Yesterday, fishing in Albergotti creek I seen a fish in the 5-7 foot range. I was only able to see the back portion (probably the back 2-2 1/2 feet). The quick glance i was afforded didn’t look like the tail of a big GAR, but i really don’t see what else it could have been. wasn’t a dophin, tarpon, or a shark. It was definitely scaly though and tan(ish) in color. Any ideas???
Likely was a tarpon…very few gar approach that size. Water color likely caused the tannish color. It’s remotely possible it could have been a sturgeon, although the water is too hot for sturgeon.
Ive seen a lot of gar in the area ( Battery Creek) the past few months and even managed land one of those toothy creatures , my seven year old claims most of the credit and now thinks hes Jeremy Wade of River Monsters ! It was a long nose gar about three to three and a half feet. They can grow to well over six feet so it could have been one. Anything is possible, I`ve caught two Cobia in Battery Creek trolling for trout in late September, thought I had a world record trout on the line only to find out they were 30 inch undersized Cobia.
All of the big gars I’ve ever seen were very dark green, almost black, on their backs. Even the small ones are dark green on their backs. Are there grass carp down there? They get big and are lighter in color. Seems like the DNR stocked them wherever there was hydrilla years ago.
I dont know where Albergotti creek is but last september I saw several gar in store creek off the south edisto, no doubt about it, we pulled several right to the boat before they “got off”
there are grass carp in the area, but not in this salt water. In slower creeks I’ve seen tons of gar, 16-24 inches, in Albergotti I’ve seen a few gar, not too many though. I talked to a guy the other day who seen a fish matching the description last year. He’s been around for a loooong time and he’s never seen anything like it. sounds like we better call Jeremy Wade in! Fish On!
“Lock em’ down”
Caught a longnose gar in Eddysings creek this summer. Nasty, ugly thing and looked like it would take your hand off.
01 Hewes Redfisher, 90 Yam 2 Strk