![]() Their diet is primarily that of a “detritivore,” using their mouth to pick up organic debris in the silt, scraping algae off of rocks and consuming insect larvae, mollusks, and small crustaceans. They are most often found in water with dense aquatic vegetation and silty bottoms, which are their preferred feeding areas. The current IGFA World Record stands at 82 pounds and 3 ounces, caught in Texas.īeing very hardy fish, they frequently live in moderate to fast flowing rivers but also can be found in lakes or ponds. Weights vary from water to water, with the vast majority of fish in the 20 to 30 pound range, whereas some waters produce very large fish. ![]() The average adult size ranges from 24 inches to 30 inches in length, with some specimens reaching 40-plus inches. Their coloration ranges from pearly shades of white/grey to coppery green or even almost black and their scales are often iridescent, making them a beautiful fish. Although they are often referred to as “buffalo carp” and are similar in shape, the major difference is that buffalo have large black eyes and they do not have barbels like carp. A close relative of the bigmouth buffalo and black buffalo, this fish is stockier and its mouth is under-slung. Smallmouth buffalo, which are members of the sucker family, are indigenous to the United States and native to the major tributaries off the Mississippi River. An Intro to Smallmouth Buffalo: Keith Thompson Keith Thompson (via ACS) Throughout this article, you will learn a bit about this often overlooked species and experience the respect and value our members hold for buffalo and understand why they see a bounty of opportunity where other’s may miss this awarding pursuit entirely. The American Carp Society and its members have a remarkable passion for carp – that goes without saying – but we also have a very soft spot for the native buffalo and are just as pleased to catch, care for, appreciate, photograph and release a buffalo as we are a carp. While angling techniques for carp align almost seamlessly with catching buffalo, there are a few adjustments the savvy angler can make to target this more subtle-to-bite cousin of carp that experimentation and experience can reveal. These are not the coarsely coated, plains grazing buffalo you might be imagining, but one of three variants of a native sucker (namely the smallmouth buffalo, black buffalo, or, more rarely, the bigmouth buffalo). In some states, however, adventurous anglers could encounter an entirely different species known as the buffalo. Captures could range from pristine, richly colored common carp to the elusive, heavy-scaled mirror carp and even wild koi. The pursuit of carp angling brings with it several surprises – primarily large, trophy-class fish caught in your local waters. Martin Rich and James King (via ACS) Fishing for Buffalo: Introduction by Clayton Lothrop ![]() Please see our Affiliate Disclosure for more information.Įditor’s note: This is a collaborative article written by American Carp Society Members Keith Thompson, Erick Maybury, James King, and Martin Rich, with an introduction written by ACS Operations Manager Clayton Lothrop. Articles on Premier Angler may contain affiliate links.
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