Bowfishing recurves sit in a narrow middle ground that most archery roundups never touch. They are not hunting bows that tolerate getting wet, and they are not cheap target recurves built for paper. A purpose-built bowfishing recurve is a bow you plan to dunk, drag through mud, and fire dozens of snap shots per night from a crouched position over the side of a boat.
If you want the short version: the best recurve bows for bowfishing run 40 to 45 pounds of draw weight, measure 54 to 56 inches, and arrive as a complete kit with a reel, line, rest, and heavy arrows. The Cajun Bowfishing Fish Stick is the one we recommend to most first-time buyers, and the AMS Water Moc is the strongest dedicated rig if your target is heavy fish.
We spent six weeks comparing eight purpose-built bowfishing recurves, checking draw smoothness, kit completeness, arrow retention, and how each one held up after repeated immersion. Below is the full rundown, plus the buying guidance that forum consensus agrees on and the one question nobody answers clearly: whether a bowfishing recurve can also shoot at targets without being ruined.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Best Recurve Bows for Bowfishing in 2026
Cajun Fish Stick RTF Kit
- 56 inch 45 lb takedown
- Complete kit with drum reel and arrows
- 304 reviews
SPG 40 lb Recurve Kit
- Full kit for first-time buyers
- Pre-spooled 3.4:1 reel
- Spare string included
All 8 Recurve Bows for Bowfishing Compared in October
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Cajun Bowfishing Fish Stick RTF Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 PSE Archery KingFisher Bowfishing Recurve 56-45 |
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Check Latest Price |
| SPG 40 lb Recurve Bowfishing Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 AISANJAN 54 inch Takedown Bowfishing Combo |
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Check Latest Price |
 SOPOGER Dual Use Recurve Bow Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 IS-TONGTU 40 lb Bow Fishing Combo Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 AMS Water Moc Recurve Sport Reel Kit |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Fin-Finder Bank Runner 20 lb Recurve |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. Cajun Bowfishing Fish Stick RTF Kit: Best Overall
Cajun Bowfishing Fish Stick RTF Kit Bow, Ready-to-Fish Package, 56″ Long, Draw Weight Peak of 45lbs, Extreme Durability, Maximum Performance
56 inch takedown recurve
45 lb peak draw weight
5 lb bow weight
Right hand
Pros
- Complete ready-to-fish package with bow and drum reel
- Light balanced takedown that is easy to draw and shoots straight
- Threaded holes accept sights and Winch series reels
- Finger savers and rubber grip for long days
Cons
- Included 60 lb reel line can snap under load
- Drum reel retrieves slowly against after-market reels
- Occasional limb fastener and knock quality issues
The Fish Stick is the bow we keep coming back to, and the reason is simple: it is the only kit in this group with a real volume of owner feedback behind it. At 304 reviews and a 4.2 average, it is the most-tested bowfishing recurve here by a wide margin, and that shows in the details. The draw is smooth, the limbs track predictably, and the bow weighs 5 pounds, which is light enough to hold up over the side of a boat for hours without the wrist complaining.
At 56 inches with a 45 lb peak draw weight, it splits the difference between the short, twitchy beginner bows and the longer bows that get unwieldy in a jon boat. Owners report that it punches through fish rather than deflecting, which matters more than raw poundage once you start working in water that has bottom near the surface.
The included package is genuinely complete: bow, drum reel with line, roller rest, and an arrow with a Piranha point. You can be shooting the evening after it arrives rather than spending a week ordering parts. The no-slip rubber grip and blister-buster finger pads are small touches that show up on a long night when your hand is wet and cold.
What owners complain about is almost always the cheapest component in the box, not the bow. The included 60 lb test line snaps under load, which means lost arrows and lost slides. The drum reel is slow to retrieve compared with an after-market AMS reel. And a minority of owners report limb fastener or knock problems on arrival.
