Bowfishing Carrabelle FL Captain Harvey Charters

Two people exploring Crawfordville on a fishing and cruising adventure

Gag grouper caught in Crawfordville while fishing on cruises

Eleven fish caught during cruises and fishing trip in Crawfordville

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Bowfishing Carrabelle FL Captain Harvey Charters

Carrabelle

What you will be catching:

Black Sea Bass
Gag Grouper
Lane Snapper
Red Grouper
Red Snapper

Trip Pricing and Availabilities :

Trip pricing information is temporarily unavailable.

Half Day Bowfishing Trip in Carrabelle, Florida

When the sun starts to dip toward the horizon around Carrabelle, that's when the real action begins for bowfishers. Captain Shawn with Captain Harvey Fishing Charters has been running these evening bowfishing trips for years, and he knows exactly where to find the fish when they start moving in the shallows. This isn't your typical rod-and-reel fishing – we're talking bow and arrow, prehistoric style hunting that gets your heart pumping like nothing else on the water. The 3-hour trip kicks off at 6:00 PM from 407 Marine Street, giving you the perfect timing to catch that golden hour light before transitioning into prime bowfishing conditions.

What to Expect on the Water

You'll be fishing from Captain Shawn's reliable 26' Carver Cabin Cruiser, which gives you a stable platform and plenty of room to draw your bow. The boat's set up specifically for bowfishing with proper lighting systems and clear shooting lanes. Since this trip only takes 2 guests max, you're getting personalized attention and won't be fighting for the best spots. Captain Shawn starts every trip with a safety briefing and basic instruction – whether you've never touched a bow or you're a seasoned archer, he'll get you dialed in for the conditions. The evening departure time isn't random either. As daylight fades, fish behavior changes dramatically in these inshore waters, making them more active and easier to spot in the shallows where bowfishing really shines.

Bow Technique & Gear Setup

Captain Shawn provides all the bowfishing gear, including compound bows set up with appropriate draw weights and specialized arrows with barbed points and retrieval lines. The technique takes some getting used to – you're dealing with light refraction in the water, so where you see the fish isn't exactly where you aim. Most first-timers aim too high initially, but Captain Shawn will coach you through reading the water depth and adjusting your point of aim. The boat's equipped with powerful LED lights that penetrate the water column, illuminating fish that would otherwise be invisible. You'll be working the grass flats and shallow structure around Carrabelle where these target species like to feed and cruise during evening hours. The key is staying quiet, moving slowly, and being ready when opportunity presents itself.

Top Catches This Season

Red Grouper are absolute bruisers when you stick them with an arrow. These chunky bottom-dwellers can push 15-20 pounds and they don't give up easy once you connect. They're most active in the evening hours when they move up from deeper structure to feed in the shallows, making them perfect bowfishing targets. The fight is intense – they'll try to wrap you around any cover they can find. Red Snapper are the crown jewel of the Gulf, and taking one with a bow is something special. They're incredibly smart fish with excellent eyesight, so shot placement and stealth are crucial. When you do connect, expect a strong run and some serious head-shaking. Lane Snapper might be smaller, but they school up in good numbers and offer great practice for honing your accuracy. They're year-round residents in these waters and always willing to cooperate. Gag Grouper are ambush predators that love structure and ledges. They're notorious for their powerful initial run when hooked, and that power is amplified when you're connected by bowfishing line. Black Sea Bass are scrappy fighters that punch well above their weight class. They're abundant around Carrabelle's inshore structure and provide consistent action when other species are being finicky.

Time to Book Your Spot

This bowfishing trip offers something completely different from traditional angling – it's hunting and fishing rolled into one adrenaline-packed experience. Captain Shawn's local knowledge of Carrabelle's inshore waters, combined with his patient instruction style, makes this trip work for both complete beginners and experienced bowhunters looking to try something new. The intimate 2-person capacity means you're not just another face in the crowd, and the evening timing puts you on the water when conditions are absolutely prime. Whether you're looking to cross bowfishing off your bucket list or you're already hooked and want to fish with someone who really knows these waters, this trip delivers. The memories you'll make sticking fish with a bow in the beautiful waters around Carrabelle will stick with you long after you head home. Don't wait – evening slots fill up fast, especially during peak season when the fishing is hot and the weather's perfect.

