escambia rivers,but definitely not the size shown here .

]]> By: Al http://www.northescambia.com/2015/03/one-a-quest-for-a-freshwater-giant-alligator-gar-on-the-escambia-river/comment-page-1#comment-295117 Al Thu, 26 Mar 2015 23:16:52 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=204107#comment-295117 Has a study ever been done on the yearly gar migration on the Perdido River? Has a study ever been done on the yearly gar migration on the Perdido River?

]]> By: Gary http://www.northescambia.com/2015/03/one-a-quest-for-a-freshwater-giant-alligator-gar-on-the-escambia-river/comment-page-1#comment-295092 Gary Thu, 26 Mar 2015 14:06:33 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=204107#comment-295092 About 2 years years ago I was fishing from shore at a secret spot in Escambia Bay just south of Creighton. I was using live finger mullet in the 4" range and hooked one of these. Kind of freaked me out when I got it to shore and saw what it was. Took a few pics, unhooked it, (Very carefully) and safely released it. It was 3'-4' long and more docile than I would have expected. About 2 years years ago I was fishing from shore at a secret spot in Escambia Bay just south of Creighton. I was using live finger mullet in the 4″ range and hooked one of these. Kind of freaked me out when I got it to shore and saw what it was.

Took a few pics, unhooked it, (Very carefully) and safely released it. It was 3′-4′ long and more docile than I would have expected.

]]> By: Matt http://www.northescambia.com/2015/03/one-a-quest-for-a-freshwater-giant-alligator-gar-on-the-escambia-river/comment-page-1#comment-295068 Matt Thu, 26 Mar 2015 05:38:43 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=204107#comment-295068 Some nice gars there! Some nice gars there!

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