Bowfishing is a blast

[ARriverdog]

Grand Isle LA
 

[ARriverdog]

[ARriverdog]

Poor photo they   are up above me big bull about 12 yards out cruising right on top just sucking in shrimp. It was too much fun great guide. There were 6 of us poor shot to hit ratio but I will do it again.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Its always a great Time.  congrats and I'm curious why you cut the head off the one fish?

[Tater]

Looks like a good time, those are some nice reds, my guess is the one with the head cut off is a gar.

[ARriverdog]

Yes we got in at 4 am and that gar would not fit in the 120 quart cooler.  We iced them down. And cleaned them after a few hours sleep. I actually have heard that the back strap is good and wanted to try to eat it. My issue with carp is what to do with them after I shoot them. I like to try to eat what I shoot.

[Possumjon]

Bow fishings a blast! I've had that guilt with carp also. I've found nothing in nature goes to waste though, even the stinky carp

[reddogge]

To me bowfishing for carp is the same as hunting for sea ducks. Poor table fare so I don't do it.

[Pete McMiller]

I understand what you are saying reddogge.  My sea ducks get made into jerky to make them palatable.  As far as carp go, I look on them about the same way I look at rats or mice - vermin.  Doesn't bother me to dump them but I am always conscious of our image and get rid of them in a non-public way.

AR, yes bowfishing is a blast.  I grew up in the 60's shooting carp and have loved it ever since.  Some of my favorite memories are of hot summer days stalking feeding carp from the top of the marsh dike.  That time of year they can be very spooky and challenge your stalking skill.

[LBR]

Bow fishing is a blast--one of my favorites is Cedar Key FL for stingray.  The big ones we go after aren't great for eating (at least I haven't found a good recipe--the smaller ones are great grilled), but where we go rays are a big nuisance so it's like coyote hunting.

There are recipes for canning carp and you can't tell them from coho salmon, but it's a long process.  They also make good garden fertilizer.

Esecially if you live in a state like LA where you can bowfish for great eating fish!

I'll be over there in May to stock up on some reds and sheephead!

Congrats on a nice haul!

Bisch

[stonewall]

We use the carp for fertilizer in the garden.

[LB_hntr]

Carp for fertilizer here too. Fill my gardens fist then my friends gardens then offer them to farmers.
You can actually make a great yard fertilizer as well by soaking carp in a barrel for a few hours then pulling the fish out and pouring the barrel water on your grass. After it drys turn your sprinkler on for a half hour and any odor is gone and the grass will be the best grass you ever had. Also bury a carp or 2 around trees and bushes and you will see the difference fast.
I cut the heads and tails off with a shovel and bury the bodies. There will be nothing left next year when time to bury more.
With gar the fillets are good but remember gar eggs are toxic to eat.

[tracker12]

Rich
You need to come on down to the Potomac and shoot a few Snakehead.  That will change your mind on bowfishing.  They are as good eating as any fish you will find in freshwater.  Might bring a few fillets to Baltimore this year.

[mark land]

Very nice!  Love bowfishing down that way, usually just go around Leeville, but have out to Grand Isle as well.

[ARriverdog]

It was lots of fun the smallest fish is exactly 16 inches.  It was a good night.

[highlow]

Carp fishing is a blast. Used to bury them in the garden but no garden anymore so I just throw them on the embankment for the coons and other night dwellers. As said, nothing goes to waste in nature. Going to rig up my johnboat for some night fishing this year. THAT is fun.

[LC]

Bow fishing is a blast. Myself I don't bury them in my garden any longer after reading local fishing regulations on mercury content of bottom feeding fish. They don't recommend eating them at all so I dang sure don't want them in my garden.

[gregg dudley]

Can't get over the fact that they let you shoot reds in LA!  I need to get out there and give that a go.