Learn more about the animals

Black Sea Bass

Black sea bass are chunky little bruisers that put up a great scrap for their size. Most run 1-3 pounds with the occasional 5-pounder mixed in. They love structure - wrecks, jetties, and rocky bottoms in 30-120 feet of water. Spring through summer is prime time when they move inshore to spawn and feed. What makes them fun is they're aggressive biters and decent fighters until they break the surface. The males turn bright blue during spawning and develop a cool hump on their heads. They're excellent table fare with sweet, firm meat that's perfect fried or grilled. Here's something interesting - they start as females and change to males as they grow. My advice: use a double-hook rig with squid strips or cut bait right on the bottom where they feed.

Gag Grouper

Gag grouper are the grey ghosts of our reefs and one of the strongest fish pound-for-pound you'll tangle with. Most average 20 inches but can grow to impressive 30-40 pounders. They love rocky structure - reefs, ledges, and wrecks where they can ambush prey. Young gags hang inshore around rocks while adults prefer deeper offshore structure. Spring and fall are prime times when they're feeding heavy on crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. What makes them special is that incredible fight - once hooked, they'll bulldoze straight for the rocks trying to cut your line. The eating is fantastic too, with firm white meat. Here's the key: lock down your drag tight and keep your rod tip low. Don't let them get their head down or they'll dive into a hole and you'll never get them out.

Lane Snapper

Lane snapper are scrappy little fighters that pack more punch than their size suggests. Most run 12-16 inches and make great action when other species are slow. They hang around coral reefs and sandy bottoms with good vegetation, usually in 30-80 feet of water. These pink-striped fish are most active March through September during spawning season. What makes them fun is they're not shy about hitting bait - they'll attack shrimp, squid, and small jigs aggressively. Plus they're excellent eating with sweet, flaky meat. Lane snapper often show up as bonus fish when targeting other species. Pro tip: fish at dusk or dawn when they feed most actively. They're easier to catch than their bigger snapper cousins but still give you a good fight once hooked.

Red Grouper

These rusty-red beauties are some of the toughest fighters you'll encounter in our Gulf waters. Most run 5-10 pounds, though we've seen some push 20-plus. They hang around rocky bottoms, ledges, and wrecks anywhere from 20-100 feet deep. Red grouper love structure where they can ambush crabs and shrimp. Peak season runs spring through fall when they're most active and aggressive. What makes them special is that bulldog fight - once hooked, they'll try every trick to get back to their hole. The meat is top-shelf too, firm and sweet with that slight shellfish flavor from their diet. My tip: use a heavy drag and don't give them an inch once you set the hook, or they'll wrap you around every piece of structure down there.

Red Snapper

The king of Gulf bottom fish, red snapper are what many anglers dream about. These bright red fighters typically run 2-8 pounds in our waters, though the big ones can hit 15-20. They live around structure in 60-200 feet - wrecks, reefs, and rocky ledges are prime spots. Summer months are best when they're feeding heavy before the fall spawn. What guests love is the fight and the table fare - snapper put up a solid scrap and taste as good as they look. The meat is mild, flaky, and perfect for any recipe. Here's a local trick: when you feel that first tap, don't set the hook right away. Let them take it and start moving off, then nail them. They're notorious for just mouthing bait at first.

About the Carver 26'

Vehicle Guest Capacity: 6

Manufacturer Name: Mercruiser

Maximum Cruising Speed: 37

Number of Engines: 1

Horsepower per Engine: 350

Ready to try something different on the water? Captain Shawn's 26' Carver Cabin Cruiser is your ticket to an evening bowfishing adventure in Carrabelle's productive inshore waters. This spacious cabin cruiser gives you and one other angler plenty of room to draw your bow while staying comfortable throughout the 3-hour trip. The boat's stable platform makes it perfect for first-time bowfishers learning the ropes, while experienced archers will appreciate the clear shooting lanes and easy movement around the deck. Captain Shawn knows these Gulf waters like the back of his hand and will put you on the fish while keeping safety as the top priority. The cabin provides shelter if weather turns, and the boat's reliable performance means you'll spend more time shooting and less time worrying about anything else. Whether you're looking to add a new skill to your fishing arsenal or just want to experience something completely different from traditional angling, this Carver handles the job with room to spare.

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