Species profile
Florida Gar
Lepisosteus platyrhincus
Identify Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app.
At a glance
Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 4,068 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Found only in Florida and southern Georgia, making it the most geographically restricted gar in North America.
- It has a shorter, broader snout than the longnose gar — the key field mark for telling the two apart.
- Adults typically reach 18–30 inches and rarely exceed 5 pounds.
- Like other gars, it uses a vascularized swim bladder to breathe air when dissolved oxygen runs low.
- It prefers sluggish rivers, lakes, and canals choked with aquatic vegetation.
Where Florida Gar are seen
Background
The Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus) is a species of gar found in the USA from the Savannah River and Ochlockonee River watersheds of Georgia and throughout peninsular Florida. Florida gars can reach a length of over 3 ft (91 cm). The young feed on zooplankton and insect larvae, as well as small fish. Adults mainly eat fish, shrimp, and crayfish. Although edible, they are not popular as…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Florida Gar article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Florida Gar?
Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for Florida Gar?
Florida Gar is Lepisosteus platyrhincus.
Are there fishing rules for Florida Gar?
Florida Gar does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Florida Gar?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Florida Gar along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.