9 Best Fish Finders For Boaters & Anglers [2023]12 min read

Finding a good fish finder isn’t as difficult as it seems. As soon as you decide what size you want, how detailed you want the display screen to be, and how vital a GPS feature is, you’ll be close to finding the best one for your needs.

The Best Fish Finders list provides 9 categories for choosing based on price, display screen, GPS feature, and advanced features for 2023.

These finders vary from fundamental ones to highly advanced ones with all of the bells and whistles. So it’s up to you to decide what you want to get out of yours.

1. Humminbird Piranhamax: Great for People on a Budget

SPECIFICATIONS

• List Price: $199.99 (2023 list price)
• Type: Mountable
• Display Type: Color TFT
• Display Diagonal Size: 4.3 in.
• Depth: 600 ft. (183m)
• GPS: No
• Sonar: Dual Beam
• Transducer: 2D
• Dimensions LxWxH: 6.8 x 3.6 x 3.9 in.
• Map Type: North America

Pros

• Budget friendly
• Large coverage
• Fish ID plus shows size and depth of fish
• Fish alerts by fish size

CONS

• No GPS or charts
• No SideScan or DownScan, just 2D transducer

CONCLUSION

Buying this finder won’t break the bank, but don’t let the low price fool you.

It has a 4.3-inch diagonal screen, a dual sonar, and optimal target separation that allows for precise imaging. Its screen is very detailed and offers a coverage area of 28 x 16 while using less than 10 decibels of frequency.

The screen also does an excellent job of showing you changes in the structure of the ground below you, making it easier to find your fish.

While it doesn’t have a lot of the super-advanced features that many other fish finders have, it still has enough to do its job well, so it should be a huge benefit the next time you get out on the water.

2. Lowrance Hook Reveal 7-Inch Fish Finder: Best Screen

SPECIFICATIONS

• List Price: $609 (2023 list price, varies with screen size and transducer option)
• Type: Mountable
• Display Type: Color High-resolution, SolarMAX
• Display Diagonal Size: 7 in.
• Depth: 3,000 feet sonar low range, 1,000 feet sonar mid-range, 300 feet DownScan
• GPS: Full Chartplotter and basic GPS navigation options
• Sonar: CHIRP wide-angle, SideScan, and DownScan imaging
• Transducer: SplitShot
• Dimensions LxWxH: 10.1 x 8.4 x 7.75 in.
• Map Type: C-Map US Inland mapping or C-MAP US Coastal mapping

PROS

• Great GPS for navigation
• Easy to track route to return back
• Works straight out of the box

CONS

• No cover included
• Bumps can sometimes cause display issues that require reset or reboot

CONCLUSION

If you’re looking for a fish finder with a great screen that is clear, colorful, and very detailed, this is it.

The display is a full seven inches, and you can easily see both the location of the fish and even the slightest changes in the structure. It has a split-shot transducer high chirp sonar technology, and down imaging. It offers full chart plots and simple GPS plots.

In practical terms, this finder provides you with excellent imagery that pinpoints precise fish locations. Additionally, it gives you superior quality and contrast. And access to detailed maps of more than 3,000 lakes. This Lowrance finder is convenient and high-tech, making it super simple to find the fish you need to locate.

3. Lucky Handheld Fish Finder: Best Portable Finder

SPECIFICATIONS

• List Price: $85 (2023 list price)
• Type: Handheld, Bobber
• Display Type: Color TFT
• Display Diagonal Size: 2.9 in.
• Depth: 328 ft. (100 m) 
• GPS: No
• Sonar: Single Beam (45 degrees)
• Transducer: Wired Bobber
• Dimensions LxWxH: 5.31 x 1.38 x 2.76 In.
• Map Type: None

PROS

• Fish location and depth
• Fish size and water temperature
• Waterproof
• 5-6 hour battery life
• Optional transducer arm bracket for kayaks

CONS

• Fish and depth accuracy issues
• Durability and water absorption problems
• Loosens easily and falls off kayaks

CONCLUSION

If you’re looking for a fish finder that is compact and easy to carry with you wherever you go but that still provides you with a great screen and accurate information, this is it.

It comes with a 26-foot cable for easy maneuvering and has five different sensitivity modes that allow you to find fish with little effort on your part. The 2-inch display isn’t the biggest in the world, but it’s clear enough to give you the details you need and makes those details easy to see.

