By Sara Hall
Modern technology can make a notable difference when it comes to quality fish-finding electronic devices in commercial fishing.
Recent product releases highlight speed, wider and clearer views and advanced built-in capabilities.
Fishermen’s News reached out to some of the top manufacturers to find out about the latest and greatest devices on the market.
Humminbird
The latest innovation from Humminbird, a marine and fishing electronics company, is a brand-new product series focused on speed, accuracy and advanced mapping.
Humminbird spokesman Braeden Harris told Fishermen’s News that the Humminbird XPLORE is an “excellent” choice for commercial vessels and fishing guides who need “reliable, high-performance sonar.”
Company officials say the new fish-finder series “redefines on-the-water efficiency, pairing state-of-the-art technology with an intuitive touch-screen interface.” XPLORE features an easy-to-use interface with shortcut buttons for quick access to essential functions like Spot-Lock, navigation and advanced mapping tools.
Powered by a quad-core processor, it offers rapid startup, resets and updates, adapting to real-time conditions seamlessly, according to the company. It’s aimed at anglers who want to focus on fishing, not device management.
“Its integration with the One-Boat Network and the advanced processing power of the quad-core system ensures you’re getting fast, accurate data whether you’re navigating new waters or managing a busy guide service,” Harris said.
“With included LakeMaster and CoastMaster maps featuring one-foot contours, the XPLORE provides unparalleled precision, making it ideal for finding productive fishing spots or safely navigating complex waterways,” he said, adding that it’s designed to keep up with the demands of anglers, offering tools that help them work more efficiently and catch more.
XPLORE also syncs with Minn Kota trolling motors and anchors, giving anglers complete control via the console, app or foot pedal. It connects to OBN as well, for full boat control.
Each unit comes with a map card preloaded with detailed LakeMaster and CoastMaster charts covering 13,000 lakes, U.S. coastal waters and 170 million acres of water.
With SmartStrike predictive technology and a streamlined waypoint management system, anglers can easily track, plan and organize up to 10,000 waypoints. The advanced waypoint management allows fishermen to create a tailored system with customizable icons and color-coded waypoints.
Customizable side buttons, Cross Touch navigation and tactile knob controls ensure that “XPLORE delivers an unmatched user experience, allowing you to fish smarter, not harder,” the company said in a statement, adding that the dual control options provide precise menu scrolling and streamlined operation.
It also features a quad-core processor, fast start-up, intuitive shortcuts and touchscreen interface. The bright screens provide clear visibility and underwater detail in all conditions. It comes with a 9-, 10- or 12-inch display.
The XPLORE line is also compatible with MEGA Live Imaging, MEGA 360 Imaging and MEGA Side & Down Imaging, according to Humminbird.
Furuno
Marine electronics manufacturer Furuno, which has some of the longtime leading fish-finder products, recently unveiled a new line commercial fishermen may want to check out.
“The FCV1900 series is a well-established fish finder that has had a major impact in the fishing industry for years, offering broadband TruEcho CHIRP (Compressed High-Intensity Radar Pulse) frequencies and the ability to identify fish size and distribution,” Furuno spokesman Jeff Kauzlaric said.
In October, the company introduced its new CSH10 Omni Sonar, which provides real-time 360-degree target detection of fish, bait balls and structure, with a detection range of 900 meters (about half a mile).
“Furuno’s fish finders and sonars help you to know where the fish are and make educated decisions on whether it’s a viable target for you to position your net,” Kauzlaric said.
On Oct. 31, the company unveiled the state-of-the-art CSH10 360-degree full-circle Omni Scanning Sonar, designed with advanced features so commercial fishermen can efficiently target and track migrating species.
The CSH10 provides real-time detection, increased range and improved clarity. Company officials have called it “an essential tool for improving fishing efficiency and success.”
“With its rugged design, faster hoist speed and transducer enhancements, the CSH10 is built to handle the demands of professional fishing,” a company announcement reads. “Whether you’re monitoring the net shape, tracking fast-moving fish schools or navigating fishing grounds in challenging seas, the CSH10 will elevate your fishing operations.”
The device includes 85 kHz high-frequency sonar, delivering a sharpened beam width effective for detecting schools of fish near the surface and enhanced long-distance detection. It also can distinguish between shoals of fish and bottom-trawling fish.
The 360-degree scanning sonar emits ultrasonic waves in all directions and can rapidly reveal underwater conditions, providing a fast enough detection speed to capture the same school of fish multiple times, making it suitable for detecting fast-moving bonito and tuna.
