How_To_Choose_Castable_Fish_Finder

The use of fish finders was usually reserved to anglers on boats, since the only options available where the ones that required a transducer to be mounted on a hull. Nowadays, however, the technology has come far enough to allow shore anglers to benefit from this innovation as well. The best castable fish finders combine the effectiveness of a powerful sonar with small size and portability, so you can carry them with you wherever you go.

Peering under the surface to have a look at what is going on is a tremendous advantage for fishermen, and the best casting fish finder lets you do just that even if you’ve only set out with your rod and a couple of lures. In this article we have compiled reviews of the top rated casting fish finders that are available today, so you can choose the best of the best and head out for a successful hunt.

1

OUR TOP PICK

Deeper PRO

Deeper PRO


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Summary

A top of the line wifi fish finder, the Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar features an in-built GPS which allows you to create bathymetric maps from the shore. Then you can save these maps to the cloud and review them from wherever you want. Usable as an iOS or android fish finder this device can scan down to 260 feet.

The Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar can use scanning beams of two different widths, 55 degrees at 90kHz or 15 degrees at 290kHz, in case you need broader or more detailed scanning. With a finder like this, you can be ready for any kind of fishing you wish to carry out.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • In-built GPS
  • Can create bathymetric maps from shore
  • Two width scanning beams
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS

Casting range: 330 feet
Scanning depth range: 260 feet
Weight: 3.5 ounces

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2

EDITORS CHOICE

iBobber Wireless

iBobber Wireless


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Summary

Thanks to a battery that is built to last more than ten hours and a special fish identifier technology built into its sonar, the iBobber fish finder from ReelSonar stands out as one of the best castable fish finders on the market. The body features swivel connections that allow you to choose if you want to use it as a bobber or as a remote fish finder.

The iBobber connects to Android or iOS devices alike via bluetooth and its sonar can provide readings down to a depth of 135 feet. The cast fish finder is easy to locate on the water thanks to a LED beacon and can map the contours of the waterbed. Also available is GPS spot tagging, a trip log with all the details of your trip and optional social media sharing features.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Usable as a bobber or remote fish finder
  • Compatible with iOS and Android
  • Excellent battery life
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS

Bluetooth range: 100 feet
Scanning depth range: 135 feet
Weight: 0.16 ounces

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3

BEST VALUE

LUCKY

LUCKY


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Summary

Usable in a variety of fishing environments, the LUCKY fish finder is one of the most versatile options on the market. The setup consists of a sonar which you can cast or attach to your boat, coupled with an LCD display to hang around your neck. The sonar can be attached to a 25 feet cable or a floating device, depending on how you choose to use it.

A perfect tool for beginners thanks to its ease of use and inexpensive price, the LUCKY casting depth finder's detection cone is 45 degrees wide and the range can stretch from 3 to 328 feet. Five different sensitivity options are available to make the finder suitable for whichever situation you find yourself in. The battery supports 4 or 5 hours of continuous operation.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Very versatile with five different sensitivity options
  • Easy to use, perfect for beginners
  • Well contained price
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS

Sonar frequency: 200kHz
Scanning depth range: 3 to 328 feet
Weight: 1.1 pounds

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4

Joylog

Joylog


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Summary

Packed with a powerful sonar all the while staying light and portable, the Joylog bluetooth fish finder lets you explore the depths from 0.6 to 40 metres down. The device can turn itself on automatically when it enters the water and switch itself off again when it exits. Connection is assured to within 50 metres while the detection angle stretches to 30 degrees.

The Joylog fish finder can be conveniently charged through USB; just like your smartphone, and it will work for more than ten hours. Once you've cast it you'll be able to see the location of the fish as well as their size and details of the sea bottom. Just like the best casting fish finders, the Joylog is compatible with both Android and iOS systems.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Powerful sonar in lightweight package
  • Excellent connectivity
  • Automatic start up and shut down
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS

Sonar frequency: 125kHz
Scanning depth range: 0.6-40 metres
Weight: 0.51 pounds

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5

Deeper PRO Smart Sonar

Deeper PRO Smart Sonar


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Summary

The Deeper PRO Smart Sonar is the smaller brother of the Deeper PRO+ we have reviewed earlier, but it maintains almost all the features that make the model valuable and for a slightly cheaper price. The bank fish finder casts up to 330 feet and can scan as far down as 260 feet, operating with a dual beam sonar frequency.

