1. Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) Life History and Habitat Use in the Cache, Mississippi, and White Rivers, Arkansas

2. Study Goal Locate and capture adult and juvenile alligator gar in Eastern Arkansas Monitor movements of juvenile and adult alligator gar Hatchery reared alligator gar (?) ID spawning, nursery, and preferred habitats of alligator gar

3. Alligator Gar History in Arkansas Actively pursued in early to mid 1900’s (commercial and sport) - Mid to late 1900’s populations declining Late 1990’s talks for an Arkansas Alligator Gar Task Force/Alligator Management Plan initiated – “fizzled out” due to other priorities Stocking efforts as recent as 2001 – (started with 3000, ended up with 24 fingerlings)

4. Historical and Study Sites Historically found throughout southern 2/3 of AR (AR River Valley, MS Alluvial Plain, South Central Plain) Eco-basins of focus: Cache, White, and Mississippi Rivers Others eco-basins added dependent upon future funding or as warranted

5. Historical and Study Sites

6. Methods Tag adult and juvenile alligator gar with transmitters Monitor movement with fixed and mobile receivers Note habitat indices during sampling captures and transmitter detections All VEMCO © products and ATS © products

7. Floating gill nets 150’ x 10’ – #21 twine

8. Tag each fish with acoustic and radio transmitter

9. 10 receivers mounted at selected stations

10. receiver station

11. receiver station door

13. 30 Miles

16. Research Benefits Identify additional research needs for alligator gar in Arkansas Re-evaluate current fishing (commercial and sport) regulations for alligator gar Revitalize management efforts for alligator gar in Arkansas Assist and coordinate with other researchers

17. Current Research Concerns Limited numbers in wild populations Specific locales being targeted by fishermen Need regulation changes in Arkansas Hatchery reared fish (potential environmental adaptation problems)

18. Alligator Gar Rodeo (Yee-Haw!) March 17-20, 2008 Use “gator gar nets” and trammel nets Assistance from biologists within/outside AR Record information for all alligator gar Cook’s Lake and Jack’s Bay (White River)

21. Caught by commercial fisherman in the White River. Weighed 240+ lbs and measured 8’2” QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?