Bowfishing Arrow Types: A Complete Guide

Bowfishing arrows use barbed fish points, heavy shafts, and a safety-slide line system — with two-barb and three-barb heads as the main split.

Tying line straight to the arrow’s tail is the mistake that turns a bowfishing shot into a snapback risk. Line attachment and point design are what separate a bowfishing arrow from a deer arrow, and getting either wrong costs you fish or safety. This guide covers the barb styles, shaft choices, and release methods in the current AMS Bowfishing catalog, plus the loading rules that apply to every arrow.

Barb Design: Two Barbs vs. Three Barbs

Barb count drives how well an arrow holds a fish and how big a hole it leaves. Two-barb heads grip well and pull out cleanly; three-barb heads hold harder but require a wider entry and more removal work.

That tip-turn versus shaft-turn split is the detail people get wrong. Treating the two as interchangeable leads to a point that won’t come loose and a fish that won’t come off.

A Complete Arrow

Crossbow arrows are their own category.

If you’d rather compare setups side by side, our roundup of tested bowfishing arrows lays out the full field.

Safe Loading: The Rules That Apply to Every Arrow

Never tie line to the tail of a bowfishing arrow, no matter what reel you run. That single rule covers the most dangerous mistake in the sport.

Instead, tie the line to the EverGlide® Safety Slide®, keep the slide ahead of the arrow rest, and nock the arrow with the slide’s shock pad facing upward. During the shot the arrow passes through the slide while the line stays forward of the rest. That geometry keeps line away from the bowstring and reduces the chance of snapback.

Your rest has to handle the heavier arrow, control it through the shot, and clear the line without rubbing. A rest built for bowfishing — side or center loading, adjustable center-shot, works right- or left-handed — is worth the swap. AMS publishes its full arrow selection guidelines covering compatibility.

A conventional hunting or target arrow doesn’t belong on a bowfishing rig. It has no line attachment, no fish-retention barbs, and not enough mass for the job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same arrow for a bow and a crossbow?

No. Crossbow bowfishing arrows are built for a designated crossbow setup and should only be matched to that model. Length, nock type, and spine differ enough that assuming compatibility creates a safety problem rather than a fit problem.

What does a bowfishing arrow cost?

How do I get the point out of a fish?

Match the method to the point. Tip-turn heads like the Chaos FX and AnKor FX release when you turn the tip — push the point through and loosen it several turns. Shaft-turn heads like the Chaos QT and AnKor QT release when you turn the arrow shaft.