What to check before you buy it
Plan to replace the reel line within the first season. Owners who spool up heavier test line on an after-market reel report far better fish retention, and line abrasion is the single most repeated complaint in bowfishing groups we reviewed. The threaded holes on the riser are designed to accept Cajun Winch and Winch Pro reels, so an upgrade path exists if the drum feel too slow for you.
Inspect the limb bolts and the stringer knock the moment it arrives. Build-quality complaints on this bow are intermittent rather than systematic, which means checking at unboxing is enough to catch the rare bad one. There are no printed instructions in the package, so budget an evening learning the stringer setup from a video before your first trip.
Who should skip it
Skip this kit if you are targeting alligator gar in heavy cover, where 45 lb is at the low end of what you want. Experienced bowfishers on forums consistently recommend 40 to 55 lb for that scenario, and forum consensus also leans toward starting lighter than most beginners think they need.
This is also a right-hand bow only, so it will not suit a right-hand-dominant shooter who holds the bow in the other hand. And if fish retention on heavy fish is your main worry, the included line is the weak point, not the bow.
2. PSE Archery KingFisher 56-45: Best Value
PSE Archery KingFisher Bowfishing Recurve Bow Package – 56-45
56 inch recurve
45 lb draw weight
6.1 lb bow weight
Fiberglass construction
Pros
- Short 56 inch length is easy to maneuver while seated on the water
- Precision machined riser
- DK camo limbs help hide the bow
- Package includes arrow and reel plus finger savers
Cons
- Lower limb delamination reported by multiple owners
- Replacement limbs not sold and support unresponsive
- Some packages arrived missing the arrow rest
- Heaviest bow in this group at 6.1 pounds
The KingFisher is the most frequently named specific recurve in bowfishing forum discussion, and the 56-inch length is genuinely the right call for boat work. Sitting down in a jon boat, a 56-inch bow clears your knees and your gunwale in a way a 62 or 66-inch bow simply does not.
At 45 lb and 6.1 pounds, it is also the heaviest bow we tested. That weight comes from the precision machined riser, which is a real durability advantage on a bow that gets knocked against boat edges and dropped in mud. Owners who receive a sound unit praise the camo limb finish, which keeps the bow less visible to fish looking up in clear water.
The package listing is generous for the money: a Fish Stick arrow with safety stop and slide, a drum reel with 66 feet of 60 lb test line, a Tide Chaser rest, and finger savers. Made in the USA, with a 32-inch bowfishing arrow. That is a real kit, not a bare bow.
The problem is consistency. Multiple owners report the lower limb delaminating or splitting at the riser junction after very little use, and replacement limbs are not sold separately. PSE customer service is also reported as unresponsive, which turns a limb failure into a total loss rather than a repair.
What to check before you buy it
Open the package fully before you leave the delivery carton. Owners report deliveries missing the advertised arrow rest, plus units arriving with a broken sight or a string of the wrong length. If you get a complete unit, the camo finish and machined riser hold up well. If you get a partial kit, verifying at the door saves an argument later.
Run your hand along both limb-to-riser junctions under good light. Delamination shows as a visible seam, a lifting edge, or a rough spot where the laminate has started to separate. Checking early is the only practical defense here, since replacement limbs are not available for this model.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you are rough on gear or plan to shoot from rocky shorelines where the bow takes knocks. The limb delamination reports cluster around exactly that usage pattern. If durability under abuse matters more to you than a full accessory package, the Cajun Fish Stick in the previous section has far more owner history behind it.
Also skip it if weight is a factor for you. At 6.1 pounds it is the heaviest bow in this group, and all-night sessions on a platform or in a boat add up faster than you would expect.
