The Bowfin

[jimv8673]

The Bowfin (Amia calva) dates back to the Mezozoic Era, Jurassic Period - more than 150,000,000 years ago. Imagine fishing for bowfin while watching for a T. Rex and Tricerotops It's amazing that these fish have survived unchanged for all those years, that they are among the toughest fighters to swim in American waters, and yet they get little respect. Many bass anglers have thought they had caught the new state record from the size of the fight, only to discover they had caught a Bowfin, While those two-pound bass are sulking because a front moved through, that little five-pound bowfin is more than willing to take your lure or bait and then try his best to jerk it out of your hand. You will need strong line and tough tackle to land this guy, and even then Watch out for those razor sharp teeth.
The fish shown below was taken on normal fishing gear, rigged with a weighted jig, and a swirley tailed rubber worm attached. ad even though not a large one by any means gave me quite the fight, He was taken from a muddy, oxygen poor creek, in Indiana, USA

 

[always4lora]

Nice fish , kinda looks a little like a snakehead.

 

[gasmask]

They are great fish.
If I didn't have a house full of snakeheads, gars, and polys I would be tempted to get one.

 

[dthoffsett]

Interesting fish, I've never heard of them, not much of a fisher though. Have you even kept any in a tank or just catch them?

 

[england]

Bowfin aka Amia calva are very similar in way's to channa aka snakehead's, this is part of the reason snakeheads are concidered so bad in america as they rival and win against amia calva...These are beautiful fish but no match against snakeheads which is why they have taken over,much like the problem here in England with the grey and red squirrel,greys are much bigger and can take much more food than reds leaving nothing for them,also the diesase's theyve introduced to the red's....

the bowfin is native to the eastern US, ranging from extreme southeastern Canada to the Gulf Coast. In Texas the species is found in the Red River, San Jacinto River and Sabine River systems, as well as the downstream reaches of the Brazos and Colorado rivers.

Bowfin and Snakeheads: Distinguishing Features
Snakeheads (family Channidae) from Africa and Asia are occasionally imported illegally into Texas. They closely resemble native bowfin (Family Amiidae) but are unrelated. This page depicts one species of snakehead. About 27 others have been identified, some with different color patterns. Pelvic fins may be lacking in several snakehead species. Snakeheads are environmentally harmful. If you see or catch one in usa, please contact a game warden or a Texas Parks & Wildlife Fisheries office


Bowfin (Amia calva)
No scales on head
Bony plates between lower jaw bones
Pelvic fins at mid-body
Anal fin short
Eyespot (Ocellus) at base of tail, in male specimens only


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Snakehead (Channa argus)
Enlarged scales on head
No bony plates between lower jaw bones
Pelvic fins closer to head
Anal fin long, almost as long as dorsal fin
Eyespot present in some species