Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge  

Go Back   Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge > Kayak Fishing Forum - Message Board > General Kayak Fishing Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-16-2021, 10:18 AM   #1
sly
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 35
fish finder

Looking into buying a new fish finder for my PA. Not trying to spend too much on it so I was looking into 3 different models and wanted to see what you guys would recommend.

GARMIN–Striker Plus 4 Fishfinder with Dual-Beam CHIRP Transducer $139.99

LOWRANCE–HOOK² 4x Fishfinder with GPS and Bullet Skimmer Transducer $119.99

GARMIN–STRIKER™ 4 Fishfinder with Dual Beam Transducer $119.99

I had a Lowrance on the PA already but it died on my last trip. I only do ocean fishing as well.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.
sly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2021, 04:18 PM   #2
JohnMckroidJr
Senior Member
 
JohnMckroidJr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Posts: 1,848
Whichever one you choose, I highly recommend price matching at West Marine for the lowest price, and then buy their warranty. If anything goes wrong with it, bring it in to the store for an instant replacement. Much easier than dealing directly with mfg and paying to have it shipped out for repair and then waiting for weeks. If mfg offers a 1-year warranty and you buy a 1 yr warranty from West Marine, you will be covered for 2yrs.
JohnMckroidJr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2021, 07:57 PM   #3
dorado123
Senior Member
 
dorado123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Garden Grove,CA
Posts: 202
I haven't used Garman but had hook fish finder for 2yrs but didn't like it and don't wanna recommend it
dorado123 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2021, 08:43 PM   #4
ProfessorLongArms
Senior Member
 
ProfessorLongArms's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 400
I'd look to Mr Blevins' videos on the subject as well, but if you're hunting deep, the Hooks lack the frequencies to get the job done. I love my Garmin. Happily moved over from Lowrance. I have a striker 4 and an EchoMap. Echomap is about 2x as much, but has the ability to back up your waypoints and a slightly better interface. I would def go for the striker plus over the striker if you're choosing.
__________________
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars

https://www.youtube.com/user/MrSpencerallen

https://www.instagram.com/el_spencerino
ProfessorLongArms is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2021, 08:44 PM   #5
ProfessorLongArms
Senior Member
 
ProfessorLongArms's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 400
+1
I basically got a free garmin when my hook 5 died.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnMckroidJr View Post
Whichever one you choose, I highly recommend price matching at West Marine for the lowest price, and then buy their warranty. If anything goes wrong with it, bring it in to the store for an instant replacement. Much easier than dealing directly with mfg and paying to have it shipped out for repair and then waiting for weeks. If mfg offers a 1-year warranty and you buy a 1 yr warranty from West Marine, you will be covered for 2yrs.
__________________
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars

https://www.youtube.com/user/MrSpencerallen

https://www.instagram.com/el_spencerino
ProfessorLongArms is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2021, 07:20 AM   #6
SoCalEDC
Senior Member
 
SoCalEDC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Rancho Cucamonga
Posts: 608
If I had to choose from those three options it'd be the Garmin Plus.

It may have a more difficult time integrating with your PA than a Lowrance would tho.
__________________
IG: @blackflag_fishing
Youtube: Blackflag Fishing
2014 Ocean Kayak T13 SOLD
2020 Hobie Outback SOLD
2021 Stealth Fisha 500
#StealthTribe
SoCalEDC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2021, 02:21 PM   #7
sly
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 35
Can you explain what you mean by saying that it "may have a more difficult time integrating with the PA"
sly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2021, 05:52 PM   #8
FoodGeekFish
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 306
Quote:
Originally Posted by sly View Post
Can you explain what you mean by saying that it "may have a more difficult time integrating with the PA"
Hobies are built specifically to accommodate Lowrance FF systems. Especially the transducer mounting system. With a non-Lowrance FF, you may need to do some modifications to get a good, functional fit.
FoodGeekFish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2021, 04:40 AM   #9
sly
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by FoodGeekFish View Post
Hobies are built specifically to accommodate Lowrance FF systems. Especially the transducer mounting system. With a non-Lowrance FF, you may need to do some modifications to get a good, functional fit.
Got it, ok thanks. I might just have the gents at Pure Watersports set it up in that case.
sly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2021, 09:01 AM   #10
SoCalEDC
Senior Member
 
SoCalEDC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Rancho Cucamonga
Posts: 608
Quote:
Originally Posted by sly View Post
Can you explain what you mean by saying that it "may have a more difficult time integrating with the PA"
Depending on the model year your kayak was made it may have been one of the "Lowrance Ready" hulls. As FoodGeekFish mentioned, Hobie and Lowrance were in bed together for a few years (up until 2018) so if your kayak was made between about 2011 and 2018 its got a Lowrance Ready mount aka, its a pain in the ass to mount anything but a Lowrance transducer.