This finder is easy to operate and affordable and provides up to five hours of battery life. Best of all, it comes with everything that you need to start using and enjoying it right away.

4. Garmin Striker Plus 4: #1 Choice for Fish Finders

SPECIFICATIONS

• List Price: $159.99 (2023 list price)
• Type: Mountable
• Display Type: QSVGA
• Display Diagonal Size: 4.3 in.
• Depth: 1,600 ft freshwater*, 750 ft saltwater*
• GPS: Yes
• Sonar: CHIRP
• Transducer: Dual-Beam
• Dimensions LxWxH: 6.9 x 1.8 x 3.9 in.
• Map Type: No built-in maps

PROS

• Easy to install
• Long battery life
• Easy to ready in direct sunlight

CONS

• Doesn’t display fish and bottom while traveling over 10 knots
• No built-in maps

CONCLUSION

This Garmin device is the number one choice among people looking at fish finders.

Some of its features include a 4.3-inch screen, a super-sensitive GPS function that provides phenomenal accuracy. Additionally, there is the ability to take note of the places you’ve been so you can go back to them. Enjoy the display that is bright and super easy to read.

This finder will create maps for you very quickly and even mounts nicely on the boat, making it a finder that is convenient and one you’ll use regardless of the type of fish for which you’re looking. With a name such as Garmin, you know you can trust this fish finder to work right and provide you with years of reliable use.

5. Raymarine Axiom 7 DV with Built-In GPS: Great 3D Fish Finder

SPECIFICATIONS

• List Price: $760.99 (2023 list price, varies with screen size and transducer option)
• Type: Mountable Console
• Display Type: High Definition
• Display Diagonal Size: 7 in.
• Depth: 900 ft for CHIRP, 600 ft for DownVision, and 300ft for SideVision and RealVision 3D
• GPS: Yes
• Sonar: CHIRP DownVision
• Transducer: 3D
• Dimensions LxWxH: 7.92 x 3.00 x 5.24 in
• Map Type: Navionics+ charts with coastal USA and Canada, 20,000 ponds, lakes, and rivers

PROS

• RealVision 3D
• Touchscreen
• Wi-Fi and cabling 

CONS

• RealVision and SideVision are limited to 50 ft
• For boats only

CONCLUSION

The Raymarine Axion 7 finder has both a built-in GPS and a great 3D screen that makes finding the perfect fish much easier to do. Its life-like clarity is one thing that makes it such a popular device, and the large 7-inch screen makes it super easy to see everything going on in the water.

With this finder, you get access to more than 20,000 different lakes throughout the United States and Canada, making it convenient and straightforward to know what fish to expect even before you get to your fishing spot.

Even better, the device comes with Wi-Fi capability that allows you to operate the finder through your smartphone, making this a very convenient device to own.

6. Humminbird SOLIX 10 Chirp MEGA SI+ G3 Fish Finder: Best High-End Finder

SPECIFICATIONS

• List Price: $2,699.99 (2023 list price, varies with screen size and transducer option)
• Type: Mountable Console
• Display Type: High Definition
• Display Diagonal Size: 10.1 in.
• Depth: 1,200 ft for CHIRP, 400 ft for Down imaging
• GPS: Yes
• Sonar: Dual Spectrum CHIRP
• Transducer: 2D
• Dimensions LxWxH: 11.81 x 4.78 x 7.89 in.
• Map Type: Humminbird base charts with the coastal USA, 10,000 lakes

PROS

• MEGA Side Imaging, Down Imaging
• Large touchscreen
• Wi-Fi, NMEA 2000, Bluetooth and ethernet connections

CONS

• Premium price
• For boats only

CONCLUSION

For fishing enthusiasts who have a few bucks to spend and want the very best fish finder, they don’t have to look any further because this is it.

It has a super-nice 10.1-inch HD screen that all of the most passionate fishing enthusiasts will appreciate. You get very detailed images and even Bluetooth capability to pair with your smartphone for extra convenience. It even allows you to receive notifications of your calls and texts right on the finder itself.

The third generation SOLIX G3 provides MEGA Imaging+ provides enhanced imaging and up to 250 feet to each side. In addition, the 2D sonar provides a grand distinction between fish arches and fish separation.

