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Maryland › Fishing › Bowfishing

Bowfishing

Angler Nikki Harrison aiming a bowfishing setup, drawing a bow with a reel-mounted arrow while wearing sunglasses and a backward cap, demonstrating bowfishing technique in Maryland.
Angler Nikki Harrison practices bowfishing, aiming a bow equipped with a reel and arrow—an active fishing method used in Maryland waters. Photo by Jim Thompson, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.


Bowfishing at Night?

Please remember...

  • Do not shine lights into homes
  • Ask permission to shoot when within 100 yards of another person or vessel
  • Obey noise ordinances

Legal Equipment

  • Compound Bow
  • Recurve Bow
  • Crossbow
  • 3-pronged Gig

Don’t Shoot

  • Largemouth Bass
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Striped Bass
  • Trout
  • Walleye
  • Northern Pike
  • Muskellunge
  • Snapping Turtles
  • Sturgeon
  • Hickory or American Shad
  • River Herring
  • Sharks

Legally Hunted Fish Include

  • Blue Catfish
  • Channel Catfish
  • Chesapeake Channa
  • Common Carp
  • Flathead Catfish
  • Gizzard Shad
  • Goldfish
  • Longnose Gar*
  • Sunfish

* 5 per person creel (July 1 - April 14); 1 per person creel (April 15 - June 30)

Without Permission It’s Illegal To Shoot Within 100 Yards Of

  • a human being
  • an international diving flag
  • an occupied duck blind
  • another vessel
  • a private or public swimming area

Make Sure Your Gear Has a Retrieval Line

(except a gig propelled by hand)

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