← Florida fishing maps

Best longnose gar lakes in Florida

12 Florida waters hold longnose gar, 10 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Prehistoric surface predator of warm backwaters. A summer sight-fishing riot on rope lures.

1. Lake Okeechobee — 23 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
2. Lake Seminole — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
3. Indian River — 29 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
4. Manatee River — 29 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
5. Halifax River — 27 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
6. Saint Marks River — 27 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
7. Carrabelle River — 29 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
8. Amelia River — 71 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
9. Tolomato River — 38 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
10. St. Johns River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
11. Pithlachascotee River — 13 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
12. Steinhatchee River — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish

Find the closest longnose gar waters to you →

When to fish longnose gar in Florida

• Spring 2–10 ft — Fish gather in warm shallow backwaters ahead of the spawn.
• Summer 1–12 ft — Look for fish rolling on the surface in slack water — cast past and drag through.
• Fall 4–15 ft — Following bait into deeper slack water as temps fall.
• Winter 10–25 ft — Wintering in deep, still holes.

Also in Florida: best largemouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best red drum (redfish) lakes · best spotted seatrout lakes · best southern flounder lakes · best sheepshead lakes

Longnose Gar elsewhere: Ontario · Wisconsin · Minnesota · Québec · Michigan · Indiana · Texas · Missouri · Mississippi · Kentucky · Tennessee · Georgia · Virginia · North Carolina · Louisiana · South Carolina