What Is a Bow Fishing Trip Like?
Bow fishing is exactly what it sounds like. You draw a bow, aim at a fish holding just under the surface, and let a barbed arrow fly with a line and reel attached so you can haul it back in. We run these trips at night from an airboat, gliding the shallow edges of the St. Johns River where the fish sit up in the lily pads under our lights.
A trip is $800 for up to four people, gear included. You do not need a hunting or fishing background to have a blast. If you have never shot a bow in your life, that is fine, because most folks land their first fish inside the first hour once they get the hang of aiming low.
What Fish Do You Shoot Bow Fishing?
We go after rough fish, the non game species that are legal to take with archery gear. On the St. Johns that means gar first and foremost. Longnose gar are everywhere out here, and a big one fighting on the end of your line is a story you will tell for years.
Beyond gar, we stick tilapia, mullet, and the odd carp or catfish depending on the season and the water. Bass, crappie, and other game fish are off limits to a bow, so we leave those alone and focus on the species the state actually wants thinned out. It is hunting and fishing rolled into one, and you are helping the river while you do it.
Some nights are steady picking. Other nights the pads are stacked and everybody is drawing back at once. That is wild fishing for you. If you would rather see this same water in daylight, our airboat rides cover the wildlife side of the St. Johns.
Why Book Bow Fishing With Switchgrass?
The airboat is the whole trick. A regular boat cannot follow fish up into six inches of water and matted lily pads, but an airboat slides right in where the gar are laid up. Captain Seth grew up running this river and knows which flats hold fish on a given wind and water level.
We launch out of Christmas, FL, about 30 minutes east of Orlando, so you are not driving to the coast to do this. Everything is provided: the bows, the arrows rigged with line and reel, the lights, and a captain who will get you on fish and clean up your aim. All you bring is bug spray and a competitive streak.
If bow fishing is not your speed, we run other night trips too. Try night fishing and shrimping for a mellower haul, or go frogging if you want frog legs for the fryer.
Pricing
Bow Fishing
Night Airboat Trip
$800
Per trip, up to 4 people. Gear included.
*Bow fishing targets non game rough fish only. No license needed to ride, but check current state rules if you plan to keep your catch.
Check AvailabilityBow Fishing Photo Gallery
Bow Fishing Questions
Do I need bow fishing experience or my own gear?
No experience and no gear needed. We provide the bows, the arrows with the line and reel, and the lights, then Captain Seth coaches you on the water. Most first timers stick a fish within the first hour.
What fish can you shoot bow fishing near Orlando?
On the St. Johns River we target rough fish like gar, tilapia, mullet, and the occasional carp or catfish. Game fish such as bass are off limits to archery, so we stick to the legal non game species.
How much is a bow fishing trip and how many people can come?
A bow fishing trip is $800 for up to four people. That covers the boat, the gear, and the guide. It is a night trip, since the fish show up best under our lights after dark.
Is bow fishing good for a group?
It is a great group activity. With room for four, it suits a family, a bachelor party, or a few buddies. You take turns on the bow while the others spot fish, so nobody is just sitting there.
