Crusty Old Diver: Tarpon Springs Bowfishing Adventure

By: John Tolmie

My father and I cast off from the local boat ramp at the Anclote River Park which feeds into the quaint and historical town of Tarpon Springs on the Gulf side of Florida. We are off to try our hand at bowfishing. We motor across the bay on Captain Todd Davis’ custom built micro-draft boat. His rig is able to navigate in extremely shallow water. The captain makes the universal tiny gesture with his pointer finger and thumbs and says, “I can get into water this skinny.” We arrive at the mouth of winding mangrove backwaters and the muddy bottom comes up to within inches of the hull. Todd raises the stern motor out of the water and engages his trolling motor to slowly navigate us into a wide expanse deep in the middle of the mangroves.

Captain Todd’s secret spot holds schools of mullet who cruise the crystal water feeding on nutrient rich seagrass. As we gather our gear and set the hook the fish get spooked and scatter. Captain Todd advises us to move slowly and to not point at the fish. “And don’t aim,” he says in an easy Floridian draw. “Just take the shot. Thinking will get you in trouble. Just draw. Lower the bow and release.” As he speaks, the fish start to settle down from our intrusion. I draw my bow and do everything he said not too. I aim and lead the fish while trying to remember how to use all the gadgets on the unfamiliar bow. I miss on my first try. I miss again, and again, and again. Finally I hear the Captain chuckle, “I told you thinking would get you in trouble!” I take a deep breath, steady myself and close my eyes. I finally open my eyes and concentrate at one spot where the fish are congregating. I’m waiting for a fish to come in front of me rather than leading one. I see a nice sized mullet coming in from my right. I quickly draw, lift my bow and release! My arrow finds it’s mark and Todd lets out a hoot. “That’s how it’s done man! Don’t think… Just shoot!” I pull the fish over to the boat and get a closer look at it. It’s not a very pretty fish with its pouted carp-like lips and huge scales lining its elongated body. But we are stoked as these fish are excellent for the smoker. My dad takes a shot while I put the first one on ice. Another ‘yeah buddy!’ accompanied by Todd’s hardy laugh lets me know Pops landed one. I look over and my dad presents the fish with a clean headshot. At 73 years young I am constantly impressed by this man.

The pods of mullet are now agitated and stay out of shooting range so we head deeper into the mangroves. Beautiful tropical birds and water fowl fly over head while some perch in the dense mangrove forest. Huge schools of redfish and snook, both of which are protected species, cruise by in the clear lush estuaries. As we glide around a corner the captain slows the boat. “OK boys right when we clear that tree, there should be a school of mullet holed up. Get ready!” Of course our first two fish were beginners luck as we start that pesky ‘thinking’ again and miss time and again. We were still having an awesome time while taking in the beauty of a part of the world we’ve never experienced. But Todd is all about helping us get some more fish in the boat and decides we need a change of pace.

We motor out of the backwater and head out into the sand flats. We would be hunting for stingray whose wings taste like mild scallop. The flats were “skinny” and Todd used his trolling motor to slowly move across the sandy bottom. The rays were doing their best to camouflage themselves, but I could see their shapes in the refracted sunlight. I spot one, and without thinking, I take the shot and land a small ray. Stingrays have a spiked tail filled with painful venom as well as barbs along their backs so the captain deals with it as I bring it over the side. I hit another small ray and as I’m hauling it in, Pops lines up on a monster! He’s got it dead to rights. He then slowly releases his draw, looks at me and says, “What am I going to do with that thing anyway? I’m glad I didn’t shoot it.” We watch the trophy ray swim away and we are grateful for the experience to be able to see such a magnificent creature. Even though I’m grown man, Pops is still teaching me.

After the stingray hunt we cruise back into the mangroves and harvest two more mullet, but after six hours on the water and in the sun, we are tired. We head back to the ramp and packed the fish on ice for the trip home. We are both starving and in true Pop fashion my dad asks, “Where can we go to get a snack? And then go get something to eat?!” Todd belches his hardy laugh and directs us to Rusty Belly’s at the sponge diving docks where we ended the day with a feast of fresh Tarpon Springs seafood!

To book a bowfishing charter in the Tarpon Springs area please call Captain Todd Davis at 727-656-4001