Garmin Fishfinders
Garmin fishfinders are instruments that allow you to locate fish underwater and can differentiate between debris and schools of fish. Fish-finder units come with an array of different features, including everything from advanced sonar detection to detailed chart plotting. These Garmin fishfinders that you mount on your boat are also available in a range of screen resolutions, allowing you to select a system with a higher resolution if you require more detailed imagery.
What are some features in a Garmin fishfinder?
Garmin fishfinders offer color displays that allow you to differentiate between small numbers of fish and areas with higher densities. Many of these systems are also equipped with full GPS navigational tools that provide you with the means of locating your position and maintaining your GPS location. Some Garmin models are waterproof, allowing the system to remain in good shape even when in turbulent waters. Many fishfinders are also outfitted with chart plotters, so you can readily mark and navigate to different locations, knowing where you're going and where you've been. Chartplotter systems tend to offer basic maps and charts that help you identify currents, tidal stations, and depth contours.
What types of Garmin fishfinders are available?
There are a wide variety of Garmin fishfinders that you should be aware of, especially when attempting to identify which models will fit on your boat. Many systems qualify as transducers and can be mounted onto your boat in several different ways, largely depending on the type of boat you have and how much space is available. Some systems like the Garmin Striker qualify as a combo of chart plotters and fishfinders, providing you with a bevy of features that can be used to bolster your fishfinding experience. These devices offer CHIRP technology that uses sonar.
What do the different transducer types indicate?
If you're searching for a smaller device that does not come with much wiring and can be carried with you when on the boat, Garmin also offers a wide range of portable and handheld systems. The type to select also depends on the type of fishing you expect to catch. If you're deep sea fishing, a Garmin fishfinder that also acts as a chartplotter may offer you the features you require. If you're mainly fishing in lakes and in shallow waters along the coast, a portable device might suit you well.
When searching for a fishfinder, you'll come across many different types of transducers. Understanding these types will allow you to make the right choice:
- High-frequency transducers: These offer more wave cycles every second and provide shorter wavelengths, allowing you to identify more details of the fish but at a shallow or moderate depth.
- Dual frequency transducers: These send and receive pulses on different frequencies to identify where the fish are and how many are out there.
- Low-frequency transducers: These offer lengthier waves at fewer waves per second, so you can see at deeper depths but with less detail. They are beneficial for deep ocean waters.
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