some pics of our '09 season

[ryverrat]

The "new" didn't mean new- I know they were here before most game species- it is just people didn't see them often and except for where you are fishing they are rare- here's a link about them from Fish and Boat
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/pafish/fishhtms/chap8.htm#bowfinl

Also all fish are covered by regulations in PA- not always as individual species. The inland regulations state that either a fish is protected (like paddlefish) or it is covered as a game fish- if no creel limit is set for the species then it falls under the same regs as sunfish or baitfish - 50 combined species open year round.
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/fishpub/summary/inland.html

Since they are more common where you are fishing, Fish and Boat may be interested in the information. It is also illegal to kill a fish and not make an effort to properly dispose of it- regulations
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/fishpub/summary/violations.html

"To kill any fish and fail to make a reasonable effort to lawfully dispose of it."

 

[ruggiero33]

Yeah, its a shame to see what some people do to bowfin

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

I recently caught my first bowfin and I might say it could have ate yours its was 10+ pounds. There is two things I learned from it. First dont stick your hand in its gills use a boga grip. 2nd they smell like dog sh**. Overall though it was the hardest fighting freshwater fish ive caught thus far.