Bowfin
Amia calva
The bowfin is a primitive freshwater fish with a long dorsal fin and ability to breathe air. Often called a 'living fossil,' it's one of the oldest fish species still existing today.
Bowfin at a glance
- Scientific name
- Amia calva
- Typical size
- 18-24 inches, 2-8 lbs
- State record
- 19 lbs 5 oz
- Water
- Freshwater
- Habitat
- Freshwater
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Common
Habitat
Bowfin inhabit shallow, weedy waters of lakes, swamps, and slow-moving rivers throughout the eastern United States. Anglers target them with live bait, cut bait, or lures fished near vegetation and structure in shallow water.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a bowfin through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksWhat to throw for bowfin
The lure classes that produce for bowfin, drawn from the same species map Cobia reasons about. Each one opens a full page on what it is, when it works and how to fish it.
Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the water in front of you today. That part is the app.
Bowfin questions people ask
Bowfin is Amia calva.
A typical bowfin runs 18-24 inches, 2-8 lbs. Cobia records the length and weight of every bowfin you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Bowfin inhabit shallow, weedy waters of lakes, swamps, and slow-moving rivers throughout the eastern United States. Anglers target them with live bait, cut bait, or lures fished near vegetation and structure in shallow water. It is a fresh water species, filed under freshwater in the Fishdex.
Spinnerbaits, topwater frogs and toads and chatterbaits and bladed jigs all produce. Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the season, the water temperature and the tide on the day, which is the part Cobia works out against the lures you already own.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.