I bought a new bow last year and was debating on turning my Mathiews SQ2 into a bowfishing bow. Only question is 60 pounds to much weight for bowfishing setup and how will it perform for saltwater? I plan on only using it for the ocean and I don't know whether or not it would rust really bad and destroy it, so if going with a recurve may be a better idea and maybe keeping the SQ2 for a back up on big trips..

The only issue with a 60# draw weight is fatigue. If you think you can pull it back 100+ times a night go for it. My cousin used to shoot 80#s and didn't have any issues. The real problem with compound bows is the let off. You have to come to a full draw. The salt is not an issue either. We shoot in salt. Just keep it clean and spray it off.

My bow hunting rig is set on 70#.
My bow fishing rig is set on 45#, and I regularly shoot large gar.

My bowfishing bow is around 70# and and older hybrid bow with not as much letoff as modern compounds. But it is mostly used for Alligator hunting with a solid aluminum shaft with a cabled sharpened speargun point. Also have used it for large stingray and shark fishing. When I need jugline or large fish rod and reel bait and the opportunity is there, I do use it for the occasional mullet, carp, or buffalo, but it really is too much bow for that kind of fishing and shoots through and well past them. If I had to shoot it several times in an evening I would much rather have a low poundage compound or a recurve. Salt has never been a problem for me either. I just rinse it off and dry it out. But I also try to keep a light coat of CLP wiped on the metal parts if on salt or brackish water.

for a bowfishing rig I would buy a bowfishing specific bow.

I shoot my buddies AMS set at 40# with no let off.


I don't like letoff on a bowfishing bow

Got this PSE Kingfisher for like $175.. then took the junk reel off of it and got the good retrieving system.. think total was $275... been happy with it for the price. Only compound I like to use bowfishing is the barracuda bowfishing rig... thing is sweet but pricey.

Thanks I au look around for some lower poundage bows

I run the same setup as Nav; kingfisher bow and AMS reel. Only difference is I have a float.

Only carp pic I have currently:



Little coastal trip.



Hopefully I'll be heading out this saturday to shoot some carp.

I've always wanted to go after sheephead! Those things are some good eating!

We don't target them specifically but there's a few places where we shoot flounder that they hang out at sometimes.

I've always wanted to go after flounder as well.

In my experience, aside from fatigue, the issue with using heavy poundage bows is when the string catches on something, its more dangerous. I bow fished for a long time with a 65# bow, and when that string would catch on something, the arrowing flailing around was dangerous. Using a 45# recurve, Never had a problem.

I had all my problems with the old style Fred Bear bow fishing reel. Not my new AMS reel. The AMS reel almost completely eliminated the string catching on stuff.

Use to use an 808 reel like that. Until I watched my buddy shoot it and the reel locked up and the arrow came back and hit him square in the forehead... next day I bought the AMS

Flounder are by the easiest fish in the world to shoot. lol

I wish we could shoot reds...

LOL. We used to use the same reels. To say they sucked is an understatement.

I use the kingfisher my self (strictly saltwater)love it. when walking oyster reefs for sheep head or drum you want to be able to draw and release fast and that's why I like a lite draw when stalking the flats.

I don't mean to high jack this thread, but the hamster in the wheel in my head won't stop running. When is the best time of the year to go after sheep head from bank and where is a good area if you don't mind me asking?

with some good wading boots you can find them from spring to fall around the shell reefs at (dead mans hole)behind mustang island stat park. For black drum mixed with some sheepies just a little longer car ride down the beach you could go to Yarbrough pass http://www.stxmaps.com/go/yarborough-pass.html but you will need 4wd to get there most of the time. If anyone's ever in the area and wants to give it a try I have lived on the island for many years now and I would be more than happy to at least point them in the right direction.

I switched over to an AMS and a recursive after I had a very close call. I made a long shot in a shallow river. The arrow shot out about 30', the string snagged and the arrow reversed course and shot directly back at me. The arrow pierced through pants at the knee. It didnt strike my leg, but it did shoot through both sides of my pants.

Thanks man

I used an older model recurve that I think was 30 pounds of pull. more than enough on the river we fished.

Didn't know you could shoot sheep head! Arnt they a game fish or are there different rules in the gulf

They aren't a game fish.