MN DNR Sets Gar Limits in Continued Effort to Put Value to Native Fish Species

Detroit Lakes, MN — The Minnesota DNR recently announced new regulations for gar, which is part of a broader effort to provide more value to species that have long been considered rough fish. Spearers, anglers and bowfishers are allowed to keep up to 10 gar – the toothy, prehistoric fish native to Minnesota waters – starting today, when a new gar possession limit takes effect on all Minnesota inland and border waters.

The limit applies to longnose and shortnose gar, which previously could be kept in unlimited numbers, and is among other new regulations in the 2023 Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet.

The gar regulation change is part of a larger effort to sustainably manage gar and other native fish including buffalo, sucker, freshwater drum, bowfin, goldeye and bullhead, because they are critical contributors to aquatic ecosystems, according to Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Supervisor Nathan Olson.

Olson adds that there has been a trend in recent years of more anglers targeting those native fish species, such as suckers or eelpout, which makes it ever more vital that they manage those resources effectively.

The gar limit was established after 2021 legislation requiring the DNR determine and set a limit for that species.