The elusive Bigmouth Buffalo might just be one of the most incredible fishes to call the Carleton Arboretum home. Easily mistaken for the invasive European Carp, this native member of the sucker family has an incredible life cycle which is both a biological wonder and a liability for the species in a world of ever-increasing anthropogenic pressures.
Believed to be the longest-lived freshwater fish on the planet, this spectacular creature can grow upwards of 50 pounds and live for over 100 years. Remarkably, this species does not appear to decline physically with age, making it a subject of interest in the scientific community. Despite these unbelievable characteristics, the Bigmouth Buffalo goes largely unrecognized for its uniqueness in the sport fishing community, where it is largely regarded as a “trash fish”. This treatment has contributed to the widespread decline of the species throughout its established range of the central United States and southern Canada. Because this fish takes several years to reach sexual maturity and reproduces infrequently, it is at high risk of overfishing.
This fish prefers to live in lakes and sluggish rivers, such as the Cannon River. Unlike its close relatives such as the Black and Smallmouth Buffalos, the Bigmouth Buffalo is a filter feeder that strains plankton from the water using its extremely fine gill rakes. This feeding behavior can take place near the riverbed, where small aquatic invertebrates, organic matter and plant detritus also make it on the menu.
The Bigmouth Buffalo is quite cryptic but can be spotted in the Arb by the astute observer. It is most easily observed during the spring, when heavy rains cause the river to overflow its banks forcing the fish to escape the strong currents by retreating to the floodplains. These fish can be caught by hook and line while fishing within the Arb via mimicry of their natural prey. If you catch one, remember to treat it with care and return it quickly to the water. Any one individual fish has the potential to be older than you are, no matter your age!
