Black Buffalo in Louisiana
Where black buffalo live in Louisiana, with the rules.
- 25 a daylimit
- 22.30 lbrecord
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a Louisiana water: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
A Louisiana card for black buffalo
For 2026 the Louisiana freshwater table names black buffalo in the row “Buffalo fish (or their hybrids)”. Read it as 25 daily; 16″ mll, open open year-round.
In 2023 Layne Smalley set the rod and reel record with 22.30 lb from Bussy Brake. Bussey Brake Lake lead the 1 pages that list it.
black buffalo in the 2026 Louisiana tables
| Pamphlet row | Waters | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo fish (or their hybrids) | All state waters | 25 daily; 16" MLL | Open year-round |
Possession: Twice the daily creel limit (pamphlet p.16: possession limit is twice the daily bag limit unless otherwise stated)
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 20 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF freshwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
The biggest Louisiana black buffalo on file
| Division | Method | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | Rod & Reel | 22.30 lb | Layne Smalley | Bussy Brake | December 2023 |
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA), LOWA "Louisiana State Fish Records Official Copy", records current through the record awarded September 25, 2026 (PDF created 2026-09-25); read October 28, 2026.
Lakes, bayous and bays with black buffalo
Oxbows and lakes with black buffalo
- Bussey Brake Lake2,200 acres
LDWF popular-species text on management-plan lakes, LOWA record waters, LDWF stocking releases and Get Out & Fish! sites; biggest waters first.
Kin of black buffalo in the LDWF tables
- Bigmouth Buffalofreshwater
- Smallmouth Buffalofreshwater
What the bayous and lakes near Black Buffalo look like
Photo: Shiva Shenoy, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: (WT-de) Mistoffeles, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael McCarthy (msm62166), CC BY 2.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick Louisiana answers on black buffalo
What does LDWF allow for black buffalo each day?
Bag and size: 25 daily; 16" MLL. Season: open year-round.
When was the Louisiana black buffalo record set?
LOWA lists 22.30 lb, Bussy Brake, 2023, Layne Smalley (rod and reel).
What Louisiana water is a good bet for black buffalo?
It is on 1 pages, Bussey Brake Lake first.
Do Louisiana hatcheries raise black buffalo?
No hatchery release of it is on file.
Where is the black buffalo limit different in Louisiana?
None of the exceptions mention it.
Is black buffalo open all year in Louisiana?
The row prints Open year-round.
Is a basic license enough for black buffalo?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
Where do I send a Louisiana black buffalo record?
Send it to the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association, which uses LDWF biologists to confirm species.
Pick Louisiana water for black buffalo
Each water above has launches and limits on its own page.