bowfishing equipment opinion...

[Scrub_buck]

Just upgraded my bowfishing bow this week to a nice td Quinn. I have fished with an AMS on a K-Mag for the last few years for normal size carp and gar (less than 25lbs). This summer, I have a trip booked to try some rays and larger saltwater fish and probalby will have a chance at some larger specimens.

I am wondering if I need to stick with the ams or if I should go on and get the spincast rig to put on that front stabilizer bushing.

I wanted to get some opinions from seasoned saltwater bowfishermen as which rig would be better in the bays shooting larger rays and the like. I am thinking having the 'drag' option on with the spincast reel would be a big advantage, but not sure.

Enlighten me.... is there something I am missing with comparing the two reel types?

[LC]

You will get lots of opinions. I'm a die hard spin cast bow fisherman for most all bowfishing. Hands down it's the safest quickest best way to bow fish for ME. Now with that said I've been bowfishing for stingrays, have been with on trips with 3 other bowfishing guys when we have took 142 stingrays in a weekend. What we used was the standard pop bottle float stuck in a rubber cane tip. This method works great for stingraying. This is one time I wouldn't want to use spin cast, other than BIG fish I'd rather use my spincasts everyday.

[MOFISH]

Only way to go on this one is to use the AMS slotted retriever with a large float. I also upgrade to the large capacity bottle which will hold 50 yds. Of 200# line. You do not want to be tied to a large ray if it makes a run. You will NOT be able to stop it with 20 yds. of line and spin cast drag.

[JamesKerr]

I have never been bowfishing for rays, but I have shot redfish and can tell you the AMS is the cat's meow of bowfishing.

[flippnsticks]

Originally posted by JamesKerr:
 AMS is the cat's meow of bowfishing.

X2  

[LoweBow]

When I've bowfished for big fish like Gator Gar, etc I'll use an AMS only becuase of having to bottle the fish.  Other than that I'm a diehard spinner guy.  

I don't like hand-lining my fish.  I shoot 40-60# Bigheads all the time w/ spinners w/ a rod extension w/ no problems.  I just prefer the feel of fighting the fish like you would w/ a normal rod and reel.

I got into the spinner thing when I began tourney fishing years ago.  In the numbers shoots we'd target small fish and tons of em.  The faster gear ration allows for faster retrieves.  

I believe for the average guy that bowfishes a few times a year the AMS can't be beat as they are a reliable reel and excellent investment that'll be there for years...

[smokin feathers]

i like using a spinner especially shooting tourneys in the spring, but when summer hits and we are shooting big gator gar and such a ams big game is on my bow and i go from a 40-45lb bow up to a 65lb. i want to be able to jug big fish and a big ray lots of time needs a jug as well. if you gonna shoot some offshore fish i would for sure be able to jug them!!! also in the ams favor is that they will last for years even shooting thousands of fish a year in to0urneys where i usually go through 7-8 spinners every year. good luck with it, aint nothing funner to me than shooting fish. i am on the fish now and got the old airboat primed and ready for the first tourney in 2 weeks!!