Garfish - Needlefish?

[PaulS]

Was fishing a river last week about 6 miles from the ocean. We saw 2 of what looked to be needlefish or garfish swimming next to each other in the fast moving current. They were about 15" long. No one there has ever seen anything like it there. Any idea if they were needlefish or garfish? Can either fish live in fresh water and are they likely to be that far upriver? Or could it have been something else?

Thanks

[GregW]

Gar are freshwater.
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[chefchris401]

Probably needlefish. The rivers behind my house get em from time to time sometimes way way up river where it's more brackish than salt.

Cool looking fish
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[Sundowner]

I saw a guy catch a needle fish about 3 miles from the ocean last year, couldn't believe how big it was, had to be near 20"

[Rob Rockcrawler]

I saw a few this weekend while squidding off the beach. They were 4-6 inches long. Stubby needle anyone?

[JLH]

We often see tons of needlefish at night while out blue crabbing in the bays & estuaries. Some of them are pretty good sized, well over a foot long, and they will be hanging right on the top almost motionless… seeing how they act has given me more confidence fishing the plug of the same name.

Haven’t been out crabbing yet his year but I have seen a few of them in a local breachway...

[moosh]

I caught one by accident about three years ago in cotuit harbor ,snagged it on a 5" needle fish how bizzar is that, it was about 12" long and it was a gar. prehistoric looking bastard....

[Dick Durand]

Last summer while casting in a local river for skipjacks to use as fluke bait, long needlesfish kept following my tiny surgical tube rig. Someone next to me caught one that measured 18".

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by moosh

I caught one by accident about three years ago in cotuit harbor ,snagged it on a 5" needle fish how bizzar is that, it was about 12" long and it was a gar. prehistoric looking bastard....

Gars are freshwater
They are Atlantic Needlefish
Pretty common in the estuaries during the summer
Atlantic Needlefish ( Strongylura marina ) - Atlantic Needlefish information - Atlantic Needlefish facts - WildAnimalsOnline.com

[timmah]

On another strange note, I snagged a 2inch Seahorse while squidding on tuesday. Not sure if this is a rare occurrence.

[JohnR]

I've seen Needlefish on the Vineyard several times under the lights at the Fisherman's pier.

Originally Posted by timmah

On another strange note, I snagged a 2inch Seahorse while squidding on tuesday. Not sure if this is a rare occurrence.

Did ya ride it? Just saw your message - can't - I'm working before going away Thurs-Tuesday

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by moosh

I caught one by accident about three years ago in cotuit harbor ,snagged it on a 5" needle fish how bizzar is that, it was about 12" long and it was a gar. prehistoric looking bastard....

Certainly possible as many species of gar can be found in marine environments though this is rare.

Wikipedia:

In American English the name gar (or garpike) is strictly applied to members of the Lepisosteidae, a family including seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh, brackish, and occasionally marine, waters of eastern North America, Central America, and the Caribbean islands.

From Audubon:

Alligator Gar
HABITAT
Large rivers, sluggish lakes, bayous, and reservoirs; frequently enters brackish and marine waters in coastal areas. Young in or near aquatic vegetation.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Originally Posted by JLH

We often see tons of needlefish at night while out blue crabbing in the bays & estuaries. Some of them are pretty good sized, well over a foot long, and they will be hanging right on the top almost motionless… seeing how they act has given me more confidence fishing the plug of the same name.

Haven’t been out crabbing yet his year but I have seen a few of them in a local breachway...

I was surprised to see quite a few Blue Crabs swimming about .5 miles off shore of a Breachway. Its a little early isnt it? Like everyhting else this year i suppose.

[thefishingfreak]

Needlefish will live in a cooler of crap water all day. We netted some at the Chatham pier, dragged them all over the ocean and they were still alive in the cooler when we got the boat back to Boston
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