The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 793: The Mysteries of Gar Fish
Nov 17, 2025
Solomon David, known as "The Gar Guy," is an aquatic ecologist specializing in gars and native fishes. He discusses the fascinating world of gars, describing their ancient evolutionary traits and their unique anatomy. The conversation delves into the ethics of bowfishing and current conservation efforts, including alligator gar resurgence and regulatory challenges. Solomon also highlights gars as indicators for floodplain restoration and uncovers their surprising feeding strategies. Listeners will gain insight into the role of these remarkable fish in both nature and culture.
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Gars As Model Species
- The GAR Lab studies underappreciated native fishes to inform conservation, ecology, and sustainable management.
- Solomon David uses gars and bowfins as model species to reveal broader freshwater biodiversity value.
History Shaped Fish Conservation
- Historical preferences shaped fisheries: trout and bass got funding and research while gars, suckers, and bowfins were neglected.
- That research gap explains current regulatory blind spots for many native non-game fish.
Cultural Uses Of Gars
- Solomon recounts indigenous and colonial interactions with gars and bowfin, including use of gar scales for arrowheads.
- He notes gar were once eaten and culturally important before tastes and management shifted.