7. Deeper Chirp 2 Castable and Portable Fish Finder: Best Castable Fish Finder

SPECIFICATIONS

• List Price: $399.99 (2023 list price)
• Type: Handheld, Bobber
• Display Type: Uses your smartphone
• Display Diagonal Size: n/a
• Depth: 330 ft.
• GPS: No
• Sonar: CHIRP
• Transducer: Triple-beam
• Dimensions LxWxH: n/a
• Map Type: Not included

PROS

• CHIRP sonar has 0.4 inch separation
• 330 foot depth
• Castable

CONS

• Consumes smartphone battery
• You need an additional fishing rod for casting sonar

CONCLUSION

When it comes to fish finders, this one works a little differently than most. Great for kayaks, boats, onshore, and ice fishing!

Fishers throw this device out into the water, and it works much like a bobber. The maximum distance is 330 feet. So, you have the freedom to toss it and drift and you can easily see everything that’s going on. Added convenience is made easy by connecting with the Fish Deeper app on your smartphone.

Easy to use and easy to see the fish even if they’re in the middle of the lake. This is one of the few fish finders that works great even in extra-deep water. It even allows you to create maps and then use the app to log them. Making it perfect for those times when you decide to revisit one of your favorite fishing spots.

8. Lowrance HOOK2 5 – 5″ Fish Finder with TripleShot Transducer: Best for Mapping Purposes

SPECIFICATIONS

• List Price: $399.99 (2023 list price, varies with screen size and transducer option)
• Type: Mountable
• Display Type: Color High-resolution, SolarMAX
• Display Diagonal Size: 5.0 in.
• Depth: 1,000 feet CHIRP, 300 feet DownScan
• GPS: Full Chartplotter and basic GPS navigation options
• Sonar: Wide-angle CHIRP
• Transducer: TripleShot with DownScan, SideScan, and CHIRP
• Dimensions LxWxH: 9 x 7.5 x 7.13 in.
• Map Type: 3,000 US inland lake maps installed

PROS

• Great size for kayaks
• Perfect for 1.5 in. Hobie accessory mount

Cons

• Transducer stops reading for small percentage of users

CONCLUSION

The full 5-inch screen on this finder makes it super easy to use. It allows you to enjoy all of the detailed images on the screen to help pinpoint exactly where the fish are.

It comes with a map of more than 3000 U.S. lakes to help point you in the direction where the fish can be found, and don’t worry if you’re not exactly tech-savvy because this fish finder has a menu that is super easy to navigate.

The GPS feature is second to none, and the down-and-side-scanning feature makes your search for the perfect fish a lot easier. is a tremendous all-around finder because it helps both beginners and more experienced fishing enthusiasts.

9. Humminbird Helix 7 Chirp MSI GPS G3 NAV: Best Down Imaging Fish Finder

SPECIFICATIONS

• List Price: $749.99 (2023 list price, varies with screen size and transducer option)
• Type: Mountable
• Display Type: Color TFT
• Display Diagonal Size: 7.0 in with 800H x 480V resolution color
• Depth: 1,200 ft for CHIRP, 125 ft for Down imaging
• GPS: Full Chartplotter and TrackPlotting features
• Sonar: Dual Spectrum CHIRP
• Transducer:  Low Q CHIRP transducer
• Dimensions LxWxH: 10.54 x 3.68 x 5.80 in.
• Map Type:

PROS

• Superior company reputation
• 256 color TFT screen
• Built-in GPS
• Displays 99 preset fishing spots
• Great screen for all weather conditions

Cons

• Only one sonar profile allowed
• Depth/Temperature readings are not that accurate
• Insufficient zoom capabilities

ConClusion

With an exceptional down imaging feature, this finder allows you to see the lake floor as you’ve not been able to enjoy it up to this point.

It has a large 7-inch screen and two modes that allow you to have less or more control over how the display screen looks. You can upgrade to the GPS G2 for mapping and a triple-shot transducer or enjoy the many advanced features that this finder already has.

You can even zone in on a small area and get excellent details on how it looks, but it’s the two separate modes that fishing enthusiasts seem to love best about it.

Summary

When it comes to fish finders, I have selected and presented 9 of the best in the market to choose from based on price and features.

Fish finders come in many sizes and price ranges, so you will need to evaluate how much you are willing to pay for the premium features.