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.