The massive, ‘dinosaur-era’ fish you might find on Texas beaches

The Texas Standard is excited to start sharing the Beachchombing Report from Jace Tunnell, Director of Community Engagement for the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The series can also be found on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

This week’s beachcombing turned up something unusual: A five-foot alligator gar lying along the wrack line.

It’s not the kind of fish you expect to see on the open beach, and its size and armor-plated body immediately stood out.

I tried to take a closer look, slipping on a pair of latex gloves before lifting the fish, but they didn’t stand a chance. The gar’s sharp, armor-like scales shredded them almost instantly.

And the smell? Powerful enough to knock you over. This one had clearly been dead for a while, likely drifting in the Gulf or sitting along the shoreline for a couple of days before I found it.

Alligator gar are often called “living fossils,” and for good reason. They’ve been around for more than 100 million years, sharing waters with dinosaurs long before our barrier islands took shape.

Even at five feet, this one was just a youngster. These fish can reach 8 to 10 feet in length and weigh over 300 pounds, making them one of the largest freshwater fish in North America. I’ve come across a few smaller gars washed up over the years, but never one this large.

Up close, it’s easy to see how they earned their name. The broad snout and rows of sharp teeth look more reptilian than fish-like. Though typically found in rivers and lakes, alligator gar can tolerate brackish and even salty water, which likely explains how this one ended up on the beach.

While they may look intimidating, people do eat alligator gar, and many say it’s surprisingly good.

Actually, in college I caught and ate one, and with enough salt it tasted pretty good. The meat is firm, white, and mild, often compared to chicken or alligator.

Cleaning them takes effort due to their tough scales, so most people remove the backstraps. The eggs are toxic and must be discarded, and larger fish should be eaten in moderation.

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