A good fisherman needs to study the behavior of the fish he wants to catch. Generally, fishes from the same gene pool exhibit similar characteristics. So, if you want to catch a particular type of fish then, you can always judge the behavior and find something new about the fishes. But how do you study what’s happening underwater? A fishing camera, of course!
Fishing cameras will help you find the perfect fish underwater. They are easy to use and you don’t have to be an expert photographer for it. In this article, we are going to learn in detail, the depths of fishing cameras.
Editor’s Pick: Why Eyoyo Underwater Fishing Camera?
The Eyoyo Underwater fishing camera has an impressive battery life of 8 hours, the resolution of the display given in the monitor is really good as well. Further, the camera is portable and 12 infrared LEDs are available that will help you capture some great shots even when it’s dark. Due to these reasons, we chose the Eyoyo Underwater fishing camera. In addition, we also found the camera to be fairly easy to operate.
Best Underwater Fishing Camera
Eyoyo Portable Fishing Camera
- Comes with a seven inch LCD screen which is a TFT panel, the resolution of the screen is 800 x 480 pixels. A removable sun-visor is perfect for bright environments.
- An HD 1000TVL Camera is present that has the resolution of up to 1000TV lines which produces sharp images.
- There are 12 Infrared LEDs that will help you see the fishes even in the darkest of the environment.
- A carrying case is provided with the purchase, it is a waterproof suitcase of miniature size. The suitcase is portable and has a convenient weight
- The battery lasts for 8 hours when charged fully, it is a lithium battery
- We found the camera simple to operate and use
- It fits perfectly on the case
- The pricing is decent as well
- The camera doesn’t perform great in muddy or fast flowing rivers
Using the camera was really difficult when we went out on the river. On the flipside, it performed great on a still lake. The positives are definitely there. You get a simple camera that is easy to operate and a monitor that displays the actual content in great quality. The build of the camera is sturdy enough but we cannot say the same about the monitor here.
Aqua-Vu AV
- An IP67 Waterproof screen is present, the screen is LCD which has a full-colour resolution, the physical size of the screen is 7 inch and it also has a screen protector along with the RCA video output.
- There is an anti spook fish camera that can shoot in low light mode. An adjustable IR lighting and 50 feet of cable is also present in the build.
- There is a smart power management system that includes a 12V charger and a 7.2 amp hour battery which will last you a while.
- A custom storage bag system is also present that fits 5-gallon bucket
- A built-in view fin for down and side viewing is also available
- Great camera for the price
- Impressive design and increased visibility
- Doesn’t work well with Murky Water, really great for Clearwater though.
With a really great camera and monitor design, the Aqua-Vu AV is really a fishing camera to consider. The best thing about this camera is the price which is really affordable and the fact that it has a great Video Output. We find the clarity of the monitor really good. There’s an adjustable AR lighting in addition to the 50 feet cable, all of which makes this camera a must buy for any angler.
Moocor Portable
- An underwater camera that comes with an HD LCD monitor. It is ideal for sea fishing or ice fishing. The machine can help you monitor the fish and clearly see the hooks and the underwater topography
- There is an IP68 Underwater Camera which is 15 meters and it is waterproof. The camera resists cold and has an anti pressing cable. An HD1000 TV line is provided with the monitor
- The camera is sturdy enough, it can handle a 30 Kg pull and also, it comes with infrared LED nights.
- The image sensor chip present in the camera is a CMOS sensor with a 1/3.6 inch size and 440,000 pixels. In real life, this translates to a clear and colourful image.
- A multi-function LCD monitor is present that shoots high-resolution images, and has manual button controls for 3X zoom, battery status, power saving etc.
- The camera has many applications too, it can be used for all sorts of fishing such as boat fishing, ice fishing, kayak fishing etc.
- A lithium battery is used that provides a stand by of 8 hours.
- The camera comes with a year of warranty. It can be returned in 45 days and has a customer service of 24 hours.
