Fish Finder for Crabbing

[shtoong]

I've searched this topic on here and really have not found the answer I am looking for. Does anyone have suggestions for a fishfinder under 400.00 that will have good maps for the Chesapeake Bay, contour maps and some type of visual bottom structure capabilities. I have research them online and there are so many options it's a bit confusing. Right now I have a Lowerance LMS-522c.

[Logical1]

The more information you want in high detail and resolution the more you will pay. I work at FURUNO USA, we have units that give very detailed resolution and do discriminate bottom structures. But those enhanced features do come with a higher price tag. FURUNO actually has many tutorials and explanatory videos on YouTube. You can search by topic for what you are looking for or want explained.

[jack1747]

I love FURUNO! 

[Logical1]

I love FURUNO!  

Me Too! They have been very good to me. I was hired to build the GMDSS Consoles but I also program and modify other equipment including radars.

[shtoong]

Thanks for the info guys. I actually ended up talking to my brother who's a bass fisher. He won a Lowrance Elite fs 7 in a tournament and said he'd sell it to me for 400.00. I think it might work out for what I need.

[Harford Crabber]

I know very little about electronics except the basic stuff.  I bought a Lowrance Hook 2-7 about 5 years ago. The first one I got had no charts and no way to add a chip with charts. I returned it and bought one with a Navionics charts chip. The Navionics chip was an extra $100 if I remember right. I'm pretty sure your elite model is better than mine and the charts it comes with you'll probably be happy with.  If not you can always get a Navionics chip.

[Capt. Debbie]

You actually want a plotter.  I have had Lowrance, Furuno and Garmins for FF.  The Plotter goes to Garmins.  Most plotters have an add on option for FF w/ an add on transducer.  Plotters have an internal antenna to see the sky.  If you put it in a cabin you may have to add an external antenna.

Having crabbed primarily in NJ.  I have had crabbing vacations to Cobb island (Wicomico River)  in the western Chesapeake near the Potomac and well as Pamico Sound inside Cape Hatteras to crab too.  The Garmin bread crumbs left on your path is a great feature. Finding spots again.

Unlike fishing, the FF is just a fancy depth gauge and virtually useless for crabbing aside from water depth.

Chart updates are cool.  But if you crab the same area its far less critical except in reduced visibility.  You hit you own known spots and dock talk intell.

Price is driven by display.  Color Plotters cost more and bigger screens cost even more.

Hope this helps some?



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I've searched this topic on here and really have not found the answer I am looking for. Does anyone have suggestions for a fishfinder under 400.00 that will have good maps for the Chesapeake Bay, contour maps and some type of visual bottom structure capabilities. I have research them online and there are so many options it's a bit confusing. Right now I have a Lowerance LMS-522c.