Some kind of gar?

Was going after E.gilberti in a creek off SR-20 in freeport, FL (florida panhandle) and found this thing. Sorry for the bad pics, I would've taken more if I knew they turned out this way. I've caught a large florida gar in this same area but I don't know of anything that has this kind of coloration.

It's a juvenile gar of some type. Can't tell from the pic, though.

Would it be possible for you to write up some sort of story about your search for Elassoma gilberti and the techniques that you are using to keep them alive during transport? Elassoma (and other swamp fish) are notoriously difficult to transport from the wild without all catching fungus and dying, so it would be helpful if you shared your methods.

Also, Elassoma gilberti are my favorite fish and the thing that's currently stopping me from collecting them is my fear of alligators. How are you collecting Elassoma and also keeping clear of the gators? Are you going out in pairs and keeping one pair of eyes on the water while the other person dipnets? I'm curious about how that works.

When it's cool outside, you really don't have to worry too much about gators. Just go in the Fall/Winter. An extra pair of eyes doesn't hurt, either. For the most part, the alligators I run into are pretty scared of humans,anyway. Unless the place is infested with alligators that are used to humans and expect food from them, I wouldn't worry too much. I've waded around in plenty of alligator habitat, and other than losing my right leg to one, everything's been peachy. J/K.

When it's cool outside, you really don't have to worry too much about gators. Just go in the Fall/Winter. An extra pair of eyes doesn't hurt, either. For the most part, the alligators I run into are pretty scared of humans,anyway. Unless the place is infested with alligators that are used to humans and expect food from them, I wouldn't worry too much. I've waded around in plenty of alligator habitat, and other than losing my right leg to one, everything's been peachy. J/K.

Lol. Yeah I don't worry too much this time of year but I did happen to run into one that was basking this past weekend. The idea just freaks me out so I don't get in the water very much.

Would it be possible for you to write up some sort of story about your search for Elassoma gilberti and the techniques that you are using to keep them alive during transport? Elassoma (and other swamp fish) are notoriously difficult to transport from the wild without all catching fungus and dying, so it would be helpful if you shared your methods.

Also, Elassoma gilberti are my favorite fish and the thing that's currently stopping me from collecting them is my fear of alligators. How are you collecting Elassoma and also keeping clear of the gators? Are you going out in pairs and keeping one pair of eyes on the water while the other person dipnets? I'm curious about how that works.

Yeah, I'd love to do a write-up, I'll put something together and put it into the pygmy sunfish section.

Looks kinda Longnosed to me (how much of it's nose/beak/snout are your fingers covering?)

this critter belongs to the family Belonidae, I believe its a needlefish.

Yeah, I was thinking needlefish too, but because of the focus it could just be a needle, or a stick. Or something.

YW, Matt

Based on how far west you are, your larger gar you caught in the past should be a spotted gar, not a Florida gar. The snout width seems too wide for a longnose, so I believe it's a juvenile spotted gar..