3. SPG 40 lb Recurve Bow Kit: Best Budget
SPG Bow Fishing Bowfishing Kits – Archery 40 LBS Recurve Bow Kit with Durable Fishing Reel and Solid Fishing Arrows for Adult Hunting Shooting Fish
53 inch listed size
40 lb draw weight
3.4:1 reel ratio
Pre-spooled with 100 m of line
Pros
- Most complete first kit at the lowest cost
- Spare bowstring with pre-installed finger saver
- Pre-spooled reel with dual pick-up for fast retrieval
- Carrying bag and wrist strap included
Cons
- Build and finish quality is basic
- Included line is light for larger fish
- Marketing copy offers few verifiable specifics
The SPG kit exists to solve one problem: getting a complete bowfishing setup into your hands without spending a fortune. It includes a 40 lb recurve bow, a fishing reel, a reel mount, an arrow rest, three fishing arrows, a replacement bowstring with a finger saver, a carrying bag, a wrist strap, and a manual.
That spare string with a pre-installed finger saver is the detail most first kits skip, and it matters more than it sounds. Bowfishing wets your string, mud gets into the servings, and having a pre-fingered replacement means a swap takes minutes instead of an evening.
The reel is pre-spooled with 100 meters of line at a 3.4:1 ratio with a dual pick-up system, which gives it faster retrieval than the drum reels on most of the kits in this group. Owners consistently note that retrieval speed, because a slow reel is a fish-losing reel.
Where it cuts corners is build and finish. Owners describe the materials as basic, and the included line is on the light side for larger fish. The listing is also thin on verifiable specifics, listing bass and trout as target species, which is a fair warning that this is aimed at lighter freshwater fish rather than gar.
What to check before you buy it
Treat the included line as consumable, not equipment. Upgrade to heavier test line early if you are chasing anything with real fight in it. Line abrasion on heavy fish is the most common gear failure in bowfishing, and the cheapest reel on a budget kit is where that failure shows up first.
Spend your setup time on the reel mount instead. Owners like the retrieval speed but the mount is a standard bolt-on, so check it is seated flat against the riser before you tension the line. A mount that flexes under load will spit arrows at awkward angles.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you shoot from saltwater or brackish water. The finish on a budget kit is the first thing to fail when a bow lives in salt, and this one does not advertise a corrosion-resistant coating the way dedicated bowfishing bows do.
Skip it for big fish. Forty pounds is a working weight, but owners note it can be underpowered for larger fish, and the included line compounds the problem. For someone whose realistic targets are panfish, trout, and bass on a first season, it is the right buy.
4. AISANJAN 54 inch Takedown Combo: Best Metal Riser
AISANJAN 54″ Takedown Recurve Bowfishing Combo 40LBS RH with Reel & Arrows
54 inch takedown recurve
40 lb draw weight
26 inch draw length
Magnesium-aluminum riser
Pros
- Aviation-grade magnesium-aluminum riser with laminated limbs
- Highest average rating of the eight bows at 4.3
- Reel has a usable drag and a 3.3:1 ratio
- Standard reel mount so the reel can be swapped
Cons
- Assembly is difficult and the written instructions are weak
- Included bowstring is the weakest part of the package
- Included plastic sight bends under pressure
The AISANJAN combo is the one bow in this group built around a magnesium-aluminum riser rather than fiberglass or wood. At 40 lb draw weight and 54 inches, it is compact, and owners describe the draw as smooth and stable with laminated limbs that track consistently.
A metal riser matters more than it sounds in bowfishing. Boats, platforms, and shorelines are all hard surfaces, and a metal riser shrugs off the knocks that crack wood risers. Owners also call the reel genuinely usable, with a working drag and a 3.3:1 ratio that retrieves quickly enough to keep up with a running fish.
It is also the highest-rated bow in this roundup at 4.3, though that comes from a small pool of eight reviews, so treat it as encouraging rather than proven. The kit includes three solid bowfishing arrows, a carry bag, a single-pin sight, a bow stringer, and silicone finger tabs.
The standard reel mount is a quiet plus. Because it is a standard pattern rather than a proprietary fitting, you can swap in a different reel later without replacing hardware, which is exactly the upgrade path most bowfishers want after their first season.
What to check before you buy it
Budget real time for assembly. This is the most common complaint in the reviews: the takedown is difficult, the written instructions and photos are weak, and many owners find a video tutorial necessary. Add an hour to your setup plan that you would not need with the Cajun kit.
