Bowfishing Winding Reels Required

June 9, 2011

Question: I would like to try bowfishing but don’t have any equipment yet. My father heard bowfishing equipment has to have a winding reel on the bow. Is this true or can any reel work on the bow? (Sean)

Answer: Any reel will work for bowfishers. According to DFG Lt. Scott Melvin, to help ensure speared fish are retrieved, the arrow shaft or the point, or both, must be attached by a line to the bow, but the line can be attached either directly to the bow or to a fishing reel mounted on the bow (including crossbow) (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.23). While the bow is not required to have a winding reel, these two options for attaching the line may have led to your father’s confusion.

Before engaging in bowfishing, be sure you know what species you can legally bowfish for. In inland waters, only nongame fish may be taken. In saltwater, most sharks and rays and other finfish may be taken. However, no take is allowed for the following: giant (black) sea bass, garibaldi, gulf grouper, broomtail grouper, trout, salmon, striped bass, broadbill swordfish and white sharks (CCR Title 14, section 28.95). In addition, some areas do not allow for bowfishing at all because some city jurisdictions view the equipment as a deadly weapon.