Bigmouth Buffalo

Characteristics

Body color varies from bluish-green dorsally, shading to coppery-blue on the sides, then fading to a light bluish-gray belly. It has a deeply rounded body with small eyes set close to the snout. Its head is large, round, with thin lips surrounding a large, oblique mouth. The lateral line is complete with 32 to 40 large cycloid scales. The dorsal fin is sickle-shaped with 23 to 32 rays. Pharyngeal teeth are short and fragile with about 165 per arch. Adults commonly reach 15- to 27-inches long and weigh 2 to 14 pounds. Individuals over 40 pounds are not uncommon in commercial landings.

Distribution

The Bigmouth Buffalo is found throughout most of Iowa, except for the Nodaway River drainages. It is most abundant in the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and their larger tributaries, in the river impoundments and in some natural lakes. It is less common in the smaller tributaries of the Missouri River in the southwest Iowa.

Foods

Plankton, copepods and cladocerans.

State Record

64 lbs 6 oz.; 41.5 in. - Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County, April 2007 - Ronald Anderson, Omaha, NE

Expert Tip

Bigmouth Buffalo are rarely caught on hook and line - if you do, hold on because these fish are strong.

Details

Bigmouth Buffalo are well-adapted for life in shallow, standing water characteristic of lakes, impoundments, marshes and backwaters of large rivers. It is commonly found in deep pool regions, but can also be found in quiet shallow waters and tolerates high water temperatures. They prefer very shallow and slow-flowing water over bottoms rich with debris in mud and silt. It is more tolerant of high turbidity and standing water than other species. This species tolerates very turbid waters, but prefers clear, organically-enriched water with heavy algae and zooplankton blooms.

Spawning starts in April when the water temperature reaches 60 degrees. The adult fish enter flooded marshes along river bottoms enticed by a sudden rise in water temperature or an increasing water stage from runoff. They gather in large schools to spawn over sedges and grasses in shallows about 2 to 3 feet deep. A single gravid female sinks to near the bottom and is surrounded by several males. Together they engage in a series of rushes that pushes the female to the surface while the adhesive eggs are broadcast and fertilized at random. The eggs are unattended until they hatch after incubating 8 to 14 days. Maturity varies, but most fish are sexually mature and spawn at age 3. A 10-pound buffalo has around 400,000 eggs.

Bigmouth Buffalo grow fast. Fish from the Wisconsin River had calculated body lengths of 5.2-inches at age 1 to 33.3-inches at age 12. Growth varies with location. It is often found in populations with huge standing stocks, mostly in lakes and impoundments. Populations densities of up to 1,200 pounds per acre have been reported in Iowa.

The Bigmouth Buffalo competes directly with many other fish species at different stages of development. It has a definite behavior pattern to form schools. They are a hardy fish species that can endure oxygen concentrations less than 1 ppm and equally able to survive warm water temperatures over 90 degrees.

Recent stream sampling information is available from Iowa DNR's biological monitoring and assessment program.

Sources:

Harlan, J.R., E.B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew. 1987. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 323pp.

Loan-Wilsey, A. K., C. L. Pierce, K. L. Kane, P. D. Brown and R. L. McNeely. 2005. The Iowa Aquatic Gap Analysis Project Final Report. Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Iowa State University, Ames.

Illustration by Maynard Reece, from Iowa Fish and Fishing.