Bowfishing is a fishing application which makes use of a special archery equipment. Whether you are a beginner or just a passionate bowfisher looking for an upgrade, these 5 best bowfishing bow options will enable you to hunt for different species both in freshwater and salty water.
The species may include grass carp, catfish, flounder, common carp, redfish sharks, paddlefish among others. You can find more information in this article
Reviews for the best bowfishing bows
1. Cajun Bowfishing Sucker Punch
Best Overall
Consistent power delivery
Highly durable
Need more wax if used in salty water.
Grip too small for users
The bowfishing bow is uniquely designed with the bow’s extremes in mind. With a height of 7.25 inches and a length of 32.25 inches, the bow also has a peak draw weight of about 50 pounds and is specifically meant for hunters who take bowfishing seriously. Its constant module has 60% let off and the bow’s length can easily be adjusted from 17- 31 inches.
Cajun bowfishing bow can easily be carried or transported as it has deep cam grooves, which also prevent derailed strings while the bow is on water. You could choose to buy it as a bow or as a whole package. Whichever the decision and reason for purchasing, it gives bow hunters and archery enthusiasts an exciting experience.
The sucker punch package for the bows comes with a reel, arrow rest, finger pads and fiberglass arrows. The above ensures that you enjoy bowfishing comfortably without worrying about finger pinch. As much as the bow is slightly light weight (about 3.2 pounds), it still allows you to catch big fish such as alligator gar or carp.
If you are looking for value in the best bowfishing bow, this will be the best choice as you can expect to enjoy consistent power delivery and reliable performance. It is durable and stands up well even after prolonged use. However, its grip is too small and might cause derailed strings and this might hurt.
2. PSE Discovery 2 Muzzy Bowfishing Package
Best for Accuracy
Can withstand harsh weather
Easy bowfishing maneuver
Good for both right and left handed
Medium quality arrows
This discovery 2 muzzy bowfishing bow comes with two arrows each with a length of 32 inches. Even in the toughest water conditions, this bow will give you a great fish capturing adventure as it is made to withstand harshest weather conditions. It has the axle to axle length of around 31.5 inches, a factor that lets you use it even in tight spaces and cramped boats.
To enable the bow angler to have enough power to shoot the arrow through water and hunt the fish of the largest scale, the bow is fitted with a cam that delivers minimal let off and this combines perfectly with the draw weight of 27-40 pounds. Its 6.5 inch height and draw length of up to 30 inches will allow you to enjoy all kinds of bowfishing maneuvers.
PSE Discovery 2 muzzy bowfishing bow comes in a package that includes two arrows with a uniquely designed point, a bowfishing reel and a safety slide. It also comes in different models for hunters to choose from and this depends on whether you prefer left or right hand.
Manufactured in the United States, the bow offers reliable performance; it is of high quality and highly durable.
It weighs about 2.7 pounds and also comes with two limbs for a better bowfishing experience. In as much as PSE Discovery 2 muzzy bow works well in tough water conditions, its arrows are of poor quality and therefore prone to breakages.
3. PSE Kingfisher Right Hand Bowfishing kit
Best Construction
Easy to transport
Good accuracy
Both for learners and experts
For right handed only
Somehow heavy
This bow is the best for beginners. It will give you ample time to explore hunting to fullest potential. It is durable and has been made precisely to offer reliable shooting experience. It is user friendly, delivers better results on arrows through water, as it propels them at high speed.
It is fairly light with a weight of around 2.7 pounds while the entire bow measures 92.7 by 15.9 by 5.7 cm. The camo design enables the Kingfisher bowfishing bow to withstand the harshest weather conditions and hence a better bowfishing experience. The spool with an 80-pound test line makes it easy for you to catch large fish.
The bowfishing kit also comes with a fiberglass arrow, 31 inches long. This makes it easy to penetrate through scales. Whether you are an expert or a beginner, Kingfisher right hand bowfishing bow will work for you. Its nice appearance of dark gray and black finish makes it even more attractive especially to womens.
Its arrow rest made of stainless steel and aluminum ensures that it does not chip nor rust. No assembling required when you take the bow out of the package. The great bow however is limiting as it is only meant for right handed bowfishers.
4. AMS Bowfishing Juice Bow
Best Accessories
For all ages and size
Easily adjustable
Beautiful design
Strong coating
Strings don’t last long
This is the latest AMS Bowfishing bow in their series of good bowfishing bows. According to the ratings by the users, it could be one of the best bowfishing bows for sale in the market now. It comes in very bright orange colors and powder coated aluminum risers making it more attractive all thanks to its noticeable look.
It is a product of collaboration between AMS Bowfishing and Quest Archery and it has been made in a way that it is basically a stout only in a smaller box. The bow has a draw weight of 15-50 pounds, brace height of 7.5 inches, draw length of 17-30 inches and axle to axle length of 29 inches.
Its compact and well-designed size allows users of all ages and sizes to enjoy bowfishing. You can easily adjust the bow however you like it. This hence makes it a great starter kit for kids. And when the kid grows older, you won’t require a bow presser to adjust weight or length. The bowfishing is slightly light with a weight of 3.25 pounds and has up to 80% let-off.
