Eastern Shore Long-Nosed Gar

Type: Nontidal
Region: Eastern
Location: Eastern Shore Pond

While fishing in a pond on the Eastern Shore for Crappies I was surprised to hook into this monster. It looks like a Spotted Gar but when I checked the habitat and range it does not show to be a Maryland resident. Is it rare to catch a spotted gar in Maryland? It was 32 inches.

DNR Response: You caught a Long-Nosed Gar, which is common in many of the eastern shore tidal rivers and creek. Spotted Gars are native to the Mississippi drainage.