Bumpkin74 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I'm just learning a little more about fishing. I'm 52, but just now getting into the sport, but slowly. I have a thing about catfish - I want to learn to catch cats. I was in Gore's Pool tonight, looking for a path to the Mississippi (didn't find it but I was paddling in a canoe). . . . Anyhoo, these kids got a couple carp and a couple gar. They were going to bury them in a garden, and I said I'd take the gar; they let me. Are gar any good? It's 11:30 PM and I'm going outside now to clean them. Thanks for any reply.dan from eagan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pureinsanity Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 If you cook anything long enough you can eat it. You can eat gar. I actually heard its rather delicious. Down south its an expensive fish meat! Just be sure you monitor how much you actually eat. Do not want to consume to many chemicals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bumpkin74 Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 OK, thanks Pure. These kids had harvested these gar by bow hunting out of their canoe. This was in North Lake, in the Gore's Pool DNR land, SE of Hastings. I hated to see them waste these fish on their garden. I cleaned them but it was a hell of a project. They could use the outer 'shell' on these things as flak jackets in Iraq. I should've used some big tin snips but I couldn't find them in my garage. Did most of the work with a big serrated kitchen knife, which will now need sharpening. I'm not kidding; the plating on these things is an engineering marvel. They don't have scales per se; it's like a semi-rigid shell. I wish now I had frozen them and then run them through my table saw. A dremel would maybe work well too. Anyhoo, they better taste good after all that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wooduck26 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I would have to be pretty hungry to eat a Gar....I'd rather go catch sunnies or something.....Gar isn't to high on the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTro Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Even if Gar tasted good, I wouldn’t want to go through the trouble of hacking away at that body armor. I mean you can eat anything really, it’s just a matter of how bad do you want to eat it. Kind of reminds me of a story about a guy trying to eat an eel a couple years back…..it didn’t turn out so well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almberg Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Actually gar are quite good eating. Bumpkin, if you clean one again, you can cut them right down the back and remove those strips of meat (backstraps) and toss the rest. Their meat is good but their roe are poisonous. I'm with you on your "engineering marvel" comment! I think gar are the most unique and interesting fish in north America. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Carlson Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 You may need to swap out the electric fillet knife...for a chain saw..but..ya..what da-hay...go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shack Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 When it doubt, hit the Tube "> " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFHunter Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Interesting vid shack. That gar is quite a bit larger than the ones I have seen. To me Gar = Gross, I wouldn't waste my time to clean one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MN Shutterbug Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I know of a certain group that likes to make fish patties out of sheepshead. To each his own and you'll never know until you try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neighbor_guy Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I can't But.... Chances are, if you have eaten fish sticks or fish patties from some fast food places, especialy from or manufactured in the south, you have eaten gar. Gar is some of the best tasting fish you will ever eat. It is a very firm, flaky, white meat. It does take a set of tin snips to get to it, but IMO it is worth it. If you get the chance to eat gar tenderloin medalions and pass them up, it is your loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan z Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 dat der is won freikin mama of a gar, put enough tarter sauce on it shouldnt be to bad... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushing Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 With a buck knife, hacksaw and a machete and you get yer'self some big Fee-lays. lolI bet its a lot easier to do with a bigger fish than the lil guys up here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunneyeDay Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 That looked like more work than cleaning out a deer....So all you need to clean and eat a gar is....1)One machete, extra sharp2)Two or three sharp buck knifes/heavy duty filet knifes3)A Hacksaw4)Someone to hold the gar while you swing a machete (that isn't too concerned about losing a hand or a few digits)Last time I complain about the bucket of panfish before me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UdeLakeTom Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Deep fry and shore lunch and any fish is good...I had some really good tasting sheephead last year on the barge down near the Alma locks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey lee Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I thought the other guys was going to lose a hand or wrist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott K Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I think a sawzall would be quicker, or a chainsaw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave S Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Kind of reminds me of a story about a guy trying to eat an eel a couple years back…..it didn’t turn out so well. It usually helps if you kill it before you try to eat it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DARK30 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I'll just stick with the Lutefisk thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTro Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Very interesting video. I would take a piece of that off the BBQ, for sure. Looks tasty.I bet you could make a nice pair of boots with that skin too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rippin_lips_09 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I watched an episode on tv a while back about gar down in texas and they showed how to clean them. So they must taste good if people are eating them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TChard Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Pretty darn sure i wouldn't have any fingers left and/or The friend that was helping me after something like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pureinsanity Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Tin snips and Pliers are your best friend when cleaning a gar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vern Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Or the Billy Mays Dual Saw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanson Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Or the Billy Mays Dual Saw! The Awesome Auger... no need for a blender when you are done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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