Fishfinders on boats of all sizes are definite pros. I used to have an Island Gypsy Cruiser, and being able to trace my way to my numbers 20 miles offshore (kindly shared by a local fisher) and put friends out on fish was much better than an empty cooler at the end of the day. It was the fish finder that accomplished this.

This is not to say that fish finders are only for spotting fish. Although they do, there is much more to them than just spotting a passing fish. It’s important to know which essential functions are just a bonus. This is especially important in the space-saving environment of a fishing kayak.

What are the essential features of a fish finder for a fishing kayak?

Let’s look at these features to see if they fit your fishing style, and then we pick 5 of the best options for kayak fishing.

The best fish finder for a fishing kayak will have just as many features as its larger brethren, but ideally in a smaller, less power-hungry, weather-resistant form. I prefer a horizontal shape to not interfere with casting and rod handling, but vertical shapes work well (and are often cheaper).

Some of these features are not essential, although they are nice to have, depending on the type of kayak fishing you do. GPS, for example, is a must-have with ocean fishing kayaks, but it becomes a little less critical if you’re fishing a small lake near your home.

Fishfinder for a fishing kayak: Considerations

• Your budget
• The body of water you want to use it on
• The type of fish you intend to find; different fish live and move to varying depths in the water.
• The depth and level of the fish’s habitat; so the sonar can reach the areas where the fish are moving.
• The type of transducer material; depends on the boat you’re using.
• The angle of the transducer beam.
• Water-resistance; to prevent splash damage

 

1. Garmin Striker 4hp Review with Transducer, GPS, and CHIRP

Garmin makes excellent devices, and this fish finder model is no exception. A clear screen that helps combat sun glare. It’s not as bright as the top-of-the-line models, but it’s an excellent compromise at this price point.

The GPS records hot spots so you can mark them and return to them later, a welcome feature on a fish finder that costs $160. You better hope the fish have a good tracking system too!

At 230 grams, it will probably weigh less than your reel, making it ideal for kayak fishing. The lightweight and small sizes are great when you’re waving rods around.

The CHIRP sonar is excellent to see on such an inexpensive model; it offers a much clearer and higher sonar output. It’s great for ice fishing and jigging, where you’re more static, but if you’re spinning, it’s good for spotting features and structures to throw lures at and over to try to attract bass and grouper.

Pros

• Reasonably priced for the features
• Good, clear screen
• Has GPS
• Water-resistant
• CHIRPS

Cons

• No Micro SD slot (for cards)
• No screen protection
• No NMEA connectivity.

 

 

2. HawkEye Fishtrax 1C Fish Finder Reviews

A very popular, if not as cool looking, fishfinder option for fishing kayaks. It’s small, lightweight, and has a floating transducer for exploring harder-to-reach swims. It includes fish alarms and measures up to about 240 feet.

This timeless model is easy to use and well-designed with oversized controls for those chilly mornings with gloves. We think it’s better suited for kayaks than larger boats because of the screen size and transducer features. It’s not CHIRP, though, although that may change in future updates.

The screen is bright and compares well to more expensive models, and not needing a marine battery is a definite pro for those worried about space and wires on a kayak. The batteries are supposed to last 30 hours. In reality, a spare set stashed in your bag somewhere is a good idea.

This is an excellent option for freshwater and a reasonable choice for saltwater. Going far offshore, you’ll be better off with the larger (and more expensive) options on this list. All three modes are useful, but you’ll probably use one more than the others.

• Fishfinder: the general model. It will be used most of the time.
• Data: The temperature of the depth in a larger form
• Ice flash: Mainly used for ice fishing and suspended fish.

This is undoubtedly a good deal with many features in a small, portable, inexpensive fish finder. There are two less expensive models, but the 1C is the better choice. The lack of a marine battery is a big problem, and if you don’t need that much power (trolling motor, etc.), you need to think about it. Just take spare batteries with you.

Pros

• Small form factor
• No marine batteries!
• Clear screen
• 3 modes
• Price
• Adjustable SONAR sensitivity
• Floating transducer option

Cons

• Questionable battery life
• Screen refresh can be slow
• Best suited for freshwater
• No maps/GPS
• Small screen

 

3. Venterior wireless handheld fish finder review.

Look what we have here! A wireless fish finder for under $100! The transducer can be thrown at a spot, and the information is transmitted back to the unit. This is a cool trick for the kayak fisher. However, it’s not just the attractive price; its portability and throws ability make it a device to consider for kayak fishing.

It has a single-beam transducer, which is less than ALL the others we talk about here, but it’s our budget offering, and it works well despite those limitations. It can locate fish from 2 to 120 feet, although a pool test suggests the refresh rate may not be that fast.

That depth is probably better suited to lake fishing than ocean fishing.

While it’s possible to use it for trolling, you’ll need to rig it, not float it. It’s better suited to static fishing and will spot moving fish. You won’t be able to tell the size of these fish unless you turn down the sensitivity, but the accuracy of some of these size detectors is still debatable.

While perfect, the screen suffers from sunlight, which could be a problem. However, remember that this is an $80 sonar unit, so if you want to try it, you’ll have to be prepared to get up close and personal from time to time!

Pros

• Portability
• Great price
• Uses AAA batteries
• All the essential functions

Cons

• Screen visibility
• Single-beam sonar
• Lack of features

 

4. Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP SI GPS G2 fishfinder

So let’s get to it, shall we? We’ve looked at the single, dual, and CHIRP units. So let’s go deep and look at a fish finder that’s small enough for a kayak but includes side-scan imaging to cut down on the time it takes to find the fish and give you more time on them. Although the learning curve, and price, are high!

