Page 35 - 2021 JAN/FEB Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

JaSoN SCHooley/oDWC

BraNDoN BroWN/oDWC Maeghen Wedgeworth hold bigmouth buffalos.

ODWC Fisheries Division intern Jeffrey Colvin and
Oklahoma State University graduate student

Bigmouth buffalo are not carp, but are in the
sucker family and hold the record for the longest-
lived freshwater fish in the U.S.
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fishing. They are much less abundant than they
fishing. They are much less abundant than they
often appear to be, in part a result of their loiter-
often appear to be, in part a result of their loiter-
ing or gulping air at the water’s surface.
ing or gulping air at the water’s surface.
Similarly, buffalofishes can often be seen in
groups as they browse for food on rocks near the
groups as they browse for food on rocks near the
water’s edge or at the surface. In reality, the abun-
water’s edge or at the surface. In reality, the abun-
dance of these fishes is also typically far lower than
dance of these fishes is also typically far lower than
commonly target.
appearances would indicate.
Spotted gars are non-native, nongame fish species that bowfishers
appearances would indicate.
All of these native species are highly edible if pre-
All of these native species are highly edible if pre-
pared well.
pared well.
Based on accumulated ecological evidence, a rea-
sonable management approach has been to favor
sustainable native species and eliminate, or at least con-
trol, the non-native invasives. Both natives and non-na-
tives are popular with bowfishers, which has created
different management approaches.
Longer Lifespans
A key finding from reviewing studies of the past two
decades is that several of the most popular native species
targeted for bowfishing have much longer lifespans than
formerly realized. A 2019 study on bigmouth buffalo, a spe-
cies often viewed as a rough fish, found individuals with con-
firmed ages up to 112 years, perhaps double their previously
assumed lifespan and setting the record for the longest-lived
freshwater fish species. The aging technique, called Bomb
Radiocarbon Dating, used on fish inner ear bones has also
confirmed the presence of very old smallmouth buffalo and
alligator gar, two other Oklahoma native species popular
with bowfishers. It is highly likely that the ages of other suck-
ers and gars have been underestimated as well.
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