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Want to skip the long reading? Here is our crossbow fishing kit 2020 winner:
If I could choose just one crossbow fishing kit right now, I would get Parker Stingray Open Sight kit. This all-in-one kit provides all the necessary features you will need.
Everything from a high-quality reel and mount to 25 yards of 200-pound line, crossbow fishing arrow and lots of other accessories. The combination of the price and quality makes it the best crossbow fishing kit that I tried in 2020.
Crossbow fishing is becoming vastly popular these days. Picking the right one out of so many crossbow fishing kits can often make a difference between a catch and a miss. If you love fishing and shooting a crossbow seems like a fun activity for you.
Crossbow fishing might be the best fun you had in a long time. I have a blast every time I go fishing with it.
I wanted to help you assemble or find the best one from crossbow fishing kits we tested. Once you reel in a couple of first shots, I’m sure you’re going to appreciate it.
If you happen to already have a crossbow, then you are already one step closer to crossbow fishing. In order to get the best kit possible, you will need:
- a good bowfishing reel,
- a crossbow mount,
- and bowfishing arrows, designed to easier penetrate water.
Best crossbow fishing kit for 2020
With the sport still on the rise, a crossbow fishing kit can be hard to find if you don’t know where to look. I will show some great pieces of equipment that will contribute to a good crossbow fishing kit. If you are a beginner, I would advise you to get a complete crossbow fishing kit if you can.
Some people even go for DIY solutions and attach a classic fishing reel to a crossbow. However, bowfishing requires a much thicker, heavier line so proper bowfishing reel will make a huge difference with your bowfishing kit.
In my reviews below, you will be able to find both individual items for the best crossbow fishing kit and the complete kit too.
5. AMS M109 Sleek-X Machined Crossbow Fishing Mount
Imagine how silly would you feel if you bought a crossbow fishing reel and a crossbow but then realized you also need a mount to connect the two.
Actually, this happens more often than you would think, especially with the uninformed beginners.
The safest bet would be to get a universal mount like the AMS M109 Sleek-X model. This crossbow fishing mount fits the most popular models and is compatible with any AMS crossbow fishing reel on the market.
This 3-piece mounting system by AMS will suit you perfectly, whether you are left or right-handed. It weighs 3.2 ounces and its dimensions are 14.8” x 5.2” x 22”.
This is just what you need if you already have a crossbow and a reel and want to start shooting as soon as possible.
Pros
- Universal for both hands
- Fits with all AMS reels
- Simple and sturdy design
Cons
- Doesn’t fit all crossbows
4. AMS Bowfishing 610 Retriever – Crossbow Fishing Kit Reel
Even though this legendary retriever by AMS is intended for bowfishig, with a good mount it will make a fantastic addition to your crossbow fishing kit. It comes with a neat telescopic clamp for easier adjustment and a built in crossbow fishing arrow holder.
The Retriever 610 is a fast and simple to use a model that provides zero drag, enabling much deeper shots. It offers great line control and a quick reel, without the need to release the bail or press the button before shooting.
This reel features an extended handle that provides more torque and allows 27 inches of line retrieval per its revolution.
Its UV rated, the unbreakable bottle holds 25 yards of high quality 200 pounds orange Dacron line and it comes with AMS trigger guard preventing the line to catch on the trigger.
This amazing reel will take you a couple of minutes to learn and it will give you tons of fun with your kit.
Pros
- Affordable
- Simple to use
- 35 years of reputation
- Great for all
Cons
- Not suitable for professionals
3. AMS Tournament Retriever Pro Crossbow Fishing Reel
Next on the list is another amazing piece of crossbow fishing equipment by AMS. Originally a bowfishing reel, Tournament Retriever Pro is one of the best professional reels that you can get for your crossbow.
This Tournament series model has an improved, extremely quick “4.3 to 1” gear ratio, as well as a long handle for more torque and leverage. This crossbow fishing reel also comes with an unbreakable bottle with 25 yards of “Hi-Vis” yellow Dacron line.
The reel comes with the instruction manual and mounting hardware, so you won’t waste much time assembling this piece of crossbow fishing equipment.
Its lightning speed makes it one of the top choices among professional crossbow fishermen, it even has a 4.9-star rating on Amazon to prove this.
AMS is a company that’s been making great fishing equipment for 35 years and this reel is one of their best products.
Pros
- 4.9 rating on Amazon
- Professional item
- Extended handle
- Lightning fast
Cons
- Should have an arrow rest
2. AMS Right-Hand Crossbow Fishing Kit
This crossbow fishing kit may be the best option for you if you already own a crossbow. Coming from a company that makes awesome crossbow fishing equipment, you can be sure this kit will not let you down.
AMS crossbow kit includes Sleek-X crossbow mount, 610 Retriever Pro with 25” yards of 200-pound line and three AX 503 crossbow bolts with Chaos points. You also get an AMS bowfishing DVD with tons of exciting crossbow fishing action.
When it comes to the mount and the reel, you could already how good they are in the previous reviews. With three extra crossbow bolts included, the price of this kit is a steal if you already have a crossbow at disposal.
As with all of their other products, AMS offers you free shipping for this 3-in-1 kit too.
Pros
- High-quality items
- Extra DVD
- Affordable price
- Suitable for most crossbows
Cons
- Mount a bit too flexible
1. Parker Stingray open sight crossbow fishing kit
Now let’s imagine that you are a beginner that doesn’t have any pieces for a crossbow fishing kit. You just want to get a good and reliable kit and start shooting fish as soon as possible.
In this case, Parker Stingray OPEN SIGHT has to be the #1 choice for your crossbow fishing needs.
This all-in-one kit includes a Parker StingRay Crossbow with open sight, AMS Bowfishing Reel, 25 yards of 200 pounds braided Dacron line and 1 bowfishing arrow with a Muzzy Gator Getter point.
It also features some neat accessories like mounting hardware, 2 AMS safety slide kits. By getting this kit you will all set up for your next crossbow fishing adventure. The StingRay crossbow has an adjustable limb weight range from 100 to 125 pounds.
It features a 10.5” power stroke with Auto-engage safety and anti dry-fire system. The crossbow is 23” wide from axle to axle and it weighs 7 ½ pounds.
The price for this kit is great when you consider how much all the individual pieces would cost, especially when you have in mind how great every piece of equipment is.
I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone that wants to enjoy this exciting and growing sport.
Pros
- All-in-one package
- High-quality crossbow
- A lot of accessories
- Great price
Cons
- Right-hand only reel
What Crossbows Can You Use for Crossbow Fishing
In general, any decent crossbow will do if you have proper crossbow fishing equipment at hand. Crossbows are usually much slower than bows. However, they compensate this with their shooting power, allowing you to go for bigger prey.
This also depends on a lot on your equipment. A special crossbow fishing bolt attaches to a strong line and allows you to catch big fish at close range.
The rule of the thumb is, the stronger the crossbow, the bigger the fish. However, the rest of the kit plays a huge part and the best crossbow fishing kit will help you catch fish as big as rays or sharks.
A crossbow fishing kit can be a source of fun, food, and income. So it’s important that you are satisfied with your acquisition.
Take my advice and check carefully when buying one, sometimes it’s even better to add an extra dollar to get everything you could ever need.
Feel free to reread my reviews any time you need them. I’m sure that you will choose the best crossbow fishing kit for yourself.
Matt says
Are there left-handed reels for crossbows?
Editorial team says
Hi Matt. Yes, most AMS reel models have the left-handed option too.