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Why have electronics become so present?
Today, on-board electronics have become widespread on sea-fishing boats. Between one and several screens, fishermen often equip themselves with combined sounder-GPS units.
The first reason to use such a handset is safety. Having a nautical chart, being able to find your bearings, marking areas: these are fundamental for an angler at sea.
Secondly, the depth sounder provides precise information on the depth in the fishing area, which helps to choose the right lure according to the depth of the seabed, its structure or the presence of fish
But the use of electronics doesn't stop there: modern handsets have evolved to allow very precise research of underwater structures and fishing zones. Thanks to GPS, the angler can record waypoints, return to spots and so on.
Sounder technologies used in sea fishing
Like all technology, fishfinders are constantly evolving, with new innovations and upgrades every year. Several types of echo sounder are now used by sea anglers, each offering specific functions according to need.
The most traditional function is the 2D sounder, with which many are familiar. This is undoubtedly the most widely used and accessible mode.
But there are other, more advanced options:
- Structure views, such as Side Imaging (or Structure Scan), allow you to explore the sides of the boat up to several tens of meters on each side, helping you to spot seagrass beds, rocks, wrecks or other underwater structures.
- Down Imaging (or Down Scan) provides a highly detailed image just below the boat. It helps to differentiate fish from structures, such as rocks or vegetation, thanks to a narrower beam that improves resolution.
- Live sounders are the latest development. This technology allows you to see what's happening underwater in a dynamic way, almost like a video. Unlike a conventional echo sounder, which displays instantaneous echoes, a live sounder sends out waves very quickly, updating the image several times a second.
In addition to these imaging technologies, some navigation software packages enable fishermen to create their own underwater bathymetric maps. Manufacturers such as Navionics offer high-definition maps, with very fine details of the seabed: for example, Navionics' Sonar Chart Shading offers a highly accurate representation of underwater relief.
Sonar efficiency for fishing
Electronics are used to locate potentially productive areas, as well as to detect fish under and around the boat, thanks to the various technologies mentioned above.
Precise knowledge of the nature of the bottom allows the angler to adapt his choice of lures. For example, the use of a tapered lure imitating a sandeel will be particularly relevant on a sandy bottom.
For vertical fishing, particularly on wrecks or marked relief, the sounder can follow the animation of the lure, provided it remains within the detection cone. This allows the angler to position his lure with great precision and maximize his chances of a hit.
Finally, the fishfinder's ability to display the position of fish in the water column allows you to adjust your fishing strategy in real time. Faced with fish lying flat on the bottom, a scratch fishing or in traction will be preferred, while fish hunting, lifted off the bottom, will encourage you to opt for a fly fishing between two waters.
The limits and risks of over-dependence
The use of electronics can lead to a form of dependency and make fishing more difficult in certain areas.
Below 5 meters, I consider the contribution of electronics to be less significant.
In these areas, I'm more interested in covering ground quickly. The depth sounder mainly gives me information on the depth and nature of the bottom, but rarely on the presence of fish.
Sea fishing is characterized by the vastness of the available space. Unlike freshwater anglers, who need to develop a fine sense of the water to locate spots, sea anglers rely more on electronics, especially offshore.
But when you're back near the coast, between the rocks or on the banks, reading the positions becomes all the more important. In this exercise, freshwater anglers often come out on top. Their natural sense of water enables them to quickly interpret the clues the sea offers.
