Mississippi Bowfishing Charters
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Night bowfishing adventure targeting Buffalo, Carp, Gar, Catfish, BowfinExpert guides illuminate shallow waters for precise shootingSmall group lake trips accommodate maximum two guests
When the sun goes down on Mississippi's waters, that's when the real action starts. Arrow-in Addiction Bowfishing runs some of the most popular nighttime fishing trips in the state, and for good reason. We're talking about a completely different kind of angling here – one where your aim matters just as much as your patience. Our top-rated guides know these waters like the back of their hand, and they'll put you right on top of fish that most anglers never even see. This isn't your typical hook-and-line fishing. It's bow and arrow meets the water, and trust me, once you try it, you'll be hooked in a whole new way.
Picture this: you're out on calm Mississippi waters after dark, powerful LED lights cutting through the black water like lasers. Those lights are game-changers – they illuminate everything below the surface, revealing fish that have been hiding in plain sight all day long. Our boats are set up specifically for bowfishing, with elevated shooting platforms that give you the perfect angle and stability you need to make those shots count. The whole experience is intimate too, with just 2 anglers max per trip, so you're not fighting for prime shooting spots or waiting your turn. Our guides handle the navigation and fish-spotting while you focus on drawing, aiming, and releasing. The cool night air, the anticipation as we cruise looking for targets, and that rush when you see a big fish sliding through the beam – it's addictive stuff. Don't worry about bringing anything except yourself and maybe a cooler for drinks. We've got all the specialized gear you'll need.
Bowfishing gear is pretty specialized, and we provide everything you need for a successful night on the water. We're talking compound bows set up specifically for fishing, with heavier draw weights than you'd use for hunting. The arrows are completely different too – they're designed to penetrate water and stay attached to the fish with barbed points and heavy-duty fishing line. The key technique here is aiming low. Water refracts light, so that fish you're looking at isn't exactly where it appears to be. The deeper the fish, the lower you need to aim. Our guides will coach you through this, but generally, you want to aim about 6 inches low for every foot of depth. Shot placement matters big time – you want to hit fish behind the gills for a clean, quick harvest. We fish the shallow flats and backwater areas where these species like to cruise and feed. The boat moves slow and steady, giving you plenty of time to line up shots, and our guides are constantly scanning with spotlights to locate fish moving through the area.
Channel Catfish are probably the most satisfying fish you'll arrow on these trips. They're thick, meaty fish that put up a solid fight even with an arrow through them. You'll typically find them cruising in 2-4 feet of water after dark, often moving along drop-offs and channel edges. Spring through fall are prime times, with the biggest cats moving shallow during warmer months. What makes them so fun to shoot is their size – we're talking fish that can push 10-15 pounds or more. When you nail a big channel cat, you know you've got something substantial on the end of that line.
Grass Carp are the giants of the bowfishing world, and Mississippi's waters hold some real monsters. These fish can exceed 30 pounds, and when you stick one with an arrow, you better be ready for a rodeo. They're vegetarians, so you'll often spot them in shallow areas where aquatic vegetation grows. Summer months are peak time for grass carp, when they're most active in the shallows. The challenge with these fish isn't just making the shot – it's handling them once you've arrowed them. They're incredibly strong and will test every piece of gear you're using. Landing a big grass carp is a team effort between angler and guide.
Common Carp might not win any beauty contests, but they're absolute dynamite on the end of an arrow. These fish are smart, spooky, and incredibly strong. You'll find them rooting around in muddy bottoms, stirring up clouds of silt as they feed. They're most active during warmer months and can be found in surprisingly shallow water at night. Common carp average 5-10 pounds but can grow much larger. They're tough fish that require good shot placement, and they'll give you a memorable fight once arrowed. Many bowfishing enthusiasts consider carp the bread and butter of the sport.
Bowfin are prehistoric-looking fish that look like they swam straight out of the dinosaur age. These fish are tough as nails and incredibly aggressive fighters. You'll find them in backwater areas and shallow bays, especially during spring spawning season. They're ambush predators with powerful jaws and an attitude to match. Bowfin typically run 3-8 pounds and are covered in thick, armor-like scales. What makes them exciting targets is their unpredictability – they can disappear in an instant or suddenly appear right under your lights. When you arrow a bowfin, expect a wild ride as they twist, roll, and fight with surprising strength.
