Longnose Gar in Michigan
Keeping, finding and weighing longnose gar.
- No possession limitlimit
- 18 lbrecord
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Michigan longnose gar: limits, records, range
The MDNR species list counts Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) as other species; its range covers great lakes and inland. The digest row for statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered sets No possession limit, with the season open all year.
Topping the hook and line list: 18 lb, Williamsville Lake, 1995. It appears on the post-1970 Fish Atlas list of 7 lakes here.
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| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered) | No possession limit | Open all year |
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (Michigan DNR; rules run April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). Retrieved October 22, 2026.
Record longnose gar in the MDNR table
| Category | Weight | Length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 18 lb | 53 in | Williamsville Lake | Livingston | 1995 |
MDNR State Record Fish table, retrieved October 22, 2026; the table prints the year only and no angler names.
Largest Michigan lakes with longnose gar on record
| Lake | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Black Lake | Cheboygan | 10,117 |
| Marble Lake | Branch | 742 |
| Stony Lake, Jackson County | Jackson | 225 |
| Maceday Lake | Oakland | 207 |
| Huyck Lake, Branch County | Branch | 193 |
| Round Lake, Hillsdale County | Hillsdale | 78 |
| Fourth Lake, Hillsdale County | Hillsdale | 47 |
MDNR Fish Atlas collection records from 1970 on and Family Friendly Fishing lists; largest lakes first.
Michigan pages naming longnose gar
Lake pages naming longnose gar
- Black Lake10,117 acres
- Marble Lake742 acres
- Stony Lake, Jackson County225 acres
- Maceday Lake207 acres
- Huyck Lake, Branch County193 acres
- Round Lake, Hillsdale County78 acres
- Fourth Lake, Hillsdale County47 acres
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, fishing site lists, trout stream layer, stocking and records; largest waters first.
Michigan species close to longnose gar
- Black Bullheadother species
- Brown Bullheadother species
- Yellow Bullheadother species
- Common Carpother species
- Freshwater Drumother species
- Bowfinother species
- White Perchother species
- Bigmouth Buffaloother species
- Black Buffaloother species
- American Eelother species
- Quillbackother species
- White Suckerother species
The shore near Longnose Gar through a lens
Photo: Phoenix-Five, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Helman34, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
longnose gar in Michigan: quick answers
What is the Michigan bag limit for longnose gar?
No possession limit on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered; season open all year. Other waters carry their own rows.
What is the Michigan record longnose gar?
18 lb from Williamsville Lake, Livingston County, in 1995 (hook and line).
Where do longnose gar live in Michigan?
7 water pages on this site name it, starting with Black Lake, Marble Lake and Stony Lake, Jackson County.
Where were longnose gar planted?
No stocking event since January 2024 names it.
Is longnose gar a game fish in Michigan?
Lepisosteus osseus; other species in great lakes and inland.
Is the Michigan longnose gar season open now?
Open all year on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered.
Is a separate stamp needed to fish for longnose gar?
Anglers 17 and older carry a Michigan all-species fishing license: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents, $11 for seniors or $10 for one day.
Do Michigan charters fish for longnose gar?
The guides page lists captains by town instead.
Target longnose gar on Michigan water
The lake pages above carry launches, fish lists and limits.