- Infrared Rays help you see the fishes even in the darkest of waters which is very cool
- Great battery performance, easily lasted the whole day for us
- Could be a bit problematic for ice fishing
With a one year warranty, an impressive customer service department, great battery and infrared rays, the Moocor portable is one of the best cameras that you can get for fishing. It comes equipped with infrared rays that make it an easy sell. The flipside to the whole equation is that the camera can be a bit tricky to operate while you’re fishing on the ice. This small setback could be a deal breaker for many but if you can look past it, the Moocor portable makes a lot of sense. A definite sell.
Marcum Recon 5 Underwater Camera
- A 5-inch widescreen flat panel that consists of an impressive 16:9 aspect ratio for good viewing, the camera also has high-resolution LCD colours.
- The Display also has a battery status indicator to help you plan the day.
- The camera itself packs a CMOS sensor, there are LEDs which can work in Dark waters thanks to the Infrared lighting.
- The Camera has a field of view that spans 90 degrees.
- The camera also comes with a 50 feet cable which is perfect.
- There is a lithium battery with 6 hours of run time, the battery is a lithium one.
- The display can be adjusted as well, there are brightness settings on the camera and the sharpness itself has a good contrast ratio.
- The quality of the camera is pretty great
- A really small and lightweight camera kit, easily portability
- Controlling the camera might be a bit difficult for some
While the lightweight build and small form factor is very much welcomed, tough controls are something that really sways new anglers away from technology. Same is the case with Marcum Recon 5. It provides a lot of positives but misses out on this minor detail. You cannot really trade ease of use for anything as far as selling a product goes and this one right here fails to do it. Otherwise, it’s a pretty solid buy. If you’re already familiar with underwater fishing cameras, I urge you to go with this item.
Vexilar FS800
- An impressive black/white colour scheme makes for a really great design.
- The Monitor provided here is an LCD one that has a screen size of 7 inches, it has a 420TVL resolution.
- It is fish scout camera that comes with a CMOS sensor.
- The battery provided here is pretty efficient that can possibly run for 9 hours on a single charge.
- The FS800 is also shipped with 2 years of warranty making it perfect for people who want to get a camera that lasts.
- We found the camera to very well built, it will last 3-4 years easily
- The colour scheme is pretty attractive to the eyes
- We were very impressed with the 9-hour battery life
- The LCD panel isn’t really sharp, it needs more pixels
The problem that we have with this device is mainly on the monitor. While the 16:9 aspect ratio on a 7-inch panel should look pretty good on paper, it doesn’t translate to the real world. That is mainly because of the minimum scanlines present in the monitor. Besides the bad panel, there are not many cons here. Jumping to the advantages, the battery life is the one area that made an impression on us. The design is pretty aesthetic as well.
MAOTEWANG 50M
- A 7 Inch TFT display is present that comes with a sun-visor that lets you see in a bright environment.
- The camera can be operated underwater with ease it has a 700TVL HD video camera with 360 degrees of view.
- It is an OSD menu remote control camera that consists of 14 high power white LED lights.
- The battery here lasts up to 8 hours with ease, the device also comes with a battery indicator for showing you the battery status.
- It has the IP68 Waterproof certificate and the cables provided with the device can resist water, and pull. The cable length is of 50 meters.
- The camera is good for most waters, there are a lot of settings to tweak and try, it could be fun for some while some people may find it a bit odd.
- Not a good build quality.
The MAOTEWANG 50M’s build is the one grey area that needs a significant overhaul. While the water resistance build is decent and all, the actual quality of the materials involved is below sub par. On the flip side, we really liked the freedom that the camera provides you. There are a lot of settings to choose from so, you can get different angles. The 360 degree of view is another great thing about this camera. Finally, the display here is a TFT panel which is a bit better than the usual LCD panel.
Comparison Chart
| Name of the Product | Main Advantage | Main Disadvantage | Price |
| Eyoyo Portable | Easy to Operate and Use | Doesn’t work fine in Fast Flowing rivers | |
| Aqua-Vu AV | Design | Not Visible in Murky Water | |
| Moocor Portable | Value for money | Not meant for Ice fishing | |
| Marcum Recon 5 | Build Quality | Difficult to use | |
| Vexilar FS800 | Build Quality | Display | |
| MAOTEWANG 50M | Customization | Build Quality |
Why Should You Use An Underwater Fishing Camera?
