Black Buffalo in Illinois
Where black buffalo swim in Illinois, and what may be kept.
- no statewide rowlimit
- 23 lbs 12 ozrecord
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Sizing up Illinois black buffalo
IDNR prints no statewide row of its own for black buffalo in the 2026 digest. Check the site-specific entry for the water you fish, since those can still bind it.
In 1984, Rock River produced the hook and line record of 23 lbs 12 oz. 1 pages across Illinois carry it, Mermet State Lake among them.
Heaviest black buffalo on the Illinois list
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 23 lbs 12 oz | Rock River | Lee County | July 27, 1984 |
| bow and arrow | 59 lbs 12 oz | Mermet State Lake | Massac County | February 19, 2014 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Prairie State pages naming black buffalo
Impounded Illinois water holding black buffalo
- Mermet State Lake452 acres
IDNR IFishIllinois outlook ratings and species lists, the IDNR stocking table and IDNR record waters; largest waters first.
Illinois fish close to black buffalo
- Bigmouth Buffalono statewide row
- Smallmouth Buffalono statewide row
Camera views of the water by Black Buffalo
Photo: Alaina McDavid, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Tripp, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Christian Collins, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Village of Oak Lawn, CC BY 2.0
Illinois anglers ask about black buffalo
How many black buffalo may I keep in Illinois?
IDNR sets no statewide line for it; look up the lake in the site-specific list.
How heavy is the Illinois black buffalo record?
23 lbs 12 oz, landed at Rock River in 1984. The list names no angler.
Where do black buffalo live in Illinois?
Try Mermet State Lake, out of 1.
Are there site-specific rules for black buffalo?
It has no named local entry; each water's all-fish rules still hold.
Do Illinois hatcheries raise black buffalo?
The IDNR stocking table for 2021 to 2026 has no row for it.
Is one IDNR license enough for black buffalo?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Which record divisions does IDNR keep for black buffalo?
The list has a hook and line side and a bow and arrow side. It has 2 record rows.
Where does IDNR rate black buffalo best?
IDNR outlook tables here do not rate it.
Go after Illinois black buffalo
Pick one of those Illinois waters and its page lays out the launches.