Let’s not beat around the bush; you won’t have to with this unit. It’s expensive, almost half the price of a fishing kayak if you don’t have a Hobie. For that price, it’s packed with features that will help you find fish in almost any water.

It’s smaller than the 7- and 9-inch models, so it’s suitable for smaller boats. The resolution is 16-bit color and backlit so you can use it around the clock, day or night. It’s evident in most conditions, and the colors pop off the screen.

Side imaging: This is why it raises eyebrows. However, there are more and more options popping up as technology becomes more mainstream. Humminbird’s Helix 5 does an outstanding job. You can scan from 480 feet to 100 feet from the side of your boat and look for structure and fish in a much wider radius than other fish finders.

It also provides top-down imaging, for when you’ve spotted structure 100 yards away, pointed it out, and then come back for another pass. This allows you to focus on exactly what’s down there and decide if it’s worth putting a bit down. For kayak fishing, this is great because we’re not the fastest boats on the water.

It is also equipped with SwitchFire sonar, which allows anglers to search for individual objects such as fish or turn it around and spot larger structures. There’s also CHIRP and dual beam. The only thing missing is a drawer to paint a picture of what’s down there.

SmartStrike is an excellent feature that uses LakeMaster map data to help you locate fish year-round. It requires a GPS, some user input, and a little practice.

You may or may not know that side-scan imaging is best for shallow water to about 30 meters deep. So for coastal or inland waters, but not so valuable for deep water. It will work fine in 2D mode, but so will many cheaper models.

It is a great unit, and the price justifies what it can do. Whether you need all the features it can offer depends on what kayak fishing you do and where you do it. However, this unit takes the excuses out of fishing. If you have a bad day, it won’t be because you can’t find the fish!

Pros

• There’s so much of it!
• Lateral Imaging, Dual Beam Down Imaging, and SwitchFire
• CHIRP
• Depth of 1500 feet
• FIsh ID / Alarms
• GPS
• Maps and Micro SD
• Large display
• Waterproof IPX7
• 360° imaging

 

Cons

• No cover included
• 100ft limit for lateral imaging
• High price for a fishing kayak

 

5. Humminbird PIRANHAMAX 4 DI fish finder review

Humminbird’s PirahaMAX fish finders are intended for small boats on a budget. This model is an upgrade from the 197s and features a more extensive, high-resolution 4.3-inch screen.

This model is a step up from the 2D models. It has better returns and can show better detail. DI (down imaging) Although there are better sonars, it will allow you to tell the difference between bottom features. Up to 120 feet deep.

They are designed to be portable and come with a base, transducer in a carrying case, and a 12-volt rechargeable battery. This model does not come with a GPS.

Pros

• Good price
• Fish imaging at the lowest price
• Ideal for small boats
• Portable

Cons

• No GPS
• No CHIRP
• small screen
• Better options for $30 more

 

6. GARMIN STRIKER 4 INTEGRATED GPS FISH FINDER REVIEW

Finding fish is what we’re all about. While there is always a place for reading the skies, wind, and water, it becomes much easier with a fish finder. This Garmin model, for about $100, is a great introductory model. With the Striker 4 fish finder, you can now easily find fish in the ocean, even if you don’t have 50 years of experience!

The Garmin Stricker 4’s small form factor and power consumption make it a better fit than its larger, horizontal brethren. In an ideal world, it would be horizontal, but after a few trips to get used to it, it will serve you well, especially for finding structure in lakes and offshore.

Its transducer can be mounted on the hull, and because it’s relatively easy to use, you can spend more time fishing and less time fiddling with settings you probably won’t need.

It comes with a preloaded CHIRP sonar transducer rated at approximately 77/200 kHz and 200W RMS /1600W peak-to-peak transmit power. The transducer is very powerful and high quality, but you can upgrade it to a higher-performance transducer with a GT8 or GT15.

• Navigate Your Way with the Waypoint Map: It uses a waypoint map to view, navigate and mark locations such as docks, stumps, and brush piles.
• CHIRP sonar: CHIRP sonar sends multi-frequency signals into the water. It carries a continuous sweep of frequencies through the water and provides information and improved target separation to identify fish and structures better.
• Built-in speedometer: The Striker 4 fishfinder helps you see precisely how fast your boat moves. It ensures you know how fast you’re approaching your spot.
• Clearvü Scanning Sonar: The Striker 4 fish finder uses this sonar to show clearly defined structures and shoals beneath the boat.
• Great screen: The Striker 4 fishfinder features a 3.5-inch screen with a clear display. It works in sunlight and is splashproof, but you don’t want to submerge it soon.

ADVANTAGES:

• It’s simple to use and doesn’t require a genius.
• Sends multiple signals to ensure that images of objects in the water are up to date.
• Uses high-tech equipment for optimum performance
• It can be upgraded to ensure that different compatible add-ons can be used
• Separates targets to ensure that objects are easily differentiated from each other
• Perfect for all types of boats

Cons:

• Small display screen, although it also comes in a larger size
• Mounting devices may not be completely reliable
• The screen could be better anti-glare

 

Conclusion

A fish finder is a huge plus when kayak fishing. There is a learning curve, of course, but once you get the basics down and start spotting drop-offs, trees, and fish, you’re unlikely to look back.

The model you choose will depend on your budget and your type of fishing. We LOVE the Humminbird model, but it’s a high price for a kayak. If you have the money, go for it. If not, or if you’re reasonable, the Garmin Striker is a proven, tested, and reasonably priced version. It makes more sense for a fishing kayak, but we’re allowed to splurge every once in a while, right?

Whichever fish finder you choose for your kayak, you will have a lot more fun, and we wish you a full cooler and a tight line!