Extreme Bowfishing

Lately, I have been getting a lot of emails regarding Bow choice for bowfishing. So I decided to write a short article about what I feel are the top two bowfishing bows on the market today, the Browning Barracuda and the AMS Bowfishing Fish Hawk!

These two bows represent the pinnacle of bowfishing technology today. Both bows are purpose built and designed to cater to our specialized needs. Both bows are extremely agile, easy to shoot, easy to maintain, and can fit multiple users with no adjustment. Both can be snap shot like a recurve while delivering much more power. Both are relatively lite in weight and can be fished all night with little to no strain. Most importantly, both are very affordable.

So what is the difference between the two bows? I recently had an opportunity to compare and evaluate both bows and I must say, they do not disappoint. Some of the testing was for performance but most was in the field under actual shooting conditions. So here it goes!

Fish Hawk Specifications —– Barracuda Specifications:

• Draw Weight: 30-40# —– Draw Weight: 30-40#
  
• Draw Length: 15-30″ —– Draw Length: 14-30″
• Approximate Let-off: 20% —– Let-off: 7.5%
  
• Axle-to-Axle: 35 1/2″ —– Axle to Axle: 32″
  
• Brace Height: 7 3/4″ —– Brace height: 6.25″

First I set up both bows with AMS Wave Roller Rests and Retrievers loaded with BCY 350# line. The arrow used was a standard fiberglass arrow tipped with the Muzzy 1010 Garpoint. I adjusted both bows to exactly 40 pounds and began the tuning process. Both bows were tuned for finger shooting (split finger). Once both bows achieved bullet holes with bare shafts (not tied to the string yet), I was ready to move on to performance testing.

I decided to test the bows at two different draw lengths to evaluate possible nock travel issues. The arrow was marked at 26.5 and 29 inches of draw. I enlisted the help of Scott Hausmann of Mesquite Creek Archery in San Antonio to provide the short draw shots through the chronograph. The following results were shot at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, indoors with 80% humidity, and seven feet from a chronograph. The speeds are a result of a three shot average and are in feet per second. The formula for kinetic energy was used to establish foot pounds. The arrows weight was 1468 Grains. Here are the results.

26.5″ Draw 29″ Draw

Browning Barracuda 115 FPS 128 FPS
AMS Fish Hawk 103 FPS 118 FPS

I must admit I was a little surprised in the difference between the two bows. Further testing would show why we had such a large disparity in speeds. While both bows reach peak weight at about 14.5 inches of draw, the Browning Barracuda maintains its weight and only looses three pounds thru the draw stroke. Once you get past the peak weight of 40 pounds the bow then lets off to about 37 pounds at full draw. The AMS Bowfishing Fish Hawk bow however lost eight pounds after peak which left us holding 32 pounds at full draw. The result is lost speed.

Ok, so what€™s ten feet per second right? When you factor in that the arrows weight of 1468 gr., it can mean a lot! The Barracuda (53.41 ft#s) delivered eight foot pounds of energy more than the Fish Hawk (45.39 ft#s) at 29 inches of draw. The Barracuda will hit harder deeper into the water than the Fish Hawk all things being equal.

So are all things equal? Not really. Speed is not the only thing that affects penetration into water. The arrow must leave the bow straight before the line is attached for the best performance. While I spent considerable time tuning both bows to perfection, most people do not. I found the AMS Fish Hawk very forgiving and easy to tune. It launched bare shafts perfectly into the target with various adjustments to the rest and nock shot after shot. This is truly rare! A very shooter friendly bow!

The Browning Barracuda tune up took some time and was a lot more sensitive to a poorly released shot. This of course is due to the 32€ axle to axle length and finger pinch. I would very much like to see a 35€ version of this bow in the future!

Alright so how did they compare on the water? In truth, both bows shot very well at my draw length. I had no trouble taking fish at various depths and distances. Both bows sent arrows to where I was looking with little exception. Both were unaffected by canting or string tweak. Both exhibited plenty of speed and penetration. Everything was going great until I tried some quick snap shooting. This is the act of short drawing a bow so as to limit penetration into the fish. The AMS Fish Hawk while smooth whipped arrows wildly when short stroked on quick shots. I can only assume that this is caused by its single cam design. The two cam Browning Barracuda delivered its arrows straight at all lengths of pull.

Overall, both are remarkable bowfishing bows and are very capable of taking the largest of fish! Both aim naturally and have generous sight windows to track your quarry. I would however recommend the Browning Barracuda for short to medium draw shooters. It builds considerable power at the smaller draw lengths while delivering accuracy shot after shot. It was not designed for big hands though. Larger draw lengths will enjoy the AMS Fish Hawk with its smooth draw and slight let-off. This bow will accommodate hands of all sizes and is a pleasure to shoot!

Shoot straight and stay in the boat!

Jack Thatcher

www.extremebowfishing.com

Special thanks to Scott Hausmann of Mesquite Creek Archery of San Antonio for his time and help in testing these bows! Don€™t forget to support your local archery shop!

