David Confair has been certified as a new Maryland state record holder for longnose gar in the Chesapeake division.
Confair caught the 20.5-pound, 49.5-inch fish in February while fishing in Marshyhope Creek. He was fishing the bottom of the creek in about 15 feet of water with a two-hook sabiki rig with No. 4 hooks and small cut pieces of gizzard shad.
The fish’s weight was certified at Choptank River Crab and Oyster Co. in Cambridge, and the species was confirmed by DNR recreational fisheries coordinator Erik Zlokovitz.
Confair targets longnose gar in February and March by fishing for them with bottom rigs and then again during the summer when they feed near the surface.
Confair actually reclaims the record he once held. His catch surpassed the previous record of 18.3 pounds, set by Samson Matthews in Marshyhope Creek on March 2, 2020. Confair had held the record previously, with a 17.9-pound gar caught in 2019.
The longnose gar is known for its thick ganoid scales and elongated, needle-like snout, which contains numerous sharp, cone-shaped teeth. The gar’s jaw structure and feeding behavior make them challenging to hook and catch.
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