Andrew Mack shows a carp he caught while bowfishing. (Photos by Emily Baierl)
Lake Elsinore’s second annual Carp Quest brought bowfishers and rod-and-reel anglers to Launch Pointe on May 17 to compete for cash prizes while removing invasive carp from the lake.
Throughout the morning, boats moved slowly across the lake as participants searched for carp swimming near the surface, with bowfishers watching for backs or tails breaking the surface. Once a carp was spotted, bowfishers quickly aimed and fired before the fish could swim away. Arrows attached to reels and heavy lines allowed bowfishers to pull the fish back toward the boat after a hit.
Andrew Mack aims his bow after spotting a carp.
Andrew reels in a carp after a successful shot.
The event included about 30 participants fishing from boats and shorelines in teams of up to four people. Event organizer Andrew Mack said Carp Quest is designed both as a competition and an effort to help reduce the lake’s carp population. Mack said a single female carp can lay more than 1 million eggs. If half of the carp population in the lake is female, that can lead to rapid population growth.
“They’re overpopulating the lake,” Mack said. “One of the reasons the water is so green and the sediment comes up from the bottom is because there’s so many carp swimming around.”
Mack said nearly 150 carp were removed during last year’s event.
Cloudy weather conditions made bowfishing more difficult during this year’s event because bowfishers rely on visibility near the water’s surface.
“A lot of these carp are based on sight fishing, so it’s a little bit harder to see them when the clouds are out,” Mack said. “Obviously, the sun’s our best friend.”
Emily Baierl holds up one of the catches of the day.
Bowfishing has continued growing in popularity, with Lake Elsinore serving as a good location because fishers can bowfish year-round due to the area’s weather, according to Mack.
“Elsinore is different from a lot of other lakes,” he said. “For example, Big Bear, sometimes they have ice on the shore and you can’t bowfish because the carp go too deep and you’re not going to see them. Another example is Lake Isabella. It’s always windy up there.”
Even with overcast conditions, participants continued bringing carp into their boats throughout the morning.
Participant Jason Sage competed in the event alongside family members. He participated in the first Carp Quest last year and returned because of the atmosphere and community.
“Just the camaraderie between all the guys and girls that are out here shooting,” Sage said. “It’s just fun to get out and also help get the invasive species out of the lake.”
Sage said bowfishing offers a different experience than traditional fishing because participants actively track and shoot fish rather than waiting for bites.
“It’s a mix of hunting and fishing in one, so you kind of get to do a little bit of both,” Sage said.
Mack said the event is open to experienced bowfishers as well as beginners and families interested in learning the sport.
“We try to encourage the younger kids to get into it too,” Mack said. “It’s kind of a whole family thing.”
Participants competed for prizes, including the heaviest combined carp catch, biggest carp, and smallest carp. Organizers said they hope participation grows in future years as more people become interested in bowfishing.