Furuno’s unique three-axis stabilization technology ensures accurate detection with clear images, even in harsh conditions. It automatically adjusts the beam to the specified angle, correcting for a ship’s motion in heavy seas. Transmission and reception beams also can be stabilized independently. The CSH10 comes equipped with a motion sensor as standard supply.
CSH10 also comes with Target Lock, which automatically can track schools of fish and display the distance and depth from the boat, as well as the speed and direction of the school. It also has a position-tracking mode, allowing the user to track an area as a fixed position.
The Fish Quantity Mark feature displays the fish school information, showing the length, width, area and fish quantity index value of the school of fish. A tilt indicator has been added to the display screen too.
The smaller, redesigned control unit now includes Furuno’s intuitive RotoKey, tilt lever and trackball features. Optional wired or wireless remote-control capabilities allow fishermen to set range, tilt angle and sensitivity for up to four units (via Bluetooth) from a distance.
Kauzlaric also noted Furuno’s popular FCV1900B high-resolution TruEcho CHIRP fish finder as a top choice for commercial fishermen, saying that the FCV1900B transmission rate has been increased by up to 1.4 times (200m range) to ensure target separation and clarity.
Individual fish within schools, off reefs and near the sea floor can be identified, he said, and it allows four different frequencies to be displayed together in a compact way by connecting a network fish finder.
The improved depth resolution can display individual fish at 325 feet and deeper.
Raymarine
Raymarine, which offers high performance marine electronics, has said that its Axiom 2 Pro RVM models are a good match for commercial fishermen.
They have standard, built in sonar capabilities and are available with 9-, 12- or 16-inch displays and fit nicely onto a wide range of boat sizes, Raymarine spokesman James McGowan said.
Each Axiom 2 Pro RVM display has a built-in GPS and electronic chart plotter, plus a RealVision MAX sonar and a high-power CHIRP sonar. The displays can be operated as stand-alone devices or be networked together enabling the captain and crew to see and control the sonar and other sensors from multiple locations onboard, McGowan said.
They even offer wireless streaming of their video output over Wi-Fi to Apple or Android smartphones and tablets. Plus, standard HDMI wired video output lets the video be shared to onboard monitors or TVs.
The RealVision MAX sonar offers a high-frequency CHIRP fish finding sonar that operates across 170 to 230 kHz with 600 watts of power.
“It’s down-looking orientation is great for detecting many different species of fish in the water column below the boat,” McGowan noted.
The RealVision MAX system also offers CHIRP powered side-scan sonar (Raymarine calls it SideVision) as well as CHIRP powered high definition down-looking sonar (DownVision). The channels operate across 320 to 380 kHz, and offer a very detailed view of the bottom, fish-holding structures and schools of baitfish, as well as the larger gamefish.
“For fishermen or lobstermen placing traps, nets or other gear on the bottom, these channels are fantastic for visualizing this gear on the bottom,” McGowan said.
This system also offers a 3D mode which plots all the underwater targets in 3D space. The user can see the locations of detected fish, structures and the bottom contour. The image can be easily manipulated by touching or dragging a finger across the screen to view the scene from any angle.
Axiom 2 Pro RVM also has a built-in high-powered CHIRP sonar. It has outputs of up to 1,000 watts of power (1kW) and uses CHIRP broadband transducers from Airmar Technology. Depending on the transducer selected, this channel supports any two frequency bands (low, medium or high) and can detect fish as deep as 5,000 feet.
These channels are all down-looking, and the beam angles of each channel vary depending on the capabilities of the transducer selected, McGowan explained.
The channels can be tuned to specific frequencies, which can be helpful with targeting fish by species. The sonic energy emitted by the transducer can be tuned to match known frequencies that interact well with those fish species, enhancing their visibility on-screen.
The powerful all-in-one fish finder features a fast 6-core processor and an intuitive LightHouse operating system. They also have high-resolution sunlight viewable IPS displays with smart backlighting, an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts display brightness and HydroTough water repellent touch screen coating.
“For the small commercial fishing boat that needs something that is simple to install and all-inclusive, the Axiom 2 Pro RVM is a great option,” McGowan said.
It also works with other Raymarine and FLIR sensors and accessories.
Simrad (Navico Group)
The NSS evo3S is a top fish finder from a longtime leader in marine technology systems, Simrad (a Navico Group company), and offers all advanced fish-finding capabilities with integrated chart plotter and multifunction display features.
