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Bigmouth Buffalo
 
Additional Sport Fish Species pages
- Apache Trout
- Cutthroat Trout
- Smallmouth Bass
- Arctic Grayling
- Desert Sucker
- Striped Bass
- Bigmouth Buffalo
- Flathead Catfish
- Tilapia
- Black Bullhead
- Green Sunfish
- Walleye
- Black Crappie
- Largemouth Bass
- White Bass
- Bluegill
- Northern Pike
- White Crappie
- Brook Trout
- Rainbow Trout
- Yellow Bass
- Brown Trout
- Redear Sunfish
- Yellow Bullhead
- Channel Catfish
- Roundtail Chub
- Yellow Perch
 
Bigmouth Buffalo
Bigmouth Buffalo: (Ictiobus cyprinellus)
 
Description
Non-native. Introduced in 1918. Heavy bodied fish, back is gray to olive-bronze with green-copper reflections. Sides, black to olive-yellow; Belly, pale yellow to white. Head large and ovoid with a sharply oblique, terminal mouth. No barbels or spines. Length: 12 to 41 inches. Weight: 1 to over 39 pounds.

Location and Habitat
Found only in Apache and Roosevelt Lakes.

Food
They are plankton feeders, eating mostly algae and crustaceans.

Angling
These fish are rarely caught by rod and reel, but successful anglers have used small hooks hidden in dough balls. In addition to angling, bigmouth buffalo may also be taken by bow and arrow, crossbow, snare, gig, spear and speargun as long as none of these methods are practiced within two hundred yards of any boat dock or designated swimming area.

Table Quality
The meat is firm, white, flaky and good tasting.
 
Related AZGFD Info
- Watercraft
- Been Fishing?
- Sport Fishing Education
- Economic Impact
- Sign up for AZGFD eNews
 
Downloads [More]
- New! 2008 Urban Fishing Regulations [PDF, 2.3mb]
- 2007-2008 Fishing Regulations [PDF, 4.7mb]
- 2007 & 2008 Amphibian and Reptile Regulations [PDF, 170kb]
- Arizona Residency Requirements
[PDF, 202kb]
NOTE: The above files are PDF's and require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
 
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