FishHunter PRO Portable Fish Finder
The FishHunter PRO is a castable fish finder about the size of a tennis ball that connects to your smartphone. The amount of technology contained in this small unit is amazing, and the gee-whiz factor of having a live fish finder sonar image on your cell phone is even better.
You no longer need a boat to view the bottom and fish on a sonar screen. Just cast out the pocket-sized floating transducer, and you instantly have sonar images streamed to your cell phone.
The unit emits its own WIFI signal, which is stronger and more reliable than Bluetooth. The system does not require cellular service or an internet connection, which is a plus in remote areas where connectivity is likely less reliable.
The unit transmits water and water temperature in addition to the sonar image. Since it is castable, you can survey areas that may be inaccessible to boats. For example, you can cast the unit up against a dodgy shoreline, shallow areas too skinny to navigate, or areas where the surface vegetation makes access too troublesome.
The unit can output a raw fish view like traditional sonar fish finders. The FishHunter PRO also offers a more gadgety display called Fish ID, where the fish finder interprets the raw sonar data and displays it as bottom and fish icons with all the necessary location and depth data.
The FishHunter is also well suited for ice fishing and can withstand temperatures of -22F. It will work through the ice, giving you the depth of the bottom before you start drilling any holes. Once your access hole is open, the FishHunter will provide an accurate image of the bottom and let you know if you’ve found a promising spot.
The FishHunter can also stitch together Bathymetric maps by combining incoming data and marrying it with GPS telemetry. This will give you a detailed area map to interpret. You can save these maps for future visits to the same fishing spots.
The FishHunter by Lowrance retails for $109.00.
Smith Creek Rod Rack
If you’re like me, I like to keep my rods safe, secure, and protected from accidental damage. The Smith Creek rod rack storage system holds 7 rod and reel combinations safely inside your vehicle, up and out of the way from all the clutter. Safely away from objects that can damage your favorite rods and reels.
The storage system can be easily installed in the interior of your SUV or four-door truck. Because there are multiple ways to attach the system, there are many options depending on how you want to access your rods. You can also install the storage rack under your truck’s bed cover and off the truck bed. The strong yet flexible system provides good shock absorption even on rough roads.
The Smith Creek Rod Rack retails for $129.95.
Garmin Quatix 5 Marine Smartwatch
The Garmin Quatix 5 Marine Smartwatch was designed for boating and fishing. Based on Garmin’s Fenix series, this marine smartwatch provides the latest in connectivity with other Garmin marine products like chart plotters. The smartwatch can receive streamed data like speed, depth, temperature, and wind. The watch also connects with your boat’s autopilot, keeping you in control even when you are away from the helm. You can change your heading and steer the boat if necessary.
The built-in Fusion-Link app allows you to control the tunes on your boat’s sound system. The watch also has a full array of Garmin fitness monitoring and tracking, like a wrist-based heart monitor. In regular watch mode, the battery is reported to last up to two weeks, but if you’re using the watch’s GPS capabilities, the battery life can be as short as 24 hours.
Garmin Quatix 5 Marine Smartwatch retails for $599.99.
