Don’t Dump That Bait!
Keep invasive species from colonizing new waters
If you love fishing Missouri’s lakes, ponds and streams, protect your prey by destroying unused bait or throwing it in the trash—not in the water. This simple practice can keep invasive species from colonizing new waters, and wrecking your fishing experience in the future.
What’s so bad about non-native or non-local species? They are frequently larger, more aggressive and more fertile than local native species. Their habits can also be more destructive, and they often lack local predators or other natural controls.
The rusty crayfish is a good example of a species that became invasive when it was moved from its native Ohio River basin drainage, largely via bait buckets. The rusty crayfish is larger than most native Missouri crayfish, so it outcompetes them, and its size makes it unattractive prey for many fish. It also destroys the aquatic plant beds that serve as cover and food for other aquatic organisms, as well as nursery habitat for sport fish. In addition, rusty crayfish prey on fish eggs, further harming local fish populations. Other bait crayfish, including native Missouri species that are moved from one water body to another, have caused similar problems.
Biologists recognize “bait bucket introductions” as one of the most common means of spreading aquatic invaders. To remind yourself not to accidentally introduce an invasive species into your favorite fishing spot, ask for a “Don’t Dump Bait” sticker at your local bait dealer or marina.