Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Since it must be Bowfin Monday, I just thought I'd offer this to any of our BBG members who have ever caught or photographed the powerful bowfin. Southern boys and mid-westerners alike, show us your bowfin!My personal best at 30-inches from the tidal James in Virginia...just made the citation minimum. This was actually my best fish of this particular trip. Powerful fish!

Views: 686

Replies to This Discussion

Awesome.
I love the tenacity and longevity of the bowfin. I've caught one that I know of, and that was years ago.
So I've no real experience. But I suspect "pere choupique" will be around after we're gone - and you gotta admire that.

What a pig of a fish Jim ! Here's my 1st Bowfin caught on a 16th oz. Leech style plastic Grub intended for small mouth . This was quite a surprise ! 21.5"

This was my first Bowfin caught in July of 2013. She was very rough to handle (Nottoway River - VA)

Here is another from June of 2014...a nice young Bowfin (Suwannoochee Creek - GA)

Nice Bowfins Ben! What did  they hit?

Thanks John! If I remember correctly, the first one hit a live minnow and the second one a live nightcrawler. For artificial baits, I have caught them with the Betts yellow/black stripe grub worm 1/32" with gold reflector and the Moxie inverted minnow lure. But quite honestly, Bowfin will strike just about any live or artificial bait that you cast! They are not a picky species when it comes to eating.

Going back to the spot I caught mine at tomorrow .Hope to catch the smallmouths that followed my bait to the boat and get in on some more Bowfin , Crappie ,Bass , Pickerel and Atlantic Salmon action .

From the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife site. New State record Bowfin 

Frank Hubert caught the new state record Bowfin in Mantua Creek on December 17, 2024. The fish weighed 12 pounds, 10 ounces, replacing Pierce Dopkin’s 11-pound, 8.5-ounce record from 2017, which was caught in the same creek. 

Frank was casting from a kayak and using a Sixgill spinning rod with a Shimano spinning reel loaded with 30-pound test Snakehead Outlawz braided line when the fish hit. A Snakehead Outlawz Dragon Destroyer was the lure used for catching this new record bowfin.

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Got 15 medium gills scaled for Sunday supper…..my wife’s favorite way to enjoy a fish fry, fresh and fried whole in crispy corn meal…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Rose Skimmer…..8/29/2025

I’ve seen these guys in Louisiana and North Carolina…..one of the reasons I like pink jigs, the…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Check Out The Emerald Green Cheeks on this Flier……8/29/2025

They kind of have a distinctive black line under the eye similar to a chain pickerel but not as…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

One of a Dozen Largemouth in a Feeding Frenzy….8/29/2025

This river was pretty steady around 76 degrees for surface temperatures…..
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Soaking Live Cricket Tipped Jigs on Bridge Pilings….8/29/2025

"Zoom in to see those popping emerald colors at the base of the tail……this pod of…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Hit a different river today, this time working beavers are more beneficial than river otters……surface temperatures at 76.4 degrees"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"The black under the eye and a business mouth……..👍, a true predator!"
Thursday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"Yes, and mean eyes, Jeff. A bandit with the black across the Eye!"
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"I found an influx of salt water in some creeks and the bite was muted, moved inland to locate better water conditions and it paid off.."
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"We finally started settling down from crazy water level swings from Hurricane Erin, coolest surface temps in August in 15 years here…"
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"Distinct colors and markings……pretty chain pickerel……"
Wednesday
John Sheehan posted photos
Wednesday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service