The first step to catching a gar is knowing which species of gar you're after.  You can't catch a 40-lb longnose with the same techniques you would use on a 5-lb shortnose.  So to help you identify the gar you may be seeing in your local waters, use the following gar key.

5.  Are you in Florida?

     
YES:  What you are seeing are FLORIDA GAR.
                Click here to find out how to catch Florida gar!

     
NO:  You are looking at SPOTTED GAR.
              Click here to learn how to catch spotted gar!