sweet.

Very nice Maglite!

Thank you Guys. I am a part time Bowfishing Guide with my partner at Garquest Bowfishing Adventures and obeying the law is important for our business and our sport.

That's a cool setup!

Yes, regarding obeying the law I think a lot of people see (or smell) piles of fish by the boat ramp and get upset. I know it is just a minority of bowfisherman that do it but that's certainly the biggest frustration I've seen on the forums. My hound dog used to always appreciate it though and to that end it made me happy too LOL.

Now that I'm planning to bowfish I've gotten more familiar with the laws. Here are the Army Corp regulations which are easy to miss if you are just looking at the state of Texas site. This rules out a lot of spots that I had in mind but it's the law and I will abide. "or other areas" is awfully vague though.

h. Archery equipment for bow fishing must comply with TPWD regulations
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/pwd_lf_t3200_1559/ and will not take place
within 600 feet of homes, developed parks, roads, farm and ranch yards, outlet structures,
emergency spillways, or other areas.

I guess I'm in the "snoopy rod" phase of bowfishing, but we'll see where it takes me. One thing I'm realizing from watching the various videos on youtube is that the sport can vary from a frenzied pace to a rather peaceful pastime. In that regard it is like fishing in general.

Who said i was against bowfishing? the question was asked where was the best place to post about bowfishing, in my opinion and from what i have seen on the TFF, the hunting forum is the best place for it unless you want to get hassled for it. i am not against bowfishing itself it has its time and place.

Ok it just sounded like you were being negative about it. My bad. Yes it sticks the way some people dump fish at Ramps etc. I know a lot of that is also bank fisherman throwing the carp they catch on the bank also. Not sure how to stop all the dumping but I do hate it.

www.texasbowhunter.com I love there site!

Ugh......... That site has some amazing people but the WORST CLIQUEISH MODERATORS ever!

common carp are not invasive. they were stocked here in the 1800's. the jumping silver carp are invasive. how are you a law man and don't know the truth? I am in law enforcement, seek the truth.

Carpfisher - You are as wrong now as you were the last time you posted this "
Dribble"!
Yes, the common carp was introduced as a possible food species in the 1800's. However, they were never accepted as such and have multiplied at such a rate that they are destroying their habitat and other species. Carp eat the eggs of game species and create such turbid water that "sight feeders" such as bass, crappie and others cannot feed.

By definition, a species that destroys a habitat and is not able to be controlled by natural predators is Invasive!

Bowfishing is good for the environment. We remove invasive species to make room for more desirable species. Most of my fish also go to turtle farmers and are used as turtle food. Others go to commercial fishermen and trappers.

IMHO - carp should have the same regulations as Tilapia. Remove the entrails immediately upon harvest.

Reminder to keep it civil guys. No personal attacks will be accepted, period!

Sorry Steve... Wasn't meant as a personal attack. Just trying to set the record straight.

Personally I prefer bowfishing for 10 pound plus largemouth bass. No dadgum carps, they are inedible, but a big bass, filleted out and baked in the oven with ginger can't be beat. Bedding going on soon, so sight bowfishing for fat females over beds is coming real soon. Fry them eggs out of that big ole bow shot bass with some sausage and OJ, best breakfast going.

When I can't find bass easily I just shoot me some crappie or maybe yellow cat at night. Them gars also inedible, not worth the trouble to kill like a big bass, crappie or catfish....yummmeee!

So how does it feel? Somebody that just loves to kill and eat what some others would only catch and release.

Sure there are places where some species of rough fish need controlled. But there are others, places that bring tourists, money and wealth to Texas, where trophy class carp and especially alligator gar should be protected and managed just like any other popular sport species and not killed for the sport of it alone.

To each his own, up to a point. But when killing fish begins to displace the actual sport of fishing, that is the endpoint of the killing, or should be.

Yes, I have bowfished and thoroughly enjoyed it. I support that aspect of the sport, but firmly believe it should be as managed as the rest of the fishery, to the maximum benefit of the user group and the businesses that cater to them.

=steve hummert]You may post pics and talk about bow fishing in the Freshwater Fishing section only. Having said that, do not post pics of wasting any fish that are shot since that is illegal.

You need to check your laws It not illegal to wast carp, gar, as long as they are not game fish. With that said I gave all my fish to the lady that had a Big cat rescue.
There use to be a Bow Fishing page on TFF. It was taken down to many haters. It took up all the mode time trying to stop the fighting

TGalyon,
Thank you for your input but there is a law: TPWD 66.011 Leaving Fish TO Die: a person commits an offense if the person leaves edible fish or bait fish taken from the public waters of this state to die without the intent to retain the fish for consumption or bait

Not to mention there are now some limits on alligator gar.

Feel free to contact any Game Warden to discuss it....I already have.