With this, you can be assured of holding it for a longer period with no problems at all as you find your aim. However, it is important to note that you need to keep this bow at 30 inches in order to tap its maximum efficiency. Its price is a bit high compared to others, but it is still preferred because it gives you value for the money.
5. PSE Discovery Bow Package
Best for Beginners
Good bow for intermediate users
Highly durable
Can easily be stored and transported.
Not very quiet.
It comes in a beautiful camo pattern made of the USA bow metal. It also comes with a muzzy kit featuring an axle to axle length of 31.5 inches and a draw length of about 30 inches. The following also accompany the kit: 1 muzzy spin reel and a seat, fish stick arrow, 1 snapshot rest, a safety stop and a safety slide.
Its size and consistent draw weight makes it good for both experienced and angler users. The kit also has a standard bow that functions easily. It is made of highly durable materials for long term performance. As much as the model is considered expensive in the market, reviews from users still portray it as the most preferred and that it is all worth the price.
Precision Shooting Equipment Discovery 30-40 offers endless possibilities with different types of games. It is fairly light weight; however, it is well packaged with features to bring in big sized fish with less effort. It is designed for beginners and intermediate bowfishing levels, but can still work for professional hunters all thanks to its durability, power and light weight design.
How to choose the best bow for bow fishing
Hunters will tell you that bowfishing is one flexible sport. You can enjoy it in shallow waters or even from a small boat. Whether you choose to do it at night or during the day, you will still have a good time. For years, it was considered to be an archery enthusiast game, but with time, it has become a favorite to many.
Manufacturers on the other hand have gone beyond just making bowfishing bow, and now they make Cajun bowfishing sucker punch for experienced bow fishers, and PSE kingfisher right hand bowfishing kit for beginners.
But, just how does bowfishing work? Can any bow work for bowfishing? Any type of archery bow can be used for bow fishing. This may include: longbow, recurve for bowfishing or compound bow. Recurve and compound bows are normally smaller and they offer enough force; greater than 45 pounds or even 200 Newtons to propel an arrow.
However, bowfishing will require different arrows than those used in archery or hunting. Archery arrows are normally made of lightweight fiber grass or wood to easily propel them through air. On the other hand, bowfishing arrows travel through dense waters to hit their targets and this is how different they are:
· Bowfishing bows are made of heavier weight fiberglass as they do not travel far. Bowfishing arrows can only travel between 10 to 15 feet.
· Their arrowheads are barbed to pierce and this ensures that the target remains on the arrow.
· The arrows lack fletching as it diverts the arrows as it maneuvers through the water.
Therefore for you to enjoy bowfishing, ensure you have the right arrow as well. The arrows do not cost much as you can get them at a price of between $20 and $30 for 12 arrows. As opposed to archery arrows, bowfishing arrows’ shaft is heavy and this helps the arrow remain impact resistant when it hits water.
The heaviness also gives the arrow force to penetrate and puncture through a fish.
Tips for choosing the best bowfishing bow
Bowfishing hunters agree that bows are different. They come in different shapes, different designs and different sizes. Getting the right bow therefore is dependent on many factors. To avoid confusion as you make plans to purchase the best bowfishing bow, here is a guide to help you make the right choice:
Know your budget
Bows come in different prices. Their prices may range from hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. If you are working on a tight budget, there are manufacturers who make starter bows at reasonable prices. A starter bow is basically a cheap bow and is really good to get you started. Another option would be to get a used bowfishing bow in its good condition.
Know the different types of bows.
The quality of a bowfishing bow not only helps the shooter land more hits but also helps the hunter improve his or her archery skills. Whether you are new to the game or upgrading your bow, buying or putting together a bowfishing setup shouldn’t be complicated as there are several types of bows to choose from.
There might not be a perfect bow, but surely there is a bow for your fishing needs. Crossbows do not require much strength and training in order for you to use them. As a result, crossbows and compound bows are good for hunting. If you wish to take part in shooting competitions, longbows are highly recommended.
Know the bow length you may need
This is an important factor as it may not be easy for you to shoot if the length of the bow does not fit you. This might compromise the shooting accuracy and potentially pose danger to yourself or fellow hunters.
Any bowfishing bows service provider should help you get the right bow length. When visiting the archery shop, make it clear what you will be using the bow for so as to get the right length for better experience.
Know your draw weight limit
This basically means the amount of strength you will need to draw and release the arrow. Again, with this, any service provider should be in a position to guide you through.
You will find that draw weights of 50 pounds tend to work best as opposed to anything lower. It is therefore important to get the right draw weight as some states have bowfishing regulations. Check with your local and state regulations for you to remain compliant even as you enjoy the game.
Get some accessories
There are accessories that can be helpful when it comes to bowfishing. Accessories such as finger tables, spare fletches, string wax and gloves come in handy.
FAQS
Conclusion
Bowfishing bows are designed differently. The reason for bowfishing therefore determines the bowfishing bow that you get to choose. Most bowfishing enthusiasts go for bows that fit both archery and fishing.
With all differences factored in, the best bowfishing bow would be Cajun bowfishing sucker punch. Its unique design with extremes in mind, makes it the best choice as it offers reliable performance. AMS bowfishing juice bow comes second as it is good for all ages, adjustable and easy to use.
Just like sport fishing and hunting, bowfishing is regulated by the state and therefore a fishing license is needed.