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Spear
Bowfishing
Fishing with a bow and specialised arrow attached to a retrieval line - primarily targeting rough fish and invasive species like carp and gar.
Water: Both
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cost: $200+
📖 Overview
Bowfishing combines archery and fishing. A specialised bow shoots a barbed arrow tethered to the bow by heavy line. Popular for carp, gar, buffalo, and increasingly for invasive Asian carp control. Regulations vary widely; many states restrict bowfishing to designated rough fish.
🎒 Gear Needed
Bowfishing bow (compound or recurve, 30-50 lb draw), bowfishing arrows (fiberglass with barb), heavy retrieval line, arrow rest, reel or bottle attachment, polarised sunglasses (essential).
📋 Technique Steps
1) Scan shallow water from boat or shore. 2) Aim below the fish - light refraction shifts apparent position. 3) Draw quickly to avoid spooking. 4) Shoot with follow-through. 5) Retrieve arrow and fish via attached line.
🐟 Target Species Notes
Common carp, silver carp, grass carp, gar, buffalo, tilapia (in Florida), snakehead.