Longnose Gar are the trickiest targets you'll encounter, but also the most rewarding when you connect. These fish are basically swimming arrows themselves – long, thin, and lightning-fast. They're ambush predators that hang motionless in the water column before exploding into action. The challenge with gar is their narrow profile and bony structure. You need precise shot placement to penetrate their armor-like scales. Spring and early summer are prime times when gar move into shallow spawning areas. They can reach impressive lengths, with fish over 3 feet not uncommon. Successfully arrowing a big longnose gar is considered a real accomplishment in bowfishing circles.
Amia CalvaBowfin are prehistoric bruisers that average 3-8 pounds and pack more fight than fish twice their size. These olive-green survivors hang in heavy cover like flooded timber, thick vegetation, and shallow marshes where other fish can't handle the low oxygen. Males have that distinctive yellow-ringed eyespot near their tail. They're most active during warmer months and prefer hunting at night, though you'll spot them during the day too. What makes them special is they're living fossils - been around since dinosaur times - and they breathe air when water gets tough. They'll absolutely hammer bait and fight dirty, using every trick in the book. Spring through summer in shallow, weedy areas is prime time. Here's the deal with bowfin: once you hook one, keep steady pressure because they'll wrap you in any cover they can find.
Ictalurus PunctatusChannel cats are solid targets that'll average 5-15 pounds, though we see plenty pushing 20+ pounds in Mississippi waters. These whisker-faced fighters hang around deeper holes, creek channels, and structure during the day, but move shallow to feed at night. They've got that slippery, scaleless skin and sharp pectoral fins that'll get you if you're not careful. Spring through fall are prime times when water temps warm up - they get more active and aggressive. What makes them fun is that stubborn fight and how they use their whole body to resist. Here's a local trick: when bowfishing at night, look for them cruising the edges where shallow flats drop into deeper water. They'll often be moving along these transition zones hunting for food.
Cyprinus CarpioCommon carp are the bulldozers of our waters, typically running 10-25 pounds with stocky, golden-bronze bodies. They're bottom feeders that love muddy bays, slow backwaters, and areas with soft substrate where they can root around for food. Spring and fall are your best bets when they're feeding heavy in the shallows before and after spawn. Folks love targeting them because they're absolute scrubbers - once hooked, they'll bulldoze through cover and fight until they're completely whipped. You'll find them in 2-8 feet of water most of the time, stirring up mud clouds as they feed. They're not picky about water clarity and actually seem to prefer the murkier stuff. Here's a tip from years of chasing them: look for muddy water on calm days - that's usually carp feeding and stirring up the bottom.
Ctenopharyngodon IdellaGrass carp are the big vegetarians of our waters, commonly hitting 30-50 pounds with some real monsters pushing 60+ pounds. These silver-scaled giants cruise shallow bays and backwaters where there's plenty of aquatic vegetation to munch on. They're most active during warmer months and tend to spook easily, so stealth is key. What draws folks to target them is their impressive size and the way they'll go airborne when hooked - they're notorious jumpers that'll test your gear. They prefer slow-moving or still waters with good plant growth, often hanging near the surface in the early morning or late evening. Here's something most people don't know: these fish are incredibly wary, so keep noise and movement to a minimum. Even a shadow across the water can send them bolting.
Lepisosteus OsseusLongnose gar are the water torpedoes with that distinctive needle-nose snout, usually running 3-6 feet long and built for ambush hunting. These olive-green predators cruise shallow flats, backwaters, and weedy areas where they can blend in and ambush prey. They're most active at night but you'll see them near the surface during the day, especially in spring and summer. What hooks people is their prehistoric look and the challenge - their narrow mouths make them tough to land with regular hooks. They prefer slow-moving or still waters with vegetation for cover, often hanging motionless until prey swims by. These ancient fish can breathe air and water, so they thrive where other fish struggle. Here's the trick: forget hooks and use a rope lure or nylon strands that tangle in their teeth - it's the only reliable way to land one.
Tunica Lake