Smallmouth Buffalo(Ictiobus bubalus)

Quick Facts

  • Size Range: Up to 40 pounds
  • Native Species?: Yes
  • Food Value: Considered a rough fish, but eaten by many.

State Record

  • Louisiana State Record: 43.5lbs
  • State Record Date: 12/1/1986
  • State Record Holder DeVohn B. Hayes

The smallmouth buffalo is similar to the bigmouth buffalo but has a down-turned mouth and a humped back. They have a bronze to silver body and a white belly. Buffalo do not have barbels like the common carp.

The smallmouth buffalo live in faster moving freshwater bodies than the bigmouth buffalo.

They are often fished on the bottom and caught using corn kernels or a myriad of dough ball recipes as bait. They can also be taken by bow and arrow.

Smallmouth Buffalo Rules and Regulations

Size Limit : 16” min total length
Bag and Possession Limit : 25 per day
General Info:
Related Habitats:
Other Fin Fish Species: Mahogany Snapper Spotted Bass Warmouth Longear Sunfish Flathead Catfish Bonnethead Shark Atlantic Sharpnose Shark Banded Rudderfish
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Related Fishing Methods

Bottom fishing is normally about fishing bottom structures in order to target benthic or bottom dwelling fish. There are a wide variety of techniques, but the common element is the targeting of species who dwell around or hide in natural and man-made structures. Fish like grouper, snapper, amberjack and catfish would be considered bottom fish. It is very popular amongst anglers and success is often determined by the fishermen's ability to crank a fish away from the structure before the fish can duck into it and cut the line. Anchoring or drifting the boat over the structure is key to having success. There are many versions, and many of the bottom fish are prized eating.

Dead bait consists of many different types of bait that is no longer alive. Dead bait is still attractive to many fish as they are normally feeding by smell and dead bait is the ticket for smell. Fresh cut fish, dead shrimp, half crab, shucked clam, cut squid and all popular examples of bait that will catch a wide variety of fish. Many sport fish that are predators, will gladly take the opportunity to slurp up a fresh dead bait. A redfish is equally happy to chase down a baitfish or slurp up a dead shrimp on the bottom. Dead bait has the benefit is being easy to obtain, maintain and transport, as opposed to live bait which takes livewells, quality water control and can be harder to obtain.