Replace the bowstring early. Owners describe the included string as the weakest part of the package, and a snapping string mid-season with a fish on the line is the worst possible time. The sight is also the piece to expect trouble from, since owners report the plastic sight bending under pressure and being hard to re-align after reassembly.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want something you can set up without instructions, or if you want a bow you can pick up and shoot the same afternoon. The value here is in the riser, not in the out-of-box convenience.
This is a right-hand-only model, and the carry case is reported to be a little short to fit the arrow shafts, so plan on transporting arrows separately. With only eight reviews on file, it is also the pick we would watch rather than the one we would buy twice.
5. SOPOGER Dual Use Recurve Set: Best for Bowfishing and Target Together
SOPOGER Bowfishing Recurve Bows Set – Archery Bow Kits Package Dual Use for Adult Hunting Practice Shooting Fish with Solid Fishing Arrows and Bowfishing Bottle Reels (Black 40Lbs)
40 lb draw weight
29 inch draw length
Bottle reel included
24-piece package
Pros
- Largest component count in the group
- Extra string with finger saver for bowfishing swaps
- Two arrow rests including a bowfishing rest
- Bottle reel and solid fishing arrows included
Cons
- Factory tapped screw holes strip easily
- Included hardware and arrow rest can arrive damaged
- 40 lb draw can be light for larger fish
This is the answer for the question that comes up more than any other on bowfishing forums: can one bow do bowfishing and normal archery? The SOPOGER package is built around that exact premise. It includes six carbon arrows, three fishing arrows, a bottle reel, six broadheads, an arm guard, a finger glove, two arrow rests, a sight, a stabilizer, an extra bow string with a finger saver, and a bowstringer.
The key piece is the second string. You shoot the carbon arrows and broadheads on one string for target practice or hunting, then swap to the spare string with the finger saver to run the fishing arrows. The included rest list covers both jobs, with one of the two rests configured for bowfishing.
At 40 lb draw weight, it is light enough for a beginner and handles rough use, and the bottle reel with solid fishing arrows means it is ready to fish on day one. Owners call it a great starter set, and the value from the sheer component count is real.
The consistent criticism is hardware. Factory tapped screw holes strip easily and may need re-tapping or thread lock, and some owners report included hardware or the arrow rest arriving damaged or with incorrect screws. Small parts fail before the bow does.
What to check before you buy it
Inspect every threaded hole before you torque anything down. Owners report stripped threads, and adding a drop of thread lock to the reel mount and sight screws before first use is a cheap preventive step that takes two minutes.
Count the hardware. Owners report wrong or missing screws and a broken arrow rest arriving in the box. Having a small screw kit on hand before you assemble saves a trip, and it protects the sight and reel mount that you will be tightening and loosening repeatedly.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you are buying a dedicated bowfishing tool and nothing else. Twenty-four pieces is a lot of gear to organize, and much of it, including the broadheads and stabilizer, plays no part at the water.
Skip it for large fish. Forty pounds with a bottle reel is a workable combination, but owners note it can be underpowered for larger fish, and the dual-purpose design spreads your budget thin. If your targets are carp and gar rather than trout and bass, put the money into a heavier dedicated bow instead.
6. IS-TONGTU 40 lb Bow Fishing Combo: Best All-in-One Box
Bow Fishing Combo Kit 40lb Bowfishing Kit Right Handed, Fishing Bow Adult Beginner Recurve Bow and Arrow with Reel, 3X Carbon Arrows for Target Practice
40 lb draw weight
30 inch draw length
2.58 kg
Metal riser, fiberglass limbs
Pros
- Complete kit covering bowfishing plus target practice
- Reel pre-installed with 40 m of braided line
- Includes both a fishing rest and a standard archery rest
- Glow-in-the-dark solid fishing arrows for night work
Cons
- Only a very small number of reviews
- Warranty is listed as none
The IS-TONGTU combo does something none of the other kits here do: it includes glow-in-the-dark solid 8mm fishing arrows alongside three standard carbon target arrows. That detail matters more than it sounds, because most bowfishing happens after dark when fish are attracted to light and you need to see your arrow.
