A fish harvesting head is disclosed having one or more barb arms protruding from barb receiving slots in a harvesting body and having an arm retraction system configured to withdraw the barb arms toward the harvesting body for removal of the fish harvesting head from a body. The arm retraction system is configured to allow the barb arms to move between a shooting barb position and a fish retaining barb position. The arm retraction system may also be activated to retain the barb arms against the harvesting body of the fish harvesting head in a fish harvesting head release position, which enables the fish harvesting head to be easily pulled back through a body, such as a fish, after it has been shot. The barb arms may be held in the fish harvesting head release position while all components, including a pierce tip, remain attached to the fish harvesting head.
