IMPORTANCE OF ELECTRONICS IN FISHING
In fishing, we will make two different groups in the electronics to be used, either to understand the bottom of the body of water where we fish and locate the fish in it, or to help us in emergency situations. We will mainly use transmitters and sounders/plotters.
1-Transmitter. In order to help us in aid and emergency, there are the VHF transmitters, with which we will be able to give an emergency warning in case some accident or breakdown happens to us personally as well as to the boat in which we are and they have to help us.cell phones there will be many places where they do not have coverage.
Then we have the electronic fishing aids, to reach the spot and identify the fish. From this group we will also differentiate 2 types:
1-Plotter with nautical chart to know where we are and how to get to our fishing spots, they use satellites to locate us and the cartography they use is usually purchased from the area where we are.
2-Fishing sonars. These are devices that use a transducer placed on the bottom of the boat or on the transom that emits waves towards the bottom of the sea, lake or marsh. This is a subject to talk about more extensively and where most fishermen find it more difficult to choose the equipment according to the fishing places they frequent.
We have conventional sonar equipment, which normally use 50-200 frequency transducers. The lower the frequency, the deeper the depth, so we will use 50 if we are drilling deeper and 200 if we are drilling shallower. It is necessary to consider that they will have more or less power according to the budget that we invest, oscillating normally between 300w and 1kw. It can be said that these are more conventional equipments and that they have been in the market for more years.
Then we have equipment with chirp technology, which is a newer system that better differentiates the fish and separates them from the bottom or discriminates when they approach objects or masses of other fish, helping us to better differentiate them.
They are more expensive than the first ones, and with these devices we can use a range of transducers with different frequencies that will make us go deeper (low) when we fish with electric equipment at great depth, or higher frequencies and that will open more the beam on the surface if we are looking for fish on the surface or in a range of water 40 meters below the boat as when we are looking for tuna. Then we will also have the medium chirp transducers, which will be of an intermediate frequency to the low and high, and that will go normally and according to the brand, between the lowest frequency and 85 khz the low chirp, from 85 to 140 khz the medium chirp and from 140 to 250 khz the high chirp.
Normally, high-end sonars usually have an integrated plotter, although many fishermen prefer to carry it separately.
If you have bought a new sonar and you find it difficult to understand and differentiate the fish or interpret the colors that are marked, it is a matter of using it day after day and learn by yourself also browsing the comments of some specialized forums, as the sonar equipment usually takes time to understand them even for more experienced fishermen, as each brand uses different software and parameters.
Don't forget to carry a transmitter and make sure it works properly, it is very important for your safety and the safety of your fishing companions.
I hope this short and summarized article has been helpful.
Good bow and good fishing!
Remember that it is our obligation to fish responsibly.
Don't leave rubbish in the fishing boat or throw it in the water.