bowfishing for cow nose rays.

[bulletbob]

Bowfish?? sure why not?.. Might get 3 , maybe even 4 guys a season to try it in the entire state.. I agree, those cow nose rays are a pain when they are around, and i can only imagine how badly they tear up shellfish beds. The schools they run at times are acres across. bob

[Capt Joe]

Originally Posted by Delawareriver

Exactly they school up in the thousands to migrate. I've seen thousands schooled up like this in the Chesapeake bay. What purpose are you looking for? What's the purpose of any type of fishing?

Purpose of fishing
catch, clean, feed the family
catch, release, fun
eat that thing? Turd sandwich!
No purpose of bow hunting that thing. Target practice!
JMHO. Take it or leave it.

[Delawareriver]

Originally Posted by Capt Joe

Purpose of fishing
catch, clean, feed the family
catch, release, fun
eat that thing? Turd sandwich!
No purpose of bow hunting that thing. Target practice!
JMHO. Take it or leave it.

So because you personally don't wanna eat it, then no one can enjoy the resource? Makes perfect sense. JMHO sounds pretty selfish.

Stingrays make great table fare, maybe not 10/10 but they are worthy of eating if the meat is handled properly. If you never tried it I would be glad to fry some up for you next season.

[XXlyakattacker]

I did 2 kayak fluking trips near the ammo pier this year. Rays were so thick they were hitting my kayak. Lost tons of tackle and braided line,ran out of bait, and caught 2 throw back flukes. Couldn't get past the rays. Never saw them this thick before. Hope the fluke invade like this next year.

[Dino]

i think just go for it man... also please shoot a few bass as well to save plumetting populations of the majestic NJ bunker

[Delawareriver]

Originally Posted by Dino

i think just go for it man... also please shoot a few bass as well to save plumetting populations of the majestic NJ bunker

Believe rod and reel guys as well as commercial guys up and down the coast kill enough cow bass that at this time that bowfishing them would make little difference. In Louisiana with a huge bowfishing community and the top destination for out state bowfisherman to go, bowfishing only accounts for 3% of the total recreational harvest. It just might be too late for nj bunker

[nmc02]

As others have said.....we are entitled to our own opinion(s). I (MY OWN OPINION) prefer to kill or harvest only game or fish that will be eaten. I choose not to hunt geese, as no one wants to eat them. I often hear the invasive species defense.............rays are not an invasive species! I respect you as a hunter, as long as someone is eating the rays you shoot, not burying them in a garden. If there is such an abundance of them, why not catch them on a rod and reel?? Take care, good luck.

[Delawareriver]

Yep every one is entitled to their opinion. Typically you ask a question to 10 guys at a bar you would get 10 answers. Could ask them what hobbies they enjoy the most and you probably will get 10 answers. Well bowfishing is mine. Right now you could rod and reel fish for them and kill as many as you want yet that hasn't stopped the population from growing. Whats your big fear towards bowfishing? And yes I understand the rays are native, but invasive doesn't only mean a species not native, you can refer a native species that becomes overly populated where they can affect ecosystems ad invasive. Good example Is commorants. In many areas of the country they have become so numerous they were starting to affect the ecosystems. Many states have since opened hunting seasonseason for them.

[Dino]

I hear ya was only joking around anyway. good luck w the quest !

[CCMPmonmouth]

wow you guys can argue about anything. you win for "Dumbest thread this week". My question is... what taste better Bergalls or Sea Robins ?