I am really looking at setting up a rig this year, looks like a lot of fun and the Au Sable River we fish on in the summer houses some huge carp that I've seen while just walking up and down the riverbank. So my question to those on here that bowfish..what do you do with all your fish? Eat them? Or feed them to the bushes? Thanks for the info!
My buddies starting keeping the bigger gar we were shooting, they would grill them up. They ran a saw up the back of them, then filleted the meat out. I never got to indulge in them as I was always busy when they would do it, but they said it wasn't pretty good. So I'm gonna have to try it
I used to be huge into bow fishing before other commitments ate up all my time. Have since sold my boat rigged for it. We split the belly and sank most of what we shot right back into the lake/river (legal in KY, need to check your state regs) but ate some bighead Carp and gar we shot. Both were excellent. The best were when we shot a few spoonbills. Those things are a blast to reel in and delicious to boot.
Spoonbills are legal in KY and a few other states, 2 per day per person. Many states allow catfish as well.
I usually use them for fertilizer in my fields or a random farmer fields. I go and ask the farmer of course. Other than that there are some places that may buy them. I've heard of chinese restaurants and fish markets buying them as well. Just have to ask around.
Thanks guys, if my dad gives me permission to turn his old hoyt into a bowfishing rig I'll set it up.
That's what we usually do with carp. My buddy and I got back to the truck at a public ramp one day and a warden approached us. He was asking what fish we were after (only non game fish in that Lake is carp). We told him and then he asked us what we did with them. We told him we chuck them onto the bank as far as we can, out of sight. He said he had no problem with that. Food for the scavengers. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Just depends on your warden. I'd ask his opinion first cause he's the one writing the ticket. Also if you go this route, steer clear of doing so around any parking, camping, or ramp areas... Stinks to high heaven a few days later and gives bowfishing a bad name for others.
C ' mon man, who do you think you're talking to? Nah, we're usually in the nastiest backwater coves where there are no houses and in places that are only good for kayaks or canoes. I like your idea better though about slitting their belly and letting them sink. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
I should have clarified better. My post was for any newcomers thinking of taking your route (just to point out aspects of it they may not have thought of). Didn't mean you were doing those things at all. Popping the air sac in the belly works great but most states have laws against doing this, I've found bowfishing is so obscure (especially when it comes to laws) that its best to just ask your local warden about any legal questions. He is the one policing the area and he will be issuing tickets based off of his interpretations of the law/ his views. Better safe than sorry!
It's all good buddy. Just giving you a hard time. Yeah, what might be okay for one warden might not be for another. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
I either throw them out in the pasture for birds/predators or use throw in the field and let decay for fertilizer. Smoked carp is really good too.
That's how the wardens around me are. As long as they aren't in plain sight for the public to see or to smell, they have had no problems throwing them out.
