Bowfishing Arrows and Points Explained

Bowfishing arrows are made mostly of fiberglass, often solid: thick, heavy shafts with a barbed metal point and no vanes. A line from the reel attaches through a sliding collar or a ring, never to the tail. AMS lists its Quad-Lock arrow as solid fiberglass, 5/16 inch in diameter and 32 inches long, and Muzzy's Classic fish arrows share those dimensions.

What bowfishing arrows are made of

Most fish arrows are fiberglass, and makers sell them as finished arrows with the point, nock and line fitting already installed:

Fiberglass is heavy and tough, which suits a shaft shot at close range into water and dragged back by a line. Our fiberglass arrows guide explains why it is the heaviest common shaft material and why bowfishers favour it. Muzzy's composite shaft is the exception in our table: Muzzy says its 80/20 construction delivers "maximum durability and improved straightness."

Colour matters more than you might think. Muzzy says the "high-visibility of the chartreuse color" helps you find the arrow quickly, and its composite arrow adds a lighted nock "powered by Nockturnal."

Points: barbed, reversible and gar heads

Each point on the listings we read has barbs to hold the fish on the line. They differ in tip shape and in how you get the fish off:

• Carp and gar tips. Muzzy sells screw-on stainless tips in two shapes: a six-sided carp tip "designed for all the soft-fleshed fish" and a three-sided gar tip "for those harder scaled fish" with "a more sharper defined point."
• Tip-turn barbs. Muzzy's dual barbs "hold tight until you land the fish, then release easily with 2 simple turns." AMS's Fish Buster releases "with a slight twist of the tip."
• Shaft-turn barbs. AMS's Quad-Lock has four barbs that "collapse on the shot for maximum penetration," then grip with a 2 by 2.5 inch holding area. You turn the shaft to free them.
• Reversible barbs. Cajun says the Piranha XT's barbs "can be reversed for quick fish removal."

For fish that can break a shaft, AMS's Big Game arrows tie the line to the point as well as to a ring, so the fish stays attached if the arrow snaps.

Safety slides and rings

The line has to leave the bow cleanly. AMS fits its EverGlide Safety Slide to standard arrows, while its Big Game arrows use a ring system "to keep line out in front of the bow and arrow rest" that "prevents line from tangling with the string." AMS says the slide is not used on Big Game arrows. Our bowfishing reels guide sets out AMS's rule for keeping the slide in front of the rest.

Why there are no vanes

None of the fish arrows on the Muzzy, AMS and Cajun pages we read lists vanes or feathers among its parts. Fletching steers an arrow over distance, but bowfishing shots are short and the arrow is heavy and tethered. That is the likely reason, though no maker we read says so.

You can browse fiberglass bowfishing arrows on Amazon or look at bowfishing safety slides. Muzzy's Classic Chartreuse arrow and AMS's Quad-Lock are examples to consider. Our Cajun Sucker Punch review covers a kit that ships with fiberglass Piranha arrows.

Frequently asked questions

Are bowfishing arrows fiberglass or carbon?

Mostly fiberglass. AMS, Muzzy and Cajun all list fiberglass fish arrows, and AMS's are solid. Muzzy also sells a composite arrow of 80% fiberglass and 20% carbon, which it says improves straightness. Pure carbon fish arrows were not among the maker listings we read.

What size are bowfishing arrows?

The common size on the listings we read is 5/16 inch in diameter and 32 inches long. AMS lists its Quad-Lock at those dimensions, and Muzzy's Classic fiberglass arrows match. Check each listing, since point weight and fittings vary between makers and models.

How do you get a fish off a bowfishing arrow?

It depends on the point. Muzzy's barbs release with two turns of the tip, AMS's Fish Buster with a slight twist, and AMS's Quad-Lock by turning the shaft. Cajun's Piranha XT has barbs you reverse. Follow the maker's instructions for your point.