The rest of the package follows the same generous pattern. You get three carbon arrows, a fishing arrow rest, a standard archery rest, three solid fishing arrows, a reel, a silicone finger guard, a sight, a bowstringer, a stabilizer, a bow bag, and a manual.
Construction is a metal riser paired with fiberglass laminated limbs at 40 lb, which is a sensible balance for a bow that will see both water and an archery range. The reel comes pre-installed with 40 meters of braided line, and braided line is the right call for fish retention because it cuts through water with less drag.
Owners also mention installation manuals and videos, which matters given how many kits in this roundup arrive with unreadable printed directions. The bow also switches between bow hunting and bow fishing, so it covers the dual-purpose use case as well.
What to check before you buy it
Understand what you are buying evidence-wise. With only two reviews on file, this is the least proven bow in the roundup, and its 5.0 average reflects two owners rather than a track record. Nobody is going to be able to tell you how the fiberglass laminates look after a full season.
Check the warranty terms yourself, because none is stated. Every other bow here has either a manufacturer defect warranty or a stated warranty period, and that difference is worth factoring in if you are hard on equipment.
Who should skip it
Skip it if buying blind is not something you want to do. A two-review history means no long-term durability data exists for this specific kit, and that is a real risk on a tool you are putting in water every trip.
This is also a right-hand model at 40 lb draw weight, so it fits the standard beginner bowfishing profile rather than the heavier end. If your targets are big fish, look at the 45 lb options in this roundup instead.
7. AMS Water Moc Recurve Sport Reel Kit: Best for Big Fish
AMS Bowfishing Water Moc Recurve Sport Reel Bowfishing Kit – Right Hand (45# Limbs Water Moc Bowfishing Kit)
45 lb draw weight
28 inch draw length
2.5 lb bow weight
Magnesium construction
Pros
- Magnesium riser with 45 lb draw at 28 inches
- Retriever Sport reel spooled with 200 lb dacron
- Lightest bow in the group at 2.5 pounds
- Zip arrow rest and string silencers included
Cons
- Kits reported arriving with missing components
- Replacement parts and support response unclear
- Lowest average rating among the higher-priced kits
The Water Moc is the specialist option in this roundup. It is built by a bowfishing-only manufacturer, and the reel is the reason to pay attention: an AMS Retriever Sport spooled with 25 yards of 200 lb dacron, which is dramatically heavier line than any other kit here. Line strength is what keeps a fish on the arrow during a long retrieve, so that specification alone justifies attention.
At 45 lb draw weight with a 28 inch draw length, it is light on the string and quick to cycle. The bow itself is magnesium and weighs 2.5 pounds, the lightest bow we tested, which makes it easy to hold for a full night of snap shooting.
The kit also includes a Zip arrow rest and Green String Things silencers, plus a manufacturer defect warranty, which is more reassurance than most of the kits in this roundup offer.
Owners describe the Water Moc bow itself as great. The complaints are about what arrives in the box. Both reviews on file report kits arriving incomplete, missing the reel-to-arrow-holder piece and the brass knock point, and support response and replacement parts for missing components are described as unclear.
What to check before you buy it
Verify every component against the listing before you leave the package. The two most commonly reported missing items are the reel-to-arrow-holder piece and the brass knock point, both small parts that are awkward to replace after the fact.
If you already own a spool of heavy line and a working reel, buy the bow alone. The Water Moc is the strongest dedicated bow in this roundup, and a strong reel paired with it is a combination no budget kit matches. That also sidesteps the incomplete-kit problem entirely.
Who should skip it
Skip the full kit if you are not comfortable troubleshooting missing hardware with a manufacturer whose support response is unclear. For a bow you will use in the dark at the edge of a marsh, reliability matters more than a good-looking package photo.
Its average rating is the lowest of the priced kits here, on just two reviews, so we would treat the bow and the reel as separate decisions. The hardware configuration is excellent. The packing is inconsistent.
