Gars in CA (I know they're illegal)

[Gage Zamrzla]

So a coworker told me recently that a F&G told her that gars above 8" were illegal in CA, this seemed odd to me because I was under the impression that they're all illegal at all sizes. I don't doubt they're all illegal regardless but the statement made me wonder, do you think the F&G was refering to "gars" as in caracians and such that look similar to actual gars?

 

[Wiggles92]

So a coworker told me recently that a F&G told her that gars above 8" were illegal in CA, this seemed odd to me because I was under the impression that they're all illegal at all sizes. I don't doubt they're all illegal regardless but the statement made me wonder, do you think the F&G was refering to "gars" as in caracians and such that look similar to actual gars?

I'm pretty sure that most of those characins can get larger than 8" long. I'll do some digging to see what I turn up; maybe the laws in CA regarding true gars and false gars have changed for some reason.

 

[Gage Zamrzla]

Thanks, I'm gonna try to get in touch with F&G soon as well and I'd like to hear what you may find.

 

[Wiggles92]

Thanks, I'm gonna try to get in touch with F&G soon as well and I'd like to hear what you may find.

Here's what I have so far:

§2116. Wild Animal
As used in this chapter, “wild animal” means any animal of the class Aves (birds), class Mammalia (mammals), class Amphibia (frogs, toads, salamanders), class Osteichtyes (bony fishes), class Monorhina (lampreys), class Reptilia (reptiles), class Crustacea (crayfish), or class Gastropoda (slugs, snails) which is not normally domesticated in this state as determined by the commission.

§2118. Unlawful To Import, Etc. Specified Animals; Exceptions
It is unlawful to import, transport, possess, or release alive into this state, except under a revocable, nontransferable permit as provided in this chapter and the regulations pertaining thereto, any wild animal of the following species:

(e) Class Osteichthyes (bony fishes):
Family Serranidae (bass): White perch, Morone or Roccus Americana
Family Clupeidae (herring): Gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum
Family Sciaenidae (croakers): Freshwater sheepshead, Aplodinotus grunniens
Family Characidae (characins): Banded tetra, Astyanax fasciatus, All species of piranhas
Family Lepisosteidae (gars): All species.
Family Amiidae (bowfins): All species.

Source:

• Restricted Species Laws and Regulations
• Fish and Game Code (Section 2116-2127)
  

These sections are the same in both sources. Please note that some sections that did not pertain to gars were omitted.

 

[HungDang]

it is a high chance of that being a false gar! so CA prohibit true gar, while TX prohibit false gar!

 

[Gage Zamrzla]

Ya, I thought it pertained to false gars and the F&G may have just not known exactly what he was talking about. False gars are cool, I have two but I really want the real deal.. hopefully the laws change, they make it permitable or I move out of state. Also why are false gars illegal in TX?

 

[HungDang]

Ya, I thought it pertained to false gars and the F&G may have just not known exactly what he was talking about. False gars are cool, I have two but I really want the real deal.. hopefully the laws change, they make it permitable or I move out of state. Also why are false gars illegal in TX?

I have no clue why false gars are illegal in TX, maybe it's the same reason as Arapaima!