Rough Fish Conservation in Texas

It's a simple fact: most anglers do not view all fish the same way. Bass, crappie, and catfish are prized for their sport value while other fish are frequently overlooked.

This focus on sport can lead to problems with lake and river ecosystems as more and more sport fish are stocked to meet the demand. Misbalance of any species is problematic. You mess with the food chain, you mess with everything from water quality to vegetation growth. And with water quality issues come small fish and poor fish health.

Rough fish such as buffalo are often perceived as something that is undesirable and even dangerous to game fish. Reality could not be further from the truth. That said, many anglers, especially bow fishermen, unnecessarily kill rough fish such as drum, gar, and buffalo for no reason at all. Their logic is, "It's not what I want, and it's in my way." Some anglers have been perpetuating misinformation regarding gar and buffalo especially, stating that they are invasive or damaging to other fish. Science disagrees, and it is highly important to maintain healthy populations of these rough fish species without pointless killing. 

There is a lot of value to understanding the role these species play in our world. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, buffalo is actually the most sold food fish for freshwater.🔗Rough fish such as gar and freshwater drum control populations of everything in the aquatic ecosystem. Buffalo and suckers manage the plant growth and prevent overpopulation of mollusks and crustaceans. It's a simple fact that many anglers have never been told. 

In conclusion, conservation of all native species is necessary as they are not actively destroying the ecosystem or the population of sport fish. Bow fishing for gar and buffalo should be regulated, not by some government agency, but rather by the bow fishermen themselves. Always leave the water better than you found it. Never catch a fish and leave it to die on the bank. It is our responsibility as anglers to protect our favorite spots from destruction, and part of that responsibility is respecting our fish.