8. Fin-Finder Bank Runner 20 lb Recurve: Best for Bank and Shallow Water
Fin-Finder Bank Runner Bowfishing Recurve Bow 20-lb. Draw Right-Handed (Purple)
20 lb draw weight
28.5 inch length
Nylon construction
Right hand
Pros
- Low draw weight suited to close-range bank shooting
- Velocity Plus nylon string with tight center serving
- Nylon build resists the wet and dirty conditions of shoreline use
Cons
- 20 lb draw weight is light for larger fish
- Listing offers very little specification detail
- Lowest average rating in the roundup
The Bank Runner is the odd one out in this roundup, and it earns its place for a specific reason. At 20 lb draw weight and 28.5 inches, it is a purpose-built bank and shallow-water bow rather than a boat bow. When you are kneeling on a muddy shoreline shooting carp at close range, you do not need 45 pounds, you need a bow that is easy to hold steady and hard to snag on brush.
The string is a real point of difference. It uses a tight nylon center serving and end loops made from Velocity Plus string material, which is a wet-and-dirty-friendly build compared with the bare serving on many budget kits. Nylon construction throughout means nothing on this bow needs lubricating or protecting the way a wooden riser would.
Fin-Finder builds for bank and shallow water specifically, which is a category the boat-oriented kits in this roundup do not really serve. Shooting from a jon boat or a platform, a short low-poundage bow is simply the wrong tool.
The limitation is obvious and worth stating plainly. Twenty pounds is light next to the 40 to 45 lb bows here, and owners note it lacks punch for larger fish. The listing also gives you very little to go on beyond the string material and length.
What to check before you buy it
Confirm the draw weight is right for your actual targets before anything else. If you are shooting open water for carp, 20 lb is underpowered and no accessory will fix that. If you are working a shallow bayou edge or a weedy shoreline at close range, it is well matched.
Check hand orientation carefully before ordering. This is a right-hand model, and a mis-ordered orientation is the most common buyer regret reported around purpose-built bowfishing bows in general, since the entry-level left-hand options are far thinner.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you shoot from a boat, which is where most bowfishing happens. Sitting down with a 20 lb bow in open water means thin penetration and a lot of missed shots on fish that are moving.
Skip it if you want to shoot heavy targets. For that role, our traditional recurve bow picks cover the archery side properly. This bow does one job, and doing that job well, which is a fair trade.
What Draw Weight Do Bowfishing Recurves Need?
Most bowfishing recurves need 40 to 45 pounds of draw weight, with 30 to 50 pounds as the working range. Beginners should start lighter, at 30 to 35 pounds, and step up once their form is solid and their shoulder can handle a full night of snap shots. Experienced bowfishers commonly run 40 to 55 pounds, which is the range forum consensus describes as a great bowfishing setup.
The apparent conflict between those two answers is really a sequencing question, not a disagreement. Start at 40 pounds if you already have archery experience or you are buying for a teenager with strength. Start at 30 to 35 pounds if this is your first bow and you have never drawn a recurve past anchor.
Match the weight to the fish. Rough fish like tilapia, bass, and trout can be taken with lighter bows. Common carp push into the 40 to 50 pound range because they fight hard and run long. Alligator gar in heavy cover is the case most often cited for going to 45 to 55 pounds, since a gar will bury itself in brush and you need the arrow to penetrate rather than deflect.
Draw length matters as much as draw weight, and beginners rarely check it. A bow too short in draw length forces you to anchor early, which costs accuracy. Look for a draw length of at least 26 inches on a bowfishing recurve, and check the manufacturer’s spec sheet, because several kits in this roundup list an overall bow length and a draw length that differ substantially.
A 70 pound bow is not a bowfishing bow. It is far too heavy to hold at full draw repeatedly from a contorted leaning position over the side of a boat, and fatigue kills accuracy long before it hurts your shoulder. If a seller suggests 70 pounds for bowfishing, they are thinking about penetration and ignoring the fact that you have to shoot it a hundred times in an hour.
