Plato Harding

Atractosteus spatula

Casting lines in the backcountry is your chance to explore some of the world’s most secluded waters, from high mountain streams to the labyrinth of the Ten Thousand Islands. To all the adventurous anglers out there, backcountry fishing is calling your name!

The species has plenty of features that are deservant of the name it bears. They are elongated in shape and have an alligator-like jaw full of sharp teeth that bite down with powerful force. They are carnivores that do not hesitate to devour birds, reptiles and small mammals making the mistake of coming too close to the water. They also frequently surface for air (cause for this is unknown) and can survive out of water for 2min.

What is Backcountry Fishing?

As one of the largest fish in North American freshwaters, Alligator Gar are commonly caught between 4 and 6ft and 100 and 160lbs. The largest specimen was bowfished and weighed in at 365lbs.

Backcountry Fishing Techniques

You can catch a great deal of backcountry species on spinning, baitcasting, and fly fishing gear, in freshwater and saltwater alike. Light tackle is standard, but you may opt in for heavy tackle when pursuing larger fish (such as 60+ lb Tarpon in the Florida Keys). Depending on your target species and the area, jigging, bottom fishing, and even trolling can be effective methods in the backcountry. In short, there’s no limit to the techniques you’ll use–it all depends on the fish you’re after and what’s working best that day.

Backcountry Fishing Gear

Many anglers fishing the Everglades rely on a 6.5-7’ rod, matched with a spinning reel that can hold at least 200 yards of 10 lb test line. Fly anglers can rely on an 8-weight fly rod. Braided line is recommended because it’s less like to break on snags, but monofilament is preferable when fishing in high-clarity water