Hey ya’ll, I’m getting ready to head back down for spring semester at school. I just set up my compound bow for bow fishing. I have been trying to find the regulations for saltwater bow fishing but have not found anything to clear. I was wondering if the bow fishing regulations coincide with gigging regulations, more specifically if I am allowed to target redfish starting in march as one can with gigging. Any help would be much appreciated. Sorry for this being a little off topic but was hoping someone could help me out.
To my knowledge bow fishing regs are the same as gigging. You will find that some people think that shoot a red is a little distasteful and once you get on the water you will realize it isn’t that hard especially when it is cold. They tend not to move much. If you were open to advice I would recommend getting into some fresh water and shooting cats, gar and carp. You will find it to be a target rich environment and the limits are none on some species and larger on others. Why shoot 3 - 3# redfish when you can have the chance to shoot a 50# flat head? but to each their own. Just if you go and shoot a bunch of carp please dispose of them responsibly. I have a list of Jamaicans that take off my hands so throwing them in the trash doesn’t have to be the only option.
Key West Stealth
150 V-max
Thank you very much for the info. I am a huge kayak fisherman as well and that is my main mode of targeting reds. By no means will I take numerous amounts of redfish with the bow, nor any other species. I also just transfered to College of Charleston and am still getting familiar with the area. Hopefully I will make connections with people who have boats so I can explore that area of fishing. Thanks Again.
Can’t gig redfish in Dec, Jan Or Feb so you’ll probably have to wait until March to use the bow on them.
I am going to start bowfishing too. Could you PM me some info?
16’7" Crestliner w/ 30hp Mercury
hopefully one day the SCDNR will make it illegal to gig redfish, makes no sense IMO. How can you tell if one is overslot when you shoot? I fish Florida twice a year and while the trout fishing is way better down there, the reds in the Charleston area are incredible. Shoot the hell out of the carp and catfish though!