Most of the freshwater fish in my area are different shapes and colors. Obviously your panfish are quite small, bass are very distinctive and I have yet to see a cat while bowfishing. Gar down here are not worth taking way to small and if you see a bowfin I would recomend taking it just to remove them from your waters. Tilapia are a wide fish from dorsal fin to bottom unlike a bass. They tend to almost look redish in the water and have distinctive stripes on there side that run up and down not the length of their body. They are similar in shape to a panfish just alot larger. Tilapia also bolt when they see you, they are a naturally skittish fish. Bass and panfish will usually just hang out and do not tend to be scared but Tilapia will run as soon as they spot you. You have to be quick to kill them. They are a great challenge to bowfish for. Here is a picture of an average sized fish I killed with my son. If you have any other questions feel free to let me know. These are about all I bowfish for I know our areas are different but I am sure the fish act the same.