Best Bowfishing Gear for 2022

Here are some of the best bowfishing bows and gear to take on the water this year.

January 14, 2022 By Alan Clemons

For the hearty souls out looking to impale scales in spring and summer, it’s always fun to hear about the best bowfishing gear. The sport isn’t for the faint of heart, to be honest.

Shot angles are challenging, bows and gear take a beating and even the heartiest bowhunter can get whipped after a night of chasing carp, buffalo, gar and other species.

That’s why having the best bowfishing gear is important. Everything needs to be in sync, from barbed points to bow strings.

Just like in the deer stand, you want all your components on point, the gas tank filled, lights working brightly and calm waters so you can find and make good shots.

The annual Archery Trade Association show in January is when new and upgraded products in the archery industry grab the spotlight. Here are some of the best bowfishing bows and gear to take on the water this year.

AMS Hooligan V2

AMS is devoted 100 percent to bowfishing, from components to bows that have proven themselves time and again on the water. The Hooligan V2 is two bows in one, with the RAP Cam allowing you to switch from one draw weight to another with the 40- and 50-pound posts. Use the 40-pound post for draw weights between 32-40 pounds, and the 50-pound post for draw weights of more than 40 pounds. The bow has no let-off, so snap shots are easier, and a cable slide stop prevents overdrawing. The Hooligan V2 can be adjusted easily for draw weights of 24-50 pounds and lengths of 22-32 inches without a press.

$449.99 | amsbowfishing.com

Cajun Archery Sucker Punch Jr.

The Sucker Punch Jr. from Cajun Archery is a compact, lightweight bow that should be great for youngsters or bowfishermen who want a compact bow for easier maneuverability. It has a 6-inch brace height on a 27-inch total frame, with 60-percent let-off. Draw lengths range from 12-27 inches. The split-limb design comes in Shadow (black) or Patriot (U.S. flag).

$379.99 | beararchery.com

Darton Archery Splash

Darton Archery’s bowfishing Splash compound is designed to take whatever rigors someone may throw at it in the boat. The Splash is designed with machined and anodized cams, stainless steel cam bearings and axles, and all stainless-steel fasteners. It has a 28.5-inch length, 7-inch brace height, weighs 3.4 pounds and has 50-percent let-off. Draw lengths are 23-29.5 inches and weights range from 35-50 pounds. Standard mounting holes allow for mounting different accessories with ease.

$509.99 | dartonarchery.com

Fin-Finder F31

The Fin-Finder F-31 is designed for anyone, with draw length to 31 inches and zero let-off cams. It has an 8-inch brace height and Gordon Glass limbs adjustable from 25-40 pounds. The bow is outfitted with anti-slip grip for wet or slimy conditions and stainless-steel components that resist corrosion. Team the F-31 with Fin-Finder’s Kraken 3-barb mechanical 3.75-inch barbs that minimize drag. Blue O-rings also eliminate tip/point loosening.

$267.99 | fin-finder.com

TruGlo EZ Rest

Having an arrow on a rest ready to fire is one of the key aspects of bowfishing. Shoot and hit or miss, and it’s time to get ready to fire again. TruGlo’s EZ Rest is a full-containment rest designed to hold an arrow at any angle. Whether you have good form and a smooth draw or make a quick, snap shot off to the side or back, having the arrow on the rest is critical. The EZ Rest has tough, durable single-density bristles and is easy to install and tune on any bow. The .350-inch hole fits allow bowfishing arrows and slide systems.

$55-$65 | truglo.com

MegaMouth’s 2.0 bowfishing reel is a buttonless, freespool design with an ample spool designed to hold a lot of line. Instead of pushing a button before the shot, you pull a T-bar handle behind the reel after the shot to engage the retrieve. The reel takes up 28 inches of line per revolution of the handle thanks to its 4:1 gear ratio. It has a triple picatinny rail mount system that can handle multiple accessories.

$330 | megamouthbowfishing.com

Muzzy Arrow, Iron Barb Blade

Muzzy is legendary in the bowfishing world and its bows, arrows, points and gear are found on many boats. Its Composite Fish Arrow is made of a lightweight but tough carbon composite and outfitted with a Nocturnal lighted nock. The construction is 80 percent fiberglass and 20 percent carbon. It has a pre-drilled cross hole for tying line or a safety slide and an Iron Barb 3-blade Fish Point head.

$35 | feradyne.com

Cashion Icon Bait Finesse Rod

Gear

Cashion Icon Bait Finesse Rod

An on-the-water evaluation of a rod purpose-built for BFS presentations and designed to battle big bass

Gear

Dryshod Evalusion Hunt Boots Keep Whitetail Hunters on Top of Their Game

Gear

Dryshod Evalusion Hunt Boots Keep Whitetail Hunters on Top of Their Game

Dryshod's new super lightweight Dureva outsole provides sure footing and stealth by quietly flexing and conforming to different ground surfaces.

Gear

Tackle Junkie: Lew's Custom Pro Gen 3

Other

Light up the Salt

Other

Light up the Salt

A day of saltwater fishing often starts before sunup and can continue until well after dark. Flashlights—whether they be handheld or hands-free models—are vital items for safety and success in the salt. In this episode, we take a close look at several models from Streamlight that are up for the task.

Fishing

Caring for the Catch

Fishing

Caring for the Catch

Many saltwater species are excellent on the table, but only if you care for and clean them properly. Preparing your catch for a meal starts as soon as you land the fish, and knowing how to properly clean it back at the dock is vital in ensuring the best flavor. In this episode, we detail steps that will help you turn your catch into memorable meals.

Fishing

Snook on the Hook

Fishing

Snook on the Hook

The snook is an ambush predator of the saltwater shallows, often hiding among mangroves and attacking prey as it swims by or is swept past by current. Finding spots where snook like to hide is key to catching them, and in this episode we slide in next to an gnarly edge of mangroves and make precise drifts with our baits to pull fish from the cover.

Guns

TriStar Cobra III Field Pump Super Compact .410

Guns

TriStar Cobra III Field Pump Super Compact .410

With a 13-inch length of pull and 18 1/2-inch barrel, the Super Compact version of the Cobra III pump shotgun from TriStar is sized just right for young or small-framed shooters. We spent a few minutes with Eric Renander of TriStar to get a closer look at this new .410 bore and discovered it has many of the features found on full-size shotguns, which hunters of all ages will appreciate.

Gear

Federal Premium Freight Train Copper Sabot Slug

Gear

Federal Premium Freight Train Copper Sabot Slug

One of the most high-tech shotgun slugs to hit the market, the Freight Train is a polymer-tipped copper projectile designed for greater penetration and accuracy. We talked to Adam Moser from Federal Ammunition to get details on not only the slug, but also its wad and sabot, and to find out what the new Freight Train has to offer deer hunters.

Fishing

Saltwater Setup

Fishing

Saltwater Setup

Keep things simple when it comes to tackle for the salt by choosing one general-purpose rod and reel combo that will serve for a variety of gamefish and presentations both inshore and offshore. In this episode, Capt. George Gozdz provides tips on how to make that selection, and we put the combo to the test against sailfish, tarpon, snook and more.

Fishing

Jacks to the Max

Fishing

Jacks to the Max

The jack crevalle often doesn't get the respect it deserves when compared to species like sailfish and snook, but jacks can provide thrilling action on light tackle—especially when fishing topwater baits. In this episode, we go in pursuit of jacks to show you why these ravenous brawlers are well worth your time and attention.