Collecting Bowfin?

[Fish_Man_Dan]

I run the aquaculture facility at my school, and we have a 1000 gallon setup consisting of two 500 gallon tanks connected by the filter, so the water mixes. one is invasive species to FL (two oscars, a midas, 4 blue tilapia, a mayan, and a jewel cichlid, all adults). the other tank has native fish to FL, some wild caught, some donated by a hatchery (about 6 young channel cats about 8-10 inches long, a freshwater goby of some type, a couple redears about 4", two green suns at 3", and a larger mystery sunfish with a big mouth... resembles a warmouth but has green sun pattern)

my actual question was concerning bowfin though... where can i catch one? i would like to catch a young one, but if i catch a larger fish that poses an immediate threat to the other fish, i can remove the smaller ones...

anyone know were i can get a Bowfin?!

 

[Fish_Man_Dan]

thanks! i just might check out the spot off of 869 and atlantic... its the closest one to me... btw, do these guys only eat live food, or can they be trained to eat pellets?

 

[D12DetroitD12]

thanks! i just might check out the spot off of 869 and atlantic... its the closest one to me... btw, do these guys only eat live food, or can they be trained to eat pellets?

Mine ate pellets, cut shrimp, cut tilapia and live mollies. so most likely yes they will.

 

[kevinfleming21]

they can be pellet trained, almost all of you stock will feel the wrath of the bowfin though lol.

 

[sbuse]

they are angry fishes. you most likly will get one at 3"+- or 14"+ i have yet to find the midground. they just vanish. one really really good way to get them is to take dead suckers and drag them on the bottom with a single hook.

 

[Fish_Man_Dan]

sounds like great advice from experienced bowfin keepers/fishers! thanks so much, and any other tips and tricks are more than welcome! maybe i can go this weekend...

 

[lix.ma14]

cool

 

[Wild Man From Welland]

one really really good way to get them is to take dead suckers and drag them on the bottom with a single hook.

when i hook a bow the fish are 3 lbs or more. got any tips for hooking the juveys?