How to Choose a Bowfishing Recurve Bow
Six things decide whether a recurve works for bowfishing, and most people only think about two of them. Work through them in this order, and the right answer usually becomes obvious.
1. Draw weight for your target species. Forty to 45 pounds covers most freshwater bowfishing. Go heavier for alligator gar in cover, lighter for shallow bank work. Match the fish before matching the bow.
2. Bow length and draw length. Fifty-three to 56 inches is the boat-friendly range and what most of the purpose-built bows in this roundup use. Longer bows are steadier but harder to clear in a jon boat. Check draw length separately from overall length, because they are different numbers.
3. Hand orientation. Every bow in this roundup is a right-hand model. Right-handed bowfishing options are much thinner, so confirm orientation before ordering and before telling anyone else what you bought.
4. Construction material. Fiberglass, aluminum, and magnesium all survive immersion better than wood or bamboo, which is why dedicated bowfishing bows use them. A metal riser handles knocks better, at the cost of weight. Wood core laminates with fiberglass faces are fine if you keep them dry between trips.
5. Reel compatibility. Check whether the riser has threaded holes or a stabilizer bushing for a spincast, and whether the manufacturer accepts a bolt-on bottle reel. Standard hardware is worth a lot here, because it means you can replace the reel in your second season without replacing the bow.
6. Arrow rest and line quality. A rest that holds the arrow on the side, not just the top, prevents the arrow rolling off during a contorted leaning shot. Plan to spool heavier line than the kit includes, because line abrasion is the most common equipment failure in the sport.
On the accessory side, remember that a bow is only one part of the rig. You also need bowfishing arrows with a safety slide and a line, a reel, a rest, and for night work, lights and a personal flotation device. Rules on licensing and line limits vary by state, so check your local regulations before your first trip.
If you are still deciding between recurve and compound, our compound bow guide covers the other side of the aisle, including which setups are worth comparing against a recurve for beginners.
Recurve vs Compound for Bowfishing
A recurve is the better bow for bowfishing, mostly because it has nothing to fail. A compound relies on cams, cables, and a string system that fouls with mud, slime, and algae. A recurve stores its energy in the limbs and gives all of it back at release, so there is no let-off and no hardware in the path of the arrow.
Compound bows have real advantages in this sport. They are faster to draw, easier to hold at full draw while a fish approaches, and their cams can be set to low let-off so you keep tension on the line. Purpose-built compounds exist for exactly this, and they are worth considering if you already own one.
What a compound costs you is maintenance in an environment that destroys maintenance. Cams clog, cables corrode in brackish water, and every adjustment resets after a season of soaking. A recurve just needs the string replaced and the limbs looked at.
The free-draw advantage is the one bowfishers cite most. A recurve can be drawn to a partial draw and held, which means you can shoot from a twisted, leaning position over the side of a boat without hitting a hard wall at full draw. Shooting quickly at fish moving below the surface rewards that. If you are new to archery and want the easiest possible path into the sport, our compound bows for beginners roundup covers the alternative.
Can One Recurve Do Bowfishing and Target Shooting?
Yes, but only if you buy the right kind. Most purpose-built bowfishing recurves ship with a heavy fishing grip, a foam float, and a bowfishing arrow rest, none of which help a target archer. Buy one of those for bowfishing and keep a separate traditional recurve for the range.
Alternatively, a general-purpose recurve with interchangeable strings and two rests handles both jobs, and that is the approach the dual-purpose kits in this roundup take. You run the fishing arrows and bottle reel for bowfishing, then swap to a standard string and your target arrows for practice or hunting.
What you give up is specialization. A bow you use for both will not have a proper arrow rest for either job unless you buy both, and the bowfishing grip that keeps your hand dry will not feel right at anchor for an afternoon of target shooting. Budget for the second rest and the second string.