This feature lets you decide how precise you want your scan to be, enabling you to choose between a narrower beam, 15 degrees at 290kHz, and a wider one, 55 degrees at 90kHz. Powerful features packed in a very portable size make the Deeper PRO one of the best castable fish finders you can, just like its bigger brother, but unfortunately for GPS you'll have to rely on your phone.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Dual sonar beam
  • Scans are backed up to the Cloud
  • Can see targets as small as 1.3cm
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS

Sonar frequency: 90 or 290 kHz
Scanning depth range: 260 feet
Weight: 3.5 ounces

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6

FishHunter

FishHunter


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Summary

The FishHunter bank fish finder stands out amid the best castable fish finders thanks to its five tri-frequency transducers. These enable you to scan the water at 381, 475 and 675 kHz providing you with detail and resolution the likes of which are very hard to find on a portable fish finder. Also possible is 3D mapping, another first for an item of this category.

Wi-fi connectivity is built-in and works seamlessly up to 150 feet while on the top of the finder you'll find a beacon dedicated to attracting fish during night-time. Compatible with both iOS and Android devices, the depth range of the FishHunter is 160 feet, while the fishing depth in icy waters is 100 feet.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Five transducers with three available frequencies
  • Only fish finder with 3D mapping
  • Very fast wifi connectivity
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS

Sonar frequency: 381, 475 or 675 kHz
Scanning depth range: 160 feet, 100 feet in icy water
Weight: 7.2 ounces

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7

Vexilar SonarPhone

Vexilar SonarPhone


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Summary

The Vexilar SonarPhone, as the name implies, is composed of a floating transducer that relays the information it collects to your phone. This simple and inexpensive setup is also equipped with underwater cameras, so it is also usable for snapping photos. Connectivity is assured up to around 65 yards.

The sonar cone is very wide, up to 300 degrees, delivering a bird's eye view of the sea floor. The Vexilar SonarPhone is easy to transport and set which makes it an excellent companion for shore anglers or those who venture out on kayaks or small boats. The only hiccup is a relatively short battery life, only around 5 hours, which means you have to measure its use carefully.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Simple and easy to use setup
  • Very wide sonar cone
  • Lightweight and perfect for small boats
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS

Sonar frequency: 200kHz
Scanning depth range: 240 feet
Weight: 14.1 ounces

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8

Deeper Start

Deeper Start


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Summary

Less experienced fishermen will find in the Deeper Start castable fish finder a product that is extremely easy to use and will let them focus more on the fishing that setting up the scanner. The device generates its own Wi-Fi and provides an excellent connection up to 165 feet. It is also very easy to charge via USB.

Battery life is a very respectable 6 hours and the sonar scans down to 165 feet with a 40 degree cone. Overall, the Deeper Start finder is an excellent beginners package that lets you get all the information you need about fish and underwater worlds without any fuss around the installation. Using your phone's GPS you can also mark and save hotspots with notes and comments.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Basic model that provides all the basic features
  • Excellent Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Quick to charge and long lasting battery
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS

Casting range: 165 feet
Scanning depth range: 165 feet
Weight: 2.3 ounces

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9

Lowrance FishHunter PRO

Lowrance FishHunter PRO


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Summary

Five powerful tri-frequency transducers deliver astounding details of fish and the sea floor thanks to the Lowrance FishHunter PRO fish finder. Easily controllable through your phone thanks to excellent Wi-Fi, the Lowrance FishHunter PRO features an integrated LED light which makes it easy to find and use both in daylight and at night-time, where it doubles as a very effective bait for fish.

The sonar frequencies available are 381, 475 or 675 kHz providing you with a vast choice of power and the Lowrance FishHunter also lets you create custom maps of your favourite spots. Multiple fishing views are also available to make your search smoother and more seamless, and the finder is tough enough to handle even temperatures as low as -30°C.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Features five tri-frequencies transducers
  • Integrated LED light
  • Allows you to create custom maps
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS

Casting range: 150 feet
Scanning depth range: 150 feet
Weight: 0.34 pounds

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10

Venterior

Venterior


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Summary

The Venterior fish finder features a castable sonar and a hand held receiver with a nice bright LCD screen and a very convenient neck strap. The wireless combination works smoothly and can scan waters from 2.6 to 118 feet deep, with a beam angle of 90 degrees. Connectivity is assured up to 131 feet.