A large lateral glow began to take shape at the edge of my lights. As the boat approached quietly, I broke the silence, “Get ready boys!” My body tensed as I began to point out the fish to my clients. “It can’t be? That’s a tree, It’s gotta be a tree! You’re just tired Jack! There’s no way! It’s too big to be a fish!” All three clients dismissed the apparition now only fifty feet away! But as I slowly closed the distance, mouths began to drop! Hunters now whispered! Hearts began to beat in slow motion inside their throats! Three hunters came to full draw almost simultaneously at the sight of an eight foot alligator gar! “Wait”, I barked, “Not yet.” I began to turn the boat slightly for a better position and closer shot. “If she starts to go before I call for the shot, take her!!” All nodded in unison. Twenty feet, fifteen, now less than ten feet! “One……two……three!!!!!

What happened next took an e t e r n i t y to transpire. All three shots entered the water simultaneously with a splash! With one sudden thrust, the fish bolted straight under the boat. “Who’s got her?” I pleaded, as I turned the boat 180 degrees to chase the fish. No answer. Not a word. Everyone looked at each other in disbelief! “Did you all miss that fish?” Again, no answer.

Silence overtook the boat once again. One of the hunters sat down quietly on the security rail that borders my deck. He slowly pulled a cigarette from his jacket, lit it, and sat quietly without saying much for the next fifteen minutes. His brother-in-law knelt on the deck and peered endlessly at the water as if in prayer. The other hunter took up stargazing while all of them contemplated what they had just witnessed! Soon the silence broke with the question, “How did we miss a fish with the girth of a 32 gallon trash can?” “Easy!” I said, “Gar Fever my friends, Gar Fever!!!!”

I wish I could tell you that this was an isolated incident, but I would be lying! The truth is that a lot of the people miss the first time they see a monster fish! Most customers have never seen fish as big as the one I have described, especially not in fresh water! Very often, the fish are mistaken for trees in the water, only to be realized as trophy gar when they are all too close! The result, quick forced shots! Some times they hit and sometimes they don’t.

So what happens when we hit a big fish? What do we do? What can we expect? I get these questions a lot! Imagine if you will, trying to stop a locomotive with a thirty yard lasso! That should give you a fair idea of what its like to fight a big alligator gar. Although their runs are fairly short, you can count on them to be very powerful. These fish have huge tails and a body that is streamlined, built for propulsion. They can fight for long periods of time, especially in open or warm water. Last year, I had a fish pull my twenty foot boat around for 30 minutes before finally being subdued and landed.

Although bouts with these huge fish can vary, the technique employed by Extreme Bowfishing does not. Once a fish is arrowed, a split second decision must be made on how to proceed that is based on shot placement, arrow penetration, and water conditions. Here are some simple guidelines to improve your odds of landing a monster gar.

Poor shot placement or lack of arrow penetration make for long, drawn out battles. You will need to match the fish in direction and speed. Take your time so that the arrow doesn’t pull out. I have seen many fish that were rushed in only to be lost at the boat.

If your shot placement is good (about twelve inches behind the head on seven foot fish), match his speed and let him pull the boat around until he tires. This may take some time so don’t get in too big of a hurry. A tired fish is easier to land!

Get ready with a second and possibly third arrow. I have seen fish about to be boated shake their head and snap off two or three arrows like twigs. Don’t take a chance on losing a trophy of a lifetime because you don’t want to mess up arrows.

Make sure to match your equipment with your quarry. Alligator gar are extremely tough fish and require specialized equipment equal to the task. Talk to a qualified guide or contact AMS Bowfishing or Muzzy to get properly outfitted. I recommend line weights of 350lbs or better. We use only AMS Retriever Reels mounted on recurves and compounds no heavier than 50 lbs. Last, but most important, we only use the Muzzy Garpoint #925G on our arrows.

Only use a float in open water situations or if you’re concerned about being pulled overboard. Use of floats in timber or near weed beds will lead to lost gear and more importantly lost fish!

I prefer to gaff large fish. This allows me to control the business end of the fish at all times. Nooses are great on smaller fish, but fail to control the movement of large fish entirely.

Be sure to fully subdue a big fish before trying to boat it. I have seen fish that were thought to be “done” come back to life and levy fines on people in the boat!

Use gloved hands to control tension and line rate. Try to maintain enough line in the reel for extended fish runs. Above all, always be aware of how much line you have left. I have seen grown men pulled out of a boat when the end of the line was hit.

If using a guide, be sure to follow his commands. A good guide will always tilt the odds in your favor. Stay close to the guide where he can see both you and the fish! This makes it easier for him to follow the fish and direct the action!

I always enjoy the look on a customer’s face the first time they see a monster gar in fresh water. I have had clients freeze, never draw the bow back, and look at me in disbelief. It’s difficult to keep your wits about you when the moment of truth comes. Last year, I guided three separate groups of hunters to a fish that was eight feet long with a girth equal in size to a 32 gallon trash can! That fish never got a scratch! Not one! I have two of the hunts on video to add to the insult!

That is what makes bowfishing monster gar special! That kind of rush can only come from hunting something bigger and meaner than you are! Gar Fever!

Stay in the boat!

Jack Thatcher
www.extremebowfishing.com

About the Author

Jack Thatcher is the owner/operator of Extreme Bowfishing. He has been guiding for the last five years for trophy alligator gar in south Texas. He has numerous Texas Bowfishing Association tournament victories, eight in the last three years. Previously, he owned a successful business, South Texas Archery in Victoria, Texas . He has over ten years of experience in the archery industry. He has held staff shooting positions for Browning, PSE, and Hoyt USA. He is currently sponsored by AMS Bowfishing, Muzzy Products, and Browning Archery.