Boost your catch with Garmin CHIRP sonar.
Do you want to catch more fish?
Well, first you have to find them. That’s why we suggest you consider a Garmin CHIRP fishfinder or fishfinder/chartplotter for your boat.
Basic Selection Criteria
When shopping for a fishfinder, we suggest you first decide if you want a dedicated fishfinder or a fishfinder/chartplotter combo. Fishfinder/chartplotter combos combine a graphic fishfinder display with gps mapping capability.
The second decision is how much you are willing to spend. In general, the cost of fishfinders increases with their screen size, screen resolution, type of display (button control, touch or multi-touch), their power (rated in watts RMS) and with other features, such as their mapping capability and the type of sonar (traditional CHIRP/ClearVü/SideVü CHIRP) they include.
CHIRP (Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse) Sonar
Compared to pre-CHIRP fixed frequency sonar, CHIRP sonar provides far better target separation and definition. Apart from “traditional” CHIRP, Garmin also offers ClearVü CHIRP and SideVü CHIRP. ClearVü CHIRP sonar displays what is below a boat with near photo-like clarity. SideVü shows you what is on either side of your boat—and is an excellent tool for spotting structure and fish, that you would otherwise not see with downward facing sonar. For a discussion of exactly how CHIRP works, see our West Advisor article What's CHIRP Sonar?
For Kayaks and Small Boats
If you fish from a kayak or small runabout and want an economical, entry-level dedicated fishfinder, consider Garmin’s STRIKER™ 4 Fishfinder with Dual Beam Transducer. This little gem boasts a 3.5” diagonal 480 x 320 diagonal display and a built-in GPS. While it does not include mapping capability, it does give you the ability to mark fishing hot spots so you can return to them time and time again. With 200W RMS of transmitting power and the included 77/200 kHz CHIRP transom-mount transducer, you get crisp, clear fish arches and a much higher level of target definition compared to pre-CHIRP fixed-frequency sonar.
Vivid colors maximize detail.
Moving up in price, another model to consider is the STRIKER Vivid 7cv Fishfinder with GT20-TM CHIRP Transducer. Significantly larger and more powerful than the STRIKER™ 4 (discussed above), it gives you the ability to modify the display’s color to maximize contrast and the clarity of fish and structure. The 800 x 480 screen coupled with CHIRP traditional and ClearVü scanning sonar reveal in stark relief what is below your boat. Other features include Quickdraw Contours for creating custom maps on the fly and if desired, sharing them with the Quickdraw community on the Garmin Connect™ app. Like the STRIKER 4 mentioned above, it also includes a built-in gps, so you can mark fishing hot spots and return to them later.
Precise Navigation
With a Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 94sv fishfinder/chartplotter combo not only will you be able to find more fish, but you also have the ability to navigate with ease with preloaded BlueChart® g3 US Coastal Charts. Like the STRIKER models mentioned above, it also includes Quickdraw Contours, which gives you the ability to create custom maps on the fly. 500W of transmitting power coupled with traditional, ClearVü and SideVü CHIRP delivers stunning views of fish and structure on the 400 x 800 sunlight-readable, color WVGA screen. Designed to accept a variety of CHIRP transducers to meet your fishing needs and type of boat.