So i read that bowfishing was made legal for catfish. As i read they said it was for a year and they were going to see how it affects the fishing. What im getting to is if the state government has renewed this law?

I hope not.

Just keep in mind that bowfishing is nothing but site fishing. Most bodies of water that hold cats don't have enough clarity to see the cats. I'm willing to be that it won't affect the population at all, but that's just based on what I've seen.

I have bow fished catfish, and it is doable. We shot braunig alot last summer and would shoot about ten good channel cat a night, in adition to them we would usualy get in the neighborhood of 20 carp, and 10 or so tilapia. Many people dont like it, but I think it has no bearing on the fisheries. How many people go out there and catch way more than 10 cats in a night, I can think of several on here that do way more damage to cat populations than ten fish a night, but since they are caught on rod and reels it dont matter. We also shot choke canyon and shot three cats, but mostly gar, and hunted gibbons creek and shot about a 15lb blue. The numbers of cats harvested by bowfishermen I think is way less than what conventional fisherman take, so I dont see it have an effect on the population.

matt

As long as it is legal, I don't see any problems with it. I would personally rather catch rod and reel, heck I don't even like jug or trot-line fishing. But, if that's what you want to do, go for it. Different strokes for different folks!!

I have no problem with Bow "Fishing" for food. Big problems as usual when people go Bow "Killing". I also doubt bow fishing is doing anything to the catfish population.

Yeah, the bow killing is the only thing at task in my way of thinking. But then on the other hand, I don't know how many 15" red snapper I have thrown and seen thrown back with their air bladders poking out. The fish and game laws in many areas, state and federal, are probably some of the most non-commonsensical of any on the books.

Well just to attempt to clear my name we try to make use of all we shoot. All the cats and tilapia are eaten, and we either give the carp to people who will eat the nasty things, or most of the time use them for trotline bait, but we dont dump them all in the boat ramp like some do, that pisses me off.

matt

The fishermen told them it was wrong.
The biologist told them it was wrong.
But some TPWD commissioner's nephew wanted to kill catfish with a bow so who cares what science or popular wishes have to say. And yes, I recently received a list of this year's game law changes and killing catfish was extended. Hey, how bout we shoot bass too!

I don't have a problem with anyone using any legal means to harvest fish. I have however seen very large blues in very shallow water while spawning, these large fish are very vulnerable to bowfishermen. I do wish TPWD would have protected these larger fish from bowhunting but the law is the law and as long as folks are abiding by the law I have no problem. Most of us that target trophy blues release our fish over 10 or 15 pounds. Its also true that the larger fish that have been in a body of water for 15 to 25 years have absorbed more pollutants and are not as healthy to eat than the younger fish. Just some fishfood for thought.

Well, it is sad to hear that they extended the law again. I have no problem with bowfishing but i do with the bow killing as said above. Yes it is a fun sport but it should not be used on gamefish. I would not mind it as much if they would only shoot "eater" size cats but that is not the case. It takes to many years to grow these fish big and not given a chance for release. I worry also like said above about the spawning and big catfish. It is easy to shoot these fish and big fish make big fish babies that grow to be big. Not only do i think catfish should be taken off of the bowfishing list, alligator gar also. These are the second biggest fish in North American freshwater and they are not a gamefish.

Just remember, "In bowfishing there is no catch and release."