If it is a 2019 or later it has the guardian system instead which integrates easily with transducers from numerous manufacturers.
__________________
IG: @blackflag_fishing
Youtube: Blackflag Fishing
2014 Ocean Kayak T13 SOLD
2020 Hobie Outback SOLD
2021 Stealth Fisha 500
#StealthTribe
SoCalEDC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2021, 02:07 PM   #11
JohnMckroidJr
Senior Member
 
JohnMckroidJr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Posts: 1,848
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoCalEDC View Post
Depending on the model year your kayak was made it may have been one of the "Lowrance Ready" hulls. As FoodGeekFish mentioned, Hobie and Lowrance were in bed together for a few years (up until 2018) so if your kayak was made between about 2011 and 2018 its got a Lowrance Ready mount aka, its a pain in the ass to mount anything but a Lowrance transducer.

If it is a 2019 or later it has the guardian system instead which integrates easily with transducers from numerous manufacturers.
That's why I am selling my 2016 PA, I want the guardian transducer system. It won't affect the small transducer that Sly is putting in (Either system, drill a few holes and zip tie it in). For larger transducers, the Lowrance ready system requires mounting outside the plate, add a protective cover and the kayak is slowed down by the drag. There is much less drag with a retractable Guardian system.
JohnMckroidJr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2021, 04:22 PM   #12
Carlos Gonzalez
Senior Member
 
Carlos Gonzalez's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Ensenada, Mexico
Posts: 119
I would go for the hook reveal HDI 83/200 instead the hook 2, you would have the fish reveal, c-map, genesis live (social map)....
__________________
Carlos Gonzalez
Carlos Gonzalez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2021, 10:27 AM   #13
sly
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoCalEDC View Post
Depending on the model year your kayak was made it may have been one of the "Lowrance Ready" hulls. As FoodGeekFish mentioned, Hobie and Lowrance were in bed together for a few years (up until 2018) so if your kayak was made between about 2011 and 2018 its got a Lowrance Ready mount aka, its a pain in the ass to mount anything but a Lowrance transducer.

If it is a 2019 or later it has the guardian system instead which integrates easily with transducers from numerous manufacturers.
Thanks for that. Now I need to do some more thinking. The kayak is a 2014 that I bought used. I don't go out as much as I would like to so don't plan on buying a newer one yet. I was about to get the Garmin today but now ill sit back and see what other options are out there.
sly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2021, 10:29 AM   #14
sly
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlos Gonzalez View Post
I would go for the hook reveal HDI 83/200 instead the hook 2, you would have the fish reveal, c-map, genesis live (social map)....
It's a good option but I'm trying to stay under $200 for this one.
sly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2021, 10:30 AM   #15
SoCalEDC
Senior Member
 
SoCalEDC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Rancho Cucamonga
Posts: 608
Quote:
Originally Posted by sly View Post
It's a good option but I'm trying to stay under $200 for this one.
I am with Carlos here, dont spend 500 bucks to end up with a 300 dollar fish finder when its all said and done.

The Garmin is the better unit for what you want if you are strictly comparing 200 dollar fish finders in a vacuum.
__________________
IG: @blackflag_fishing
Youtube: Blackflag Fishing
2014 Ocean Kayak T13 SOLD
2020 Hobie Outback SOLD
2021 Stealth Fisha 500
#StealthTribe
SoCalEDC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2021, 01:14 PM   #16
sly
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoCalEDC View Post
I am with Carlos here, dont spend 500 bucks to end up with a 300 dollar fish finder when its all said and done.

The Garmin is the better unit for what you want if you are strictly comparing 200 dollar fish finders in a vacuum.
I will take the Hook Reveal into a consideration if its really worth the price. I talked to Westmarine yesterday and it would be about 420 after taxes with the extended warranty.
sly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2021, 04:40 PM   #17
JohnMckroidJr
Senior Member
 
JohnMckroidJr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Posts: 1,848
Quote:
Originally Posted by sly View Post
I will take the Hook Reveal into a consideration if its really worth the price. I talked to Westmarine yesterday and it would be about 420 after taxes with the extended warranty.
Find the cheapest local price and have them price match it to hopefully knock a few more bucks off the total.
JohnMckroidJr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2021, 09:49 AM   #18
sly
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnMckroidJr View Post
Find the cheapest local price and have them price match it to hopefully knock a few more bucks off the total.
Will do. Thank you all for the advice.
sly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2021, 07:25 AM   #19
Revoguys
Member
 
Revoguys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: San Diego
Posts: 60
Garmin all day! I made the mistake of buying a lowrance to try it out cause the kayak fishing world here love lowrance, worst decision I made! Garmin man, don’t make the same mistake as me! Fish on!
Revoguys is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2021, 12:36 PM   #20
sly
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Revoguys View Post
Garmin all day! I made the mistake of buying a lowrance to try it out cause the kayak fishing world here love lowrance, worst decision I made! Garmin man, don’t make the same mistake as me! Fish on!
Thanks, I'm still debating what to get. I hear the comments about the Garmin and would go with that if it wasn't for the difficulty having it mounted on the older PA.

The Lowrance that Carlos mentioned is pricier but might be worth it if it wont require any extra work to the kayak. I don't want to put any unnecessary holes in the thing anyways.
sly is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:17 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
© 2002 Big Water's Edge. All rights reserved.