After the white perch debate, I won't try to identify your skinny silver fish -- but that's no garfish to be found in eastern U.S. waters. It could be a pelagic ocean fish, akin to ballyhoo, or balao, or even a freshwater aquarium fish from the Amazon.
"Gar" lurk in shallow waters, and have a blotchy, mottled appearance. They are less wary than bass, and are interesting to watch -- suddenly dashing into the shallows to seize a fish. They average near two feet.
The alligator gar grows to 279 pounds.
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/gar.html