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Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)

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Stop Invasive Species.  CLEAN. DRAIN. DRY. (logo)

As soon as you pull your boat out of the water, remember to:

CLEAN.

Pressure wash your boat, trailer, and equipment with hot water (140º F) and remove all zebra mussels, plant fragments, and mud that are visible.

DRAIN.

Drain all water from your boat, motor, bilge, live wells, coolers, and ballast.

DRY.

If pressure wash is not available, allow the boat, trailer, and equipment to dry thoroughly for at least five days before visiting a new water body.

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Image of boat parts. Curtesy texasinvasives.org

It’s The Law!

ANS are invasive, non-native species that threaten the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems in Oklahoma. Boaters must remove all aquatic plant species and zebra mussels from boats, trailers, and other gear prior to launching boats in state waters. If you find something you believe to be an ANS, call the fisheries biologist at (918) 200-4815. For more information on ANS, go online to ProtectYourWaters.net

 


 

Shad Restriction

No person shall transport shad from the following waters. 

If shad are collected from these listed waters for use as bait, they may only be used in the water body from which they were collected. If you encounter an invasive carp, please immediately report it to (918) 200-4815.

  • The Red River below Lake Texoma to the Arkansas state line
  • Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees
  • The Neosho River from Grand Lake to the Kansas state line
  • The Kiamichi River below Hugo Lake to the Red River
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Bighead Carp Juvenile, Silver Carp Juvenile and Gizzard Shad comparison.

 


 

Attention Anglers

Bighead and silver carp are invading Oklahoma waters. 

If you catch either of these species, do not release the fish back into the water. Report it to Wildlife Department personnel immediately by calling (918) 200-4815. Anglers are allowed to possess dead or live bighead and silver carp when reporting them to the Wildlife Department. The Wildlife Department is collecting biological data on these species to better understand their population status and the threats they pose to state lakes and rivers. Your cooperation is appreciated.

 


 

ANS in Oklahoma

Note: For a complete list of aquatic nuisance species in Oklahoma, including noxious aquatic plants, please refer to Title 800.

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Bighead carp ANS.

Bighead Carp

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Silver Carp ANS

Silver Carp

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White Perch ANS

 White Perch

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Harris Mud Crab ANS

Harris Mud Crab

 

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Zebra Mussels ANS

 Zebra Mussels

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Didymo ANS

Didymo 

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Hydrilla ANS

Hydrilla

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Yellow Floating Heart ANS

 Yellow Floating Heart

 


 

Prohibited Species List

Importing into the state or possession of the following exotic fish or their eggs in Oklahoma is illegal:

  • Alewives
  • Australian Red Claw (Crayfish)
  • Bighead Carp
  • Black Carp
  • Blueback Herring
  • Bony-Tongue Fishes
  • Electric Catfish
  • Electric Eel
  • Freshwater Stingray
  • Pike Killifish
  • Houri
  • Marbled Crayfish
  • Parasitic South American Catfish
  • Pavon or Peacock Bass
  • Piranha
  • Rainbow Smelt
  • Rudd and Rudd Hybrids
  • Silver Carp
  • Snakehead
  • Walking Catfish

Disclaimer: For a complete list of Oklahoma aquatic invasive species and where they are located, visit the ANS webpage.

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Australian Red Clar (Crayfish) ANS

Australian Red Claw (Crayfish)

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Peacock Bass ANS

Peacock Bass

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Piranha ANS

Piranha

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Snakehead ANS

Snakehead

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Walking Catfish ANS

Walking Catfish