Electronics and equipment for your fishing

Choosing your fishing electronics by practice

A fishfinder is not a catalogue purchase: it depends on the fish you are targeting, the depth, the boat, and what you already have on board. Coastal lure fishing requires fine reading of structures at 5 to 40 m; offshore trolling demands high transmit power and range; freshwater predatory fishing relies on live sonar and GPS anchoring; kayak fishing imposes weight, battery life, and compactness. This page therefore classes equipment by use before classifying it by product family.

Fishfinders and combos: what really matters

Three criteria make the difference: screen size, readable in sunlight and from the helm; available sonar technology (CHIRP, down imaging, side imaging, live sonar); and mapping/GPS, which turn a fishfinder into a navigation tool. Transmit power and frequencies come next, especially beyond 50 m of depth. A "no-transducer" display is for those keeping their current transducer: verify compatibility before choosing this option.

Transducers and transducers: the heart of the system

The transducer determines image quality far more than the display. Transom-mount for simplicity and small boats, thru-hull for clean signal at speed, glue-on to avoid drilling, or integrated into the electric motor for forward-looking views. High frequencies provide detail; low frequencies carry farther; CHIRP transducers sweep a range of frequencies to better separate echoes. Airmar supplies most brands with high-power transducers.

Live sonar: seeing fish in real time

Garmin’s LiveScope, Lowrance and Simrad’s ActiveTarget 2, and Humminbird’s MEGA Live display in real time what is happening ahead or below the boat. Their value is highest in finesse fishing (predatory fish, vertical jigging, bass on rock) and more debatable when trolling. They require a compatible display and careful mounting, most often on the bow motor.

Electric motors and GPS anchoring

An electric fishing motor is not just for quiet movement: GPS-anchor models hold the boat on a spot, follow a depth contour, or track a route. Key criteria: thrust in pounds, shaft length, voltage (12, 24, or 36 V), freshwater or saltwater version, control (foot pedal, remote, display), and integrated transducer. Garmin Force and Lowrance Ghost are in stock; Minn Kota and MotorGuide are coming.

Power: lithium batteries, charging, and protection

An electric motor without the right battery disappoints. Dedicated lithium batteries in 12, 24, or 36 V deliver range and reduced weight; they require a matching charger, properly sized circuit breaker or fuse, correct cable gauge, and a battery cut-off switch. This is where the workshop adds the most value. Batteries over 100 Wh travel as dangerous goods.

Mapping

Detailed bathymetric charts (Navionics Platinum+, Garmin Vision+, C-MAP Reveal X) show the reliefs that concentrate fish, and personal recording features (Quickdraw, Genesis) let you log your own areas. Chart format depends on the display brand.

Installation and compatibility

We validate screen/transducer/motor compatibility from manufacturer documentation and check it before shipping when you tell us your gear. For installation, the Carnac workshop and partner installers serve the entire Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean.

Brands carried

Garmin, Lowrance, Simrad, Raymarine, Furuno, Airmar, C-MAP, Navionics, Rebelcell, Scanstrut, Blue Sea, Victron, ICOM, ePropulsion. Humminbird, Minn Kota, Cannon, and MotorGuide are being added to the line-up.