10 Best Portable Fish Finders In 2023

While it might look pretty basic, the functionality of the Venterior VT-FF001 portable fish finder can easily match more expensive models. Combine this with a great price, and it becomes obvious why this model is so popular among anglers. Besides fish depth and location, the unit also displays accurate water depth and warns you of rocks and weed.

To provide a balance between range and coverage area, the unit uses a single 200kHz transducer with a 45-degree scan. The sonar is very rugged, so you can use it for any type of fishing. As for battery life, it usually ranges between 4 and 5 hours. However, if you plan to stay on the water for a longer time, you can also use your fish finder in energy-saving mode and have it last throughout the day.

The thing that separates the Hawkeye Fishtrax 1C from the rest is that it comes with a sonar that is perfect for trolling. Whether it’s still or on the move, the sensor picks up real-time information and displays it on the VirtuView HD color screen. In addition, the unit comes with FishArc and FishID options so you’ll know the exact type of fish you’re dealing with.

For better scanning results, the unit uses two beam angles (14° or 26°). The maximum depth it can cover is 240 feet and its algorithmic software makes sure that you don’t get any false results. Last but not least, it’s equipped with an audible alarm that will notify you every time the sensor finds fish.

If you’re a professional angler or wish to take your game to a higher level, the Humminbird Piranhamax 4 PT is the fish finder for you. Compared to all the other models on our list, this one comes with the most powerful dual-beam sonar technology that gives a very detailed representation of everything in the water. All the information is then displayed on its 4.3-inch color display so you won’t miss any details.

Perhaps the best feature of the Piranhamax 4 PT is its Fish ID+ function that identifies the species of fish in the beam. This can be very useful and save you time if you’re after a specific type of fish. Finally, it’s completely waterproof (IPX7) and comes with a powerful 7Ah battery that provides excellent runtime.

The Deeper PRO smart sonar is versatile, powerful, and offers a few unique fish finding options. Using a dual-beam Deeper sonar with an impressive 260ft depth range, this wireless fish finder can show you intricate detail of everything going on beneath you. In its essence, it’s very similar to the PRO+ version we've featured, with the only difference being the lack of GPS in this one.

Like all other sophisticated fish finders, this one also connects to your smartphone to display the data. It uses WiFi instead of Bluetooth to ensure a steadier link, and the app is available for both Android and iOS. The app itself gives you information about the location, fish size and depth, bottom contour, temperature, and much more.

Thanks to its unique LED light, the Lucky FF1108-1C portable fish finder actually attracts fish. The light is located on the bottom of the transducer and lures fish to come closer to you. Once the fish are near, the handheld device shows you all the info you need – their size, depth, water temperature, and the contour of the bottom.

When talking about performance, this unit focuses on wide coverage rather than depth and precision. Because of this, its sensor comes with a 90-degree beam angle and picks up everything that’s happening in the vicinity. On top of this, Lucky FF1108-1C has a battery life of up to 10 hours, and it’s easy to charge using the provided USB cable.

The Ricank portable fishfinder is certified to work in temperatures ranging from -4°F to 158°F, which makes it a very good option if you enjoy ice fishing. Besides tolerating harsh weather conditions, this great compact finder also does an excellent job of tracking fish and pointing you in the right direction.

Its sonar sensor picks up everything from 3 to 328 feet while the 5 sensitivity levels allow you to fine-tune it and prevent false signals. Besides casting the transducer, you can also easily attach it to the hull if you’re fishing from a boat. Unlike most other models, the Ricank fish finder uses disposable AAA batteries that give it a very decent battery life (up to 5 hours).

Whether you’re fishing from a boat, dock, or shore, the Lucky FF718LiC hand held fish finder is a fantastic little helper. It uses an extra-wide 90-degree beam angle to give you a clear and detailed image of everything that is happening under the surface. As a bonus, the transducer works equally well in both fresh and saltwater.

Even though it’s not the most powerful fish finder out there, the performance is more than satisfactory for recreational anglers. The floating transducer has 5 different sensitivity levels for detecting fish activity, and everything that the unit picks up is shown on a 2.8-inch color display. Finally, it weighs only 6.7 ounces so it will be easy to take anywhere with you.