Underwater fishing cameras have been used in the Commercial fishing industry for decades. The reason why they are so popular is that using the cameras allow you to get visual data of the fishes. Visual data is more intriguing and clearer than the sonar data. The cameras are also used to see if there is any obstacle underwater. Similarly, different anglers use these cameras to judge the behaviours of the fishes.
If you look at the history of the underwater fishing camera, you’ll find that these cameras used to very heavy, expensive and had limited capabilities. Later, the cameras became more usable and nowadays, underwater fishing cameras are used all over the world. From the 90s, smaller cameras came into popularity, such cameras had a smaller form factor. They came with simple options and using them was pretty easy as well. The cameras could be deployed with ease. And you didn’t need a huge power source. nowadays, the cameras have small batteries but they can work for 8-9 hours with ease.
How To Use An Underwater Fishing Camera?
Following is a step by step procedure of using an underwater fishing camera :
Step 1: Take the end of the lowering cable in your hands and make sure to apply a firm grip
Step 2: Submerge the actual camera under the surface of the water, create slack on the cable so that the camera can reach the depth that you want it to reach
Step 3: When the camera reaches the depth, settle it. You need to lock the camera now and you need to read the manufacturer’s guide, every camera has its own locking mechanism.
Step 4: Calibrate your monitor when the camera is set up and monitor the waters.
Step 5: If there is any obstruction or a fish is coming to attack the camera, either pull it up or go deep to hide the camera. The force from an obstruction can cause serious damage,
Step 6: When you’re done, remove the camera from the water and keep it safely in the kit along with the monitor.
Tips For Buying An Underwater Fishing Camera
There are a handful of things to consider while buying an underwater fishing camera. We will see some of these factors now:
Quality of the Whole Kit
There are two things here; Camera Quality and Monitor Quality, you could have the best camera sensor in the world and still get sub-par quality because the monitor isn’t what you thought it would be. Therefore, find a balance between the two.
Battery Life
Most cameras will work for 8 to 9 hours a day. That is normal, you can also go for a bit of small battery life if it doesn’t really matter to you.
Usability
One of the things that make a product great is how deep the learning curve is. Normally, your underwater fishing camera shouldn’t be that hard to learn. Some are too complex for people of older demography and it ends up being too much of a hassle for them.
Application
Some cameras don’t work fine while ice fishing, some don’t work in the ocean. So, you should get the one that is appropriate for the kind of fishing you want to perform.
Build and Price
Build quality obviously has a major role to play, if the build isn’t great you shouldn’t get the camera. One thing that is equally important is the warranty options. If you can find the one that has warranty options included then you should get it without any further thinking. The price really depends on your budget and the kinds of features that you’re getting.
Final Words
Well, that’s about it for the fishing cameras. While there are a lot of ways to choose the best one, the thing that you should be looking into is the build, quality and battery. These three things are what actually matters. So, if you want to get an underwater fishing camera, you can pick one from our list or you can just go with the item that we picked for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are fishing cameras really necessary?
Ans. The answer kind of depends on what you’re trying to accomplish with the cameras. It won’t really help you catch more fishes but it will provide a bit of entertainment to a boring fishing day. However, there are certain cases (like ice fishing) where fishing cameras might be a good idea.
Q. What does TVL Stand for?
Ans. TVL stands for Television Lines and it is used to denote the resolution. More TVL means a sharper image on the monitor.
Q. LCD display or TFT display?
Ans. Well, TFT panels are a bit better than the LCD panels in terms of picture quality so, TFT over LCD. If you can find a LED (or OLED) panel, then it’s even better. Sadly, they’re not available at reasonable price points.
Q. Do you extensive battery life on an Underwater fishing camera?
Ans. A definite YES. You do need good battery life on your underwater camera. A fishing session could last like 6-7 hours so, you need at least 7 hours of battery life and of course, the more the merry!