What do you do with all of those fish?
This question, above all others, is the most common one I field when describing bowfishing to someone who's never tried it. Above all it's imperative that these fish do not go to waste.
1. Eat them
Not all rough fish are considered a delicacy, but pickling and smoking most fish makes them palatable. Most gar and buffalo species are highly regarded for their taste. Trying to find some one that will take fish to eat is not that difficult if the quantities aren't too large. There are many recipes online describing ways to prepare these fish.
2. Make High-Quality Fertilizer
Farmers in the know will open up their fields to the disposal of fish. The fish will break down rather quickly and serve as a fantastic fertilizer. Having a sympathetic farmer take your fish is some-thing every bowfisherman should have figured out before venturing out. It's very important to have a good way to dispose of a large quantity of fish. Leaving them on the bank, throwing them back in the water, etc... are not usually options and may result in a fine if you're caught. Consult your local fish and game laws.
3. Donate to a Rendering Plant
Although not widespread, there are fish rendering plants across the country that may be willing to take large quantities of fish. They will turn the fish into feed for other animals, or fertilizer for distribution to farmers. Anyone
hosting a tournament should make sure they have a contact that can transport and dispose of a large quantity of fish.
What gear do I need to start bowfishing?
Bowfishing can be as simple, or as complex, as you'd like it to be. Many opportunities exist to take fish from shore during the day with inexpensive equipment. For example, using a bow you already have and putting a rest on it to accommodate the heavy fiber-glass arrows commonly used, plus a simple method to hold and retrieve the line, like a hand-wrap reel, are minimums for success.
However, if you're looking to get quick arrow retrieval and have fewer problems, there are fan-tastic kits available that can convert your bow into a fishing machine. AMS Bowfishing, Cajun Archery, Muzzy, RPM and Bohning all have kits that contain every-thing you need to be successful without breaking the bank.
When selecting a bow, it's not necessary to have a high draw weight to have success. Hunting bows should be turned down to their safe minimums, or shoot for 30-50lb of draw weight. High draw weights will result in arrows stuck deeply into the bottom on a miss, or may pass completely through a fish on a successful hit, which typically makes getting the fish off the arrow more difficult.
Bows dedicated to bowfishing have features like zero let-off cams, low to medium draw weights, and very flexible draw lengths to accommodate bow-fishers of any size. Popular bows include the AMS line, PSE Discovery 2, PSE Wave, Mission Menace, Mission Craze, Oneida, Alpine Mako, and many others.
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Photo courtesy of David Smith
Recipe available at
Photo courtesy of Pete Gregoire
Green Bay, WI
Photo courtesy of Luke Gerke
Obscure Adventures Magazine