Bowfin fishing Okefenokee Swamp

Last week (finally) made to Okeefenokee Swamp for a day trip, rented a jonboat with 6HP, probably covered all water in state park boundaries.





The beauty of the swamp









Billy's Island






Gators







Swamp mermaid



Caught several bowfins in last hour of the trip on Mepps Aglia #4,#5 in silver and copper blades color, size up to 3lb.
Rod - St. Croix Extreme 7'0" MH
Reel - Daiwa Certate 3000
Most fish caught in pockets of the swamp, main channel didn't produce, caught just one there.
Bowfins are really funny fish to catch. Every fish been fighting like he.l.l.
















Excellent day, both really enjoyed vast and unspoiled swamp and wilderness.

Nice fish and great pics! Do you eat those or just fun to catch?

Good times, great pic's. I love it down there. I love catching the mudfish on Texas rigged lizard's with no weight -toss it on top on a lily pad, wait a second, twitch it off slowly and hang on!

Real men lip those mudfish.



Once.

Klag said:

Nice fish and great pics! Do you eat those or just fun to catch?

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I would take one home to see how it tastes, never caught bowfins before, since we been continue going down to Florida, I let all fish go.

WOODSWIZE said:

Good times, great pic's. I love it down there. I love catching the mudfish on Texas rigged lizard's with no weight -toss it on top on a lily pad, wait a second, twitch it off slowly and hang on!

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Great advise, I wish I would know it before the trip.
In GON article they suggested flashy spinners.
Next time I definitely bring some lizards.
Wanted to try frogs, but left them at home

Cutbait off the dams will catch them all day, but you have to get them out quick or the gators will get them.

WOODSWIZE said:

Good times, great pic's. I love it down there. I love catching the mudfish on Texas rigged lizard's with no weight -toss it on top on a lily pad, wait a second, twitch it off slowly and hang on!

Click to expand...

bvi said:

I would take one home to see how it tastes, never caught bowfins before, since we been continue going down to Florida, I let all fish go.

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I'll save you the time. They don't call them "mudfish" for no reason. There is no good way to eat them, and yes, I tried the "grind them up and make fishballs recipe" and they still taste like muddy cotton.

Great pics!