The Simrad NSS evo3S is designed for serious users who demand top-tier performance and an effortless user experience, Simrad spokesman Sean Chapman told Fishermen’s News. The advanced multi-function display delivers cutting-edge technology, crystal-clear views, seamless integration and is built for all-out speed and performance, Chapman noted.
He highlighted its exceptional display performance. It features hybrid controls: touchscreen, keypad and rotary-dial controls offer flexibility and reliability in all conditions. The high-definition SolarMAX IPS display ensures brilliant clarity and wide viewing angles, even in direct sunlight. An iMX 8 high-performance processor delivers superfast response times for seamless screen transitions.
“The Simrad NSS evo3S is a powerhouse for anglers, equipped with state-of-the-art sonar technology that turns your time on the water into a more productive and rewarding fishing experience,” Chapman said.
It includes built-in dual-channel 1kW CHIRP Echosounder. The fish-finding capabilities allow users to see deeper and distinguish targets more clearly.
It’s ideal for pinpointing fish-holding structures and schools, even in challenging environments, he explained. It also provides a wider range of coverage, allowing users to monitor multiple frequency ranges simultaneously, giving both high-detail coverage of shallow waters and deep-water insight.
The NSS evo3S system automatically adjusts sonar settings to optimize performance as conditions change, ensuring the clearest view of what lies beneath.
SideScan and DownScan Imaging can pinpoint fish and bottom contours providing precise detail for productive fishing, according to the company.
An optional add-on, StructureScan 3D, can give a three-dimensional view of the seafloor, helping fishermen visualize fish-holding structures. NSS evo3S integrates with Simrad’s suite of other products and a wide range of third-party products. It also features built-in Wi-Fi for easy software updates and screen mirroring to a smartphone or tablet via the Simrad app.
The high-performance processor ensures fast chart redraws, smooth operation and the power to run multiple applications simultaneously.
It comes in 9-, 12- and 16-inch screen options.
Simrad (Kongsberg)
From Kongsberg’s Simrad brand, the recently launched FS80 received positive attention at the Pacific Marine Expo in November, spokesman Henning Langlete said.
Simrad, a manufacturer of marine systems and fish-finding solutions, announced its FS80 trawl sonar on Nov. 20.
“The compact, modular and multifrequency solution is the market’s first sonar system to combine net monitoring, intake profiling and bottom detection in a single unit, making the very latest sonar technology accessible to fishery customers, big and small,” the announcement reads.
The FS80 trawl sonar takes performance to the “next level,” Kongsberg Discovery Vice President of Sales Mads Dahl said in the statement.
“This is the first time a truly integrated system has hit the market, with a wide range of functionality and advanced multifrequency performance, delivering an operational flexibility, and reliable results, that all customers can take advantage of—whatever the pelagic fish types, whatever the size of the trawl,” Dahl said.
“To enable more sustainable trawling, both environmentally and commercially, fishery businesses need precise targeting, control and monitoring abilities,” he added.
The FS80 builds on the company’s FS70 device, and upgrades performance and integration. The new solution also supports a broad range of different telemetry cables. It’s smaller, lighter, more robust and offers a variety of features, according to the company.
The FS80 includes a net profiler with multifrequency capabilities to accommodate different types of fisheries within a single sonar. In addition to the net-opening view provided by the single-beam sonar, up-sounder and down-sounder views are also included.
Two down sounders monitor the footrope, the sea bottom and fish entering the net. The up sounder monitors the headrope and fish escaping above the net.
This combination of sonar and sounders allows the operator to see the complete net opening, including individual fish targets in the vertical plane, the fish/school location, the bottom/net location and the net geometry, according to Simrad.
Pitch and roll sensors are integrated into the headrope unit to monitor the position and orientation of the FS80 in the water. Depth and temperature sensors monitor the environmental conditions and the physical position of the FS80 in the vertical water column.
In addition, a catch hydrophone within the Headrope Unit can communicate with Simrad PI catch sensors. The FS80 provides real-time information from the sonar and associated sensors to the bridge, maximizing fishing efficiency and reducing sea time.
Also, in late November, Kongsberg Discovery launched the FH80 HUB, a central platform upon which modular components, such as the FS80, can be based, according to Dahl. This allows customers to “pick and mix” Kongsberg technology for individual needs, the company said.
Sara Hall has 15 years of experience at several regional and national magazines, online news outlets, and daily and weekly newspapers, where coverage has included reporting on local harbor activities, marine-based news, and regional and state coastal agencies. Her work has included photography, writing, design and layout.