Of course, not all fish that bow fishermen target are invasive. For example, alligator gar has become a very popular bowfishing target, but they generally do not do any harm to the local environment. In fact, they actually help to control the spread of invasive species like carp by using them as a food source.
This is why many areas will have a daily limit of gar in order to keep their populations healthy. Besides this, the money generated from things like fishing licenses, boat permits, and even taxes on fishing equipment can further be used to preserve environments and fund conservation efforts. Without these funds, all anglers could have much fewer waters to find fish in, and fish populations could suffer.
The last thing we want is fewer fish to chase after, so why not support any way that helps, bowfishing included? Many people would argue that killing fish is not healthy for the environment. In most situations, they would be absolutely right. However, when it comes to the majority of the fish that are the primary targets for bowfishing, this is not the case! Taking these invasive and non-native fish species out of the ecosystem helps the overall health and longevity of that environment.
Even if the fish are not eaten or used, the simple act of removing them helps to protect and preserve so much more in the long run that it is well worth the effort.
Not to mention that bowfishing is a ton of fun as well! November 11, Read More. September 24, August 30, Sign-up to get exclusive deals, newsletters, and information all about Bowfishing. We promise no spamming. Menu 0. Bowfishing involves learning how to identify and target fish swimming in shallow water and sneaking up on them before they spook and scurry away. Some anglers follow the rule — if the fish is 10 feet away and 1 foot below the surface, then aim 4 inches low.
You can practice with specialty targets in the off-season to boost accuracy. Besides a fishing license, you'll find most of the gear you need comes from the hunting aisle rather than the fishing aisle. Carp are highly reactive to noise and motion, so you need to be ultra-stealthy and dress like a hunter — camo is your friend! Don't forget a pair of water- and mud-proof boots.
Here are a few more bowfishing essentials required for beginners. A compound bow, longbow or recurve bow. Most bow enthusiasts recommend starting with an old or used bow because it's going to get gross and muddy. You can get away with a relatively basic setup when fishing carp, but be sure to invest in a high-quality bow case to keep your bow safe during transport.
The Pelican Air Bow Case is a great option for getting your bowfishing gear down to the lake or river. It features a super-light polymer build with plenty of storage. Fish arrows. A bow fishing reel. We recommend starting with a bottle-style reel, which allows you to pull the fish in by hand without tangling. This style is excellent for beginners to use before they advance to a spin-cast reel.
Sun protection. Stay safe from the sun and boost your odds of reeling in a big one with SPF, a wide-brimmed hat and polarized sunglasses.
Polarized lenses help reduce glare and allow you to see deeper into the water, which will improve your likelihood of catching a big one. Bowfishing is no more brutal than traditional fishing when you keep the fish. There is a misconception that the fish we shoot when bowfishing are thrown away and never eaten. This can be seen as wasteful and unethical.
There is also good reason that some fish are not eaten. There are many species of fish that are legal to bowfish and able to be eaten. When those fish are caught, they are typically eaten. Those fish that are not eaten are typically invasive species where hunting them helps the ecosystem. They are hard to prepare, not good to eat, and the DNR might down right tell you not too. Eat the fish that are edible and not invasive. Get the deep fryer ready, invite some friends over and have a fish fry.
We will occasionally hear complaints about the loud nature of the sport. We like to play music, cheer when we hit something or miss , we are constantly chasing and shooting at fish and our generators can be heard across the lake. This can agitate the area for others who are fishing with rods and reels. Our sport is exciting; we enjoy the thrill of the chase. We joined the sport because of the action and the challenge of shooting into water.
Find a quieter generator Be considerate of others around you. Enjoy yourself but be considerate of others. When bowfishing at night, we use lights on the boat that shine into the water to light up our shooting area.
These lights can sometimes light up areas that are not in the water. We sometimes hear complaints from people who live on the shore and say the lights shine right into their houses. When bowfishing at night, we are typically not intentionally shining lights at houses. If this happens, please try to get our attention and kindly let us know that we are disturbing you. Follow the same rule as above.
If you notice you are accidentally lighting up a whole house at 2 a. They might assume you are taking all the fish from the lake and ruining the fishing for everyone else. We sometimes do fill barrels of fish, but those barrels are typically filled with invasive species. If barrels of invasive fish are not constantly removed from the bodies of water, they would most likely overtake the aquatic environment. Bowfishing is one of the most effective ways to involve the public in the control and cleanup of this invasive species problem.
The typical target when bowfishing is invasive species that overtake the aquatic environment. By hunting these species, we are improving the game fish environment for everyone. Consider what fish you are targeting. They may be legal to shoot, but bowfishing in moderation keeps them around for you and others to catch later. It can be easy for people who only fish with rods and reels to believe their rules apply to bowfishing as well.
They assume that catch and release is a necessary aspect of fishing, as you sometimes catch the wrong species or too small of a fish.
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