Gar State Records
The record gar on 27 state lists, heaviest first. States list these under their own names (Alligator Gar, Longnose Gar, Gar, Shortnose Gar, Spotted Gar and Florida Gar); each is shown as its state names it.
| State | Species | Record | Year | Water | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Alligator Gar | 283 lb | 2023 | Sam Rayburn | tpwd.texas.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Alligator Gar | 254 lb 12 oz | 2015 | Texoma | wildlifedepartment.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Arkansas | Alligator Gar | 215 lb 0 oz | 1964 | Arkansas River | agfc.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Mississippi | Alligator Gar | 215 lb | 2003 | Mississippi River | mdwfp.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Louisiana | Alligator Gar | 179 lb | 1997 | Red River | laoutdoorwriters.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Alabama | Alligator Gar | 151 lbs 9 oz | 2009 | Tensaw River | outdooralabama.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Florida | Alligator Gar | 123 lb | 1995 | Choctawhatchee River | myfwc.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Mississippi | Longnose Gar | 48 lb 1 oz | 2016 | Sardis Lake Spillway | mdwfp.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Texas | Longnose Gar | 44 lb 8 oz | 2017 | Trinity River | tpwd.texas.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Longnose Gar | 43 lb 8 oz | 2012 | Eufaula | wildlifedepartment.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Florida | Longnose Gar | 41 lb | 1985 | Lake Panasoffkee | myfwc.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Kentucky | Longnose Gar | 40 lb | 1956 | Ohio River | fw.ky.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Tennessee | Longnose Gar | 38 lb 3 oz | 2002 | Barkley Reservoir | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Arkansas | Longnose Gar | 35 lb 12 oz | 2005 | Taylor Old River Lake | agfc.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Alabama | Longnose Gar | 32 lbs 14oz | 1985 | Jordan Reservoir | outdooralabama.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Kansas | Longnose Gar | 31 lb 8 oz | 1974 | Perry Reservoir Outlet | ksoutdoors.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Georgia | Longnose Gar | 31 lb, 2 oz | 2022 | Coosa River | georgiawildlife.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| South Carolina | Longnose Gar (bowfishing record) | 28 lb 8 oz | 2015 | Lake Moultrie | dnr.sc.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Virginia | Gar | 25 lbs. 2 oz. | 1987 | Lake Prince | dwr.virginia.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Ohio | Longnose Gar | 25 pounds | 1966 | Ohio River | outdoorwritersofohio.org ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| North Carolina | Longnose Gar | 25 lbs | 2009 | Intracoastal Waterway near Coinjock | ncwildlife.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Indiana | Longnose Gar | 23 lb. 12.2 oz. | 2025 | Ohio River | in.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Longnose Gar | 23 lb 11 oz | 2013 | Platte River | outdoornebraska.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Iowa | Longnose Gar | 22.20 lbs. | 2021 | Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Illinois | Longnose Gar | 22 lb 1 oz | 2006 | Ohio River | ifishillinois.org ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Longnose Gar | 21 lbs. 4 oz. | 1990 | Wisconsin River | dnr.wisconsin.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Maryland | Longnose Gar | 20 lb 8 oz | 2025 | Marshyhope Creek | dnr.maryland.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Vermont | Longnose Gar (bowfishing record) | 18 Pounds, 9 Ounces | — | Not listed | anrweb.vt.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Michigan | Longnose Gar | 18 lb | 1995 | Williamsville Lake | michigan.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Longnose Gar | 16 lbs 12 oz | 1982 | St. Croix River near Prescott | dnr.state.mn.us ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| New York | Longnose Gar | 15 lb. 14 oz. | 2024 | Butterfield Lake | dec.ny.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Texas | Shortnose Gar | 13 lb 8.96 oz | 2010 | Lavon | tpwd.texas.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| New Mexico | Longnose Gar | 12lb. 8oz. | 1986 | Pecos River | wildlife.dgf.nm.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Tennessee | Spotted Gar | 10 lb 10 oz | 2014 | Cross Creeks | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Spotted Gar | 10 lb 8.96 oz | 2025 | Texoma | wildlifedepartment.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Indiana | Spotted Gar | 9 lb. 11 oz. | 2024 | Rivir Lake | in.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Florida | Florida Gar | 9.44 lb | 2001 | Lake Lawne | myfwc.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Illinois | Spotted Gar | 8 lb 14.7 oz | 2022 | Kidd Lake Canal | ifishillinois.org ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Alabama | Spotted Gar | 8 lbs 12 oz | 1987 | Cotaco Creek | outdooralabama.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Mississippi | Spotted Gar | 8 lb 9.28 oz | 2024 | Lake Eddins | mdwfp.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Iowa | Shortnose Gar | 8.05 lbs. | 2020 | Missouri River (Council Bluffs to state line) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Arkansas | Spotted Gar | 7 lb 15 oz | 2018 | Little Red River | agfc.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Texas | Spotted Gar | 7 lb 10.56 oz | 2017 | Junemann Bayou | tpwd.texas.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Montana | Shortnose Gar | 7.41 lbs. | — | Fort Peck Dredge Cuts | fwp.mt.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Shortnose Gar | 7 lb 5 oz | 2012 | Nemaha River | outdoornebraska.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Tennessee | Shortnose Gar | 7 lb 3 oz | 2014 | Cross Creeks | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Shortnose Gar | 7 lb 0 oz | 2017 | Atoka Reservoir | wildlifedepartment.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Illinois | Shortnose Gar | 6 lb 15.2 oz | 2018 | Horseshoe Lake | ifishillinois.org ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Kentucky | Spotted Gar | 6.26 lb | 2025 | Taylorsville Lake Tailwater (Salt River) | fw.ky.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Mississippi | Shortnose Gar | 5 lb 13.28 oz | 1999 | Enid Spillway | mdwfp.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Arkansas | Shortnose Gar | 5 lb 13 oz | 2011 | Lake Dardanelle | agfc.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Shortnose Gar | 5 lbs 4 oz | 2017 | Minnesota River | dnr.state.mn.us ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Shortnose Gar | 4 lbs. 5.4 oz | 2015 | Fox River | dnr.wisconsin.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Indiana | Shortnose Gar | 2 lb. 15.9 oz. | 2025 | Wabash River | in.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
Weights are shown as each list gives them, with units spelled out. A state can hold several records here (different species, strains or fresh and salt water lists); each is listed. Record holders' names are on the linked lists.