Well not anymore.  Introducing aerial bowfishing, a mix between crossbow hunting and carp fishing that will put a smile on any outdoorsman’s face, including those of Tyler Burke, Doug Burke and Bryant McCartney.  The end catch may not be a 450-pound gator or a 64-pound common carp, but that doesn’t seem to take the fun away from their day on the water.

Before all you tree-huggers begin to flail your arms around in madness screaming “how can they do that to nature’s defenseless creatures,” you should probably know that what they are hunting/fishing for is Bighead carp, a fish that poses a huge threat to the ecosystems of U.S. waters.  They also pose a threat to humans as they leap high out of the water when boat propellers pass by, sometimes hitting those in the boat.  It may sound funny, but not for one woman who suffered a broken jaw from a flying bighead carp.

Tyler, Doug and Bryant took to the lake to demonstrate their aerial bowfishing skills and caught an impressive 80 bigheads.  So how do they do it?  Simple.  As the boat propels through the water, they wait for the carp to jump into the air.  When they do, the men aim and fire an arrow, which is attached to a line, through the fish’s body, and there you have it.  A fish on a stick.

Hat Tip – [Field & Stream]

Today the US Coast Guard has found Nich Schuyler hanging on to the overturned fishing boat,

“Survivor Nick Schuyler, a former University of South Florida player, told rescuers that the 21-foot boat was anchored when it flipped Saturday evening in rough seas and that the others got separated from the boat, Capt. Timothy M. Close said. Since then, Schuyler, who was wearing a life vest, had been hanging onto the boat found by a Coast Guard cutter 35 miles off Clearwater.”

Nich Schuyler was consious when resuced and flown by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital.

Schuyler’s mother, Marsha Schuyler, said her son told her that he survived by thinking about how he didn’t want her to go to his funeral.

The family’s joy at him being found alive was tempered by the search for his friends.

“We still have three men missing, and we’re not going to talk too much until we find these guys,” said his father, Stuart Schuyler. “We’re all praying for them. These guys are all very close friends.”

Close said the Coast Guard would search for the men for “quite a while.”

After rescuing Nich Schuyler he told authorities during his rescue that all of the boaters were alive and together at about 2 a.m. Monday, but somehow got separated.

We pray that the other 3 men are still alive and can be rescued.

Coast Guard Finds Missing Boat, One Survivor (Update) – [Deadspin]

Schuyler found clinging to boat – [ESPN]

Overturned Boat, 1 Survivor Found in Search for NFL Players – [FoxNews]