The bowfin is from an ancient line of fishes. Long and slender, heavy scaled with an elongated dorsal fin and round tail with a dark spot. They have a large bony head with teeth for gripping prey. They can gulp air and diffuse oxygen via its swim bladder which like gar, can live in waters with low oxygen levels.
They live in many shallow, freshwater bodies and love lots of vegetation where they ambush a wide variety of prey items such as fish, frogs, snakes and baby birds.
Bowfin are usually caught on live bait and lures.