Where are the bowfishermen?

[Greg Krause]

yes, all you need is a fishing or small game license as well.
to find carp check along shallow, muddy flats. they like cattails as well.

[SPIKER]

Thanks.

[ruger7mmmag]

smj said:

Don't know these guys, but note the bows on either side of them...

Never been bowfishing, don't even know what the heck that is up there. What is it and do you eat carp? Can you bowfish for fish such as mullet?

The only thing I've done close to bowfishing would be spearfishing. I'm an avid diver who began diving when I was 13 and have speared a ton of grouper, snapper and other things in deep water. Bowfishing doesn't really interest me living here so close to "big water" personally, but I would be interested to see what you guys do up in your neck of the woods as I find it interesting. During the "warm" months, I'm either playing softball on a tourney team or going out deep sea hunting if I'm not with the family or doing honey do's so I can hunt like crazy during the fall.

[Greg Krause]

In NY we can only bowfish for carp. I know some people who wll take carp to eat. I haven't eaten them. they smell and are very slimy fish. I just plant them in my garden for fertilizer. Makes for some nice tomatoes.
I didn't think I'd enjoy it that much, either did my buddies. It turned out to be a ton of fun. It can be very challenging and frustrating at times.
Down south they can shoot catfish as well as gar. even big aligator gar like in the picture. lots of guys also go for sting rays and somtimes even sharks.
I'm going for alligators in FL with my bow this year if it woks out.

[ruger7mmmag]

If I draw a tag for the alligator season next year, then I probably would give it a shot as that would probably be quite a bit of fun and its been years since I harvested one. When I was a kid in central florida living on a huge lake off the braden river, we used to harvest them all the time back when it was legal. All we did back then was put some chicken on a jap hook on a rope to a clorox bottle and then go out and find it the next day. If you found the bottle, the gator was usually not far behind and we'd take them with highpowered pellet guns. We usually took 6-8 footers like this and boy was that good eating...Now that I'm a dad, I can't believe I got away doing that stuff...

[royden]

Ok I have to write something here! What is that fish? Is it an alligator Gar? I've thought about bowfishing too but would have to go south to do it. Here in Montana I believe all that is legal are the trash fish - suckers and whitefish. A fish that big looks like it would take the bow too and since I ain't gonna let go I would be the bobber.

[BT]

it is an alligator gar.

When hunting these fish or other large fish such as sharks,rays,what have you....

a barrel float is used and you simply chase it like they did in Jaws

[Greg Krause]

In NY we can only shoot carp which are trash fish. I would love to hunt for "better" fish, but carp are a blast and are plentiful around home.

[BT]

20 - 30# carp is a hand full

[Coca Cola]

I am in the oppisite situation as mentioned in your first post in this thread BT.


I made my dad take me bowfishing this august I had over 30 shots...................





but no fish. My homemade rig really hinders things. It was a blast none the less.
I hope to do it next year