Google Earth
 

I just downloaded the free version of Google Earth, and I'm completely blown away by how clearly you can see the topography and structure of some of my favorite spots. The images of some areas are better than others, but in many of them you can see individual rocks well out into the water. Found several new spots that I can't wait to try. Anybody else use this?

i just downloaded it to helpme locate a lot of land in florida. then continued on by looking at all the spots ive fished, crazy detail and and easy to navigate, and ive found atleast 5 new spots that look very promising

yeah, it is the balls. pair it up with freeboatingcharts.com and you are a spot-finding machine.

Nice!

One thing you have to rmember with Google Earth is that the pics are five uears or so old.

Whats wrong with getting your butt in gear and find places by hunting them down without the aid of a key board...how else are you going to learn to read the water,,structure,,holes,, bars etc..Once you have that knolage you can go almost anywhere ,,stand ,look out over the sea scape and say..there you are my pet.THATS what I was looking for....instead of carrying a briefcase full of printed out maps....take some pride in knowing how to do it on your own.

i dont use it to find structure on a beach because that would be immpossible, its only an outdated picture, i was able to find beaches with good parking/access and get directions. because i live over an hour and a half away from the coast planning ahead is in order and driving down the coast aimlessly, although scenic, can waste a day

nothing replaces going out there and reading the water, I am talking about reading charts and maps to figure out overall good locations, such as inlets, points and cuts between islands, etc. the maps kind of give me a place to start, then I physically go there and read the water... you are right about that capesams, but reading a map to get the "big picture" is always smart.

Capesams :hs:

That defys what the internet has done to fishing....that's just TOO OLD SCHOOOL....:hihi:

CS letem rely on the satellite and when they get there and find the entire area changed they will understand what you are talking about. I was amazed at the actual difference at Scorton Creek from what is there now and that is not right on the coast. It will help you find roads you didn't know exist and that's about it.:as:

Yep. Shows Baghdad and Fallujah like it used to be.....:rocketem:

Your right Bloo,,,it's 2007, get with the program they say.:smash: ..then how is it all these fishing wantabe's are always chasing us old farts around trying to find that little hide-a-way hole where the large set up house keeping......even out in the BOat.:rolleyes:

what you are looking at is usually 3 to 12 years old depending on recent updates for various regions.... i think?

time changes all things :jester:

they have an over lay feature....
i'm wondering if you can combine the two....:bo:

i'm using google earth in my home search to
get an idea of the neighborhood and the
commuting distances ect.

the thing i don't like about google earth
is how old the photos are

when i google earth my own location
half the things are no longer even here.

If you want to see something really funny, go to google maps and type in new york, new york - paris,france in the directions section. One of the directions is "swim across the atlantic ocean". Pretty funny.

If you get a chance take a look @ Gillette stadium........

5/0

nice

Those directions suck. I got half-way there and ran out of energy, had to turn back. It's tough getting old.

Incredible resource for finding fishy areas. Great tool for scouting inshore structure like rocks, channels, grass beds etc. You can also see prevailing currents as they exit harbors and ponds. You can scope out parking lots, see trails.... I use it all the time as I prepare to fish an area whether I know the area well or not. NOTHING beats actually having your 'boots on the ground,' but if you work a lot of hours or have a long commute to and from the sudz its a great way to familiarize yourself with an area. Its actually one aspect of the internet that I actually DO like as it pertains to fishing. :grins:

Its just another resource to utilize. It is definitely a great tool.:kewl:

pisser
 

that thing is great ... y .. waste gas $ lookin around. i wish i had this tool 25 yrs ago ..... a pictures worth a 1000 words +.... the world at my finger tips......:btu:

i use it every day

Its a great tool. Same thing as being a boat fisherman and utilizing a nautical chart.

Amen.
I've been using GE since right after it came out, a colleague had the original beta version, and he has Pro version, which makes it easier to make your own maps. It has become such a useful tool OUTSIDE of fishing, that I will likely use it pretty heavily to teach geology in the future. The out of dated-ness of the photos is a pain for some areas,

Also, check out
http://local.live.com/

See image. thats from local live

You can also create you own overlay for GE. I also overlay NWS data for a complete look.
They are constantly updating the pics. The pics of my area have been updated 3 times since GE became available..
Great tool.

i love to use it whether it be for finding fishing spots that are hard to see due to glare or to just use for minor navigation purposes, it does it all

Old photos are indeed a problem. Anybody know of a good source for recent sat photos at a price that won't make you choke?