For those wanting to avoid dedicating their cell phone uniquely as a screen for the finder, this item from Venterior may be one of the best casting fish finders around. Easy to use and accurate, it displays fish size and sea bottom details with a precision that is very close to that of models that are much more expensive.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Very good price for the features provided
  • Easy to read LCD screen on receiver
  • Uses regular AAA batteries
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS

Casting range: 131 feet
Scanning depth range: 2.6-118 feet
Sonar frequency: 125 kHz

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How To Choose A Castable Fish Finder – Buying Guide

How_To_Choose_Castable_Fish_Finder

GPS Capabilities

A GPS might not seem like a necessary feature for shore fish finders, but once you use one its usefulness will quickly become apparent. What it does is allow you to map the water you are fishing in so you can better plan your strategy. Another useful application is being able to mark a good fishing area you want to return to later, so you won’t have to waste time looking for it again.

Range

The range indication refers to how far away you can cast your fish finder and still be able to connect with it. Most models work well within the 130 feet range, which usually proves to be more than enough, but pay attention to the range if you think your fishing habits might call for more power. Also, Wi-Fi usually holds better than Bluetooth when long distances are involved.

Versatility

Castable fish finders are aimed mostly at shore anglers, but they can be used in a variety of other situations as well. Their small size and portability make them excellent companions for those fishing from a kayak. Some models are also designed to handle fishing on the ice, even if this usually reduces the depth at which they can scan.

Connectivity, Performance and Range

The two main systems used by wireless fish finders to transmit data are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Both methods have their advantages, as anyone who owns a smartphone will know, but as far as fish finders are concerned the main difference is in their effective range. In general, Wi-Fi finders tend to be able to connect up to longer distances, even stretching to 300 feet, while Bluetooth is reliable up to 130 feet on average.

Frequency and Depth

When it comes to sonar frequencies, the goal is to seek a balance between accuracy and depth. Higher frequencies will provide images that are more precise but will not be able to cover wide areas or penetrate very deep in the water. Lower frequencies can provide a reading of deeper waters but without the same precision. Some fish finders employ a combination of frequencies to provide you with the best average results, or let you choose which one you want depending on the situation.

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Sonar Method

The most basic sonar display method, one that all fish finders will provide, is the 2D view. This gives you a side-scrolling view of the sea floor, but without much information about distance. More advanced finders can generate bathymetric maps, which combine GPS data with depth measurements to fill in some of the information on depth that might be missing from a 2D scan. The best of the best is 3D mapping, that gives you the most complete set of data available, but this option is only available on the most advanced models.

Display

A good display is an integral part of a fish finder. It can be the display on your phone if you want to keep things light or the one on a receiver. In any case it needs to be bright enough to be seen in the midday sun and detailed enough to clearly display all the relevant information needed. Refresh rate and contrast are also important features that need to be there for you to get the most out of your finder.

Power And Frequency

In an age of smart devices, more and more fish finders are becoming easily chargeable via USB, just like you would do with a smartphone. This has considerably increased the ease of use of certain setups. If your fish finder does not yet have this capability, it is probably also easily fueled by a set of simple batteries. The battery life of a fish finder will depend on the frequency you use it at. The higher the frequencies and the faster the battery drain, so be sure to have a power bank or some extra batteries with you when you go out.

FAQs

Q: Why Do I Need A Fish Finder?

A: 

A fish finder will let you analyze the water in front of you to determine the position of the fish you are trying to catch as well as provide you with details about the underwater environment. This can give you a tremendous advantage in your hunt and enable you to choose the best suited strategy for the situation you find yourself in.

Q: What Is The Difference Between A Static And Castable Fish Finder?

A: 

A static fish finder is usually attached under the boat you are using and they send a signal thanks to a transducer which you can then look at on a screen. Castable fish finders, on the other hand, are smaller and more portable devices which can be brought with you wherever you go. They connect wirelessly to your phone or to a receiver so you can monitor the water around you.

Globo Surf Overview

As fishing becomes more and more technical, more and more products materialize on the shelves. In our castable fish finder reviews we have presented you with the best options on the market today, to guide you through your choice and ensure many successful outings.

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