The reverse question, whether bowfishing ruins a target bow, has a simpler answer: a target bow will not break from bowfishing, but its grip and finish will degrade faster, and you will end up with one mediocre bow instead of two good ones. For anyone who wants both, our general archery bow roundup covers the target side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What draw weight is best for bowfishing?
Most bowfishing recurves work best at 40 to 45 pounds, with 30 to 50 pounds as the usable range. Beginners should start at 30 to 35 pounds and step up once their form is solid, because form matters more than power early on. Common carp generally need 40 to 50 pounds, and alligator gar in heavy cover is the case most often cited for going to 45 to 55 pounds.
What is the typical draw weight for bowfishing bows?
The typical draw weight for bowfishing recurves is 40 to 45 pounds, which covers most freshwater species. Experienced bowfishers commonly run 40 to 55 pounds, and forum consensus describes that range as a great bowfishing setup. Bow length matters too: 53 to 56 inches works well from a jon boat, and most purpose-built bows in that category fall in this range.
Which recurve bow is considered the highest quality?
Archery quality and bowfishing durability are not the same thing. For archery quality, traditional makers of wood-laminated recurves are the standard, but for bowfishing a magnesium or aluminum riser with fiberglass or composite limbs survives immersion and knocks better. The Cajun Fish Stick has by far the largest owner history of any purpose-built bowfishing recurve, which is its own form of quality evidence.
Can you use any compound bow for bowfishing?
You can bowfish with a compound bow, and purpose-built compounds exist for it. A compound can be drawn faster and held at full draw while a fish approaches, and cams can be tuned for low let-off to maintain line tension. The tradeoff is maintenance: cams foul with mud and algae, cables corrode in brackish water, and every adjustment resets after a season of soaking. A recurve has no hardware to clog.
Is a 45 lb recurve bow good for hunting?
A 45 lb recurve is a legitimate hunting weight for deer and similar game, and it is also the most common bowfishing weight in the 40 to 45 pound range. For bowfishing it handles rough fish, carp, and light cover work well. For alligator gar in thick cover you would want to go higher, around 50 pounds or more.
Is a 70 lb bow hard to pull?
Yes, and it is far too heavy for bowfishing. Bowfishing means drawing to anchor repeatedly, often a hundred times an hour, from a contorted leaning position over the side of a boat. Fatigue destroys accuracy long before it causes injury. Experienced bowfishers describe 40 to 55 pounds as the sensible upper limit, and a 70 pound bow is not a bowfishing tool.
What fish do people bowfish for?
The most common targets are common carp, alligator gar, bowfin, tilapia, catfish, and rough fish such as buffalo and gar in shallow southern waters. Draw weight follows the fish: panfish and trout need only 30 to 40 pounds, common carp push into the 40 to 50 pound range, and alligator gar in heavy cover justify 45 to 55 pounds. Night bowfishing with LED lights adds a large share of the total effort.
Can I use a bowfishing recurve for target practice and hunting?
It depends on which bow you bought. A purpose-built bowfishing recurve has a wet-weather grip and a float that do not help a target archer, so keep a separate traditional recurve for the range. A general-purpose recurve with a spare string and two arrow rests handles both jobs well, and most bowfishing kits in this roundup that claim dual use take exactly that approach.
Conclusion
The best recurve bows for bowfishing are the 40 to 45 pound, 54 to 56 inch models with a complete kit, and the Cajun Bowfishing Fish Stick is the one we would put in front of almost anyone. It has 304 reviews, a 4.2 rating, a smooth draw at 5 pounds, and a package you can shoot on day one. Replace its line and you have everything you need for a first season.
Pick the PSE KingFisher if you want the most compact boat-friendly frame and already know how to check a package for missing parts. Pick the SPG kit if your budget is the deciding factor and your targets are lighter fish. Pick the AISANJAN combo for a metal riser that tolerates knocks, and the AMS Water Moc if heavy fish and a properly spooled reel are your priority.
Whatever you choose, replace the included reel line early, verify every part before you leave the box, and start at a poundage your shoulder can repeat a hundred times in an hour. That last habit matters more than any spec on this list.