Quote:
Originally Posted by Linesider82
Hi Jim,
The livescope technology is incredible and Garmin just made it better, however the full packages for this technology is very expensive 10K, sidescan plus a spotlock trolling motor is around the same cost depending on what you choose. The primary reason why we don't see livescope in salt water is because of the nature of our quarry. In salt water we tend to move much more than in freshwater (tides, and wind exposure). I do see it's application worthiness for blackfish in regards to finding a giant boulder, but odds are if you're in a boulder field you will be catching no matter what.
Sidescan in saltwater makes the most sense and is way more economical in regards to price over livescope because it gives you the picture of the ocean floor left and right of the vessel and that's all you need. With side scan, you can find fish and/or structure. The best tool without either option is the g3 chip, boston to norfork if your range is the cape and south. this is bottom imagery from NOAA (free online) you could literally set marks without this tech for free with homework, the file is dumbed-down because the imagery file size in full res is gigantic.
Something to consider is if you plan to use your boat in fresh and salt and/or also ice fish. I blind flush mounted my electronics in my boat. While it looks awesome and impossible to steal without cutting out my console and then god willing they try to get it free, my smaller garmin unit was portable in size. I should have used an accessible top mount for it to take it to a tin boat or ice fishing and simply purchased the mounts or Ice pack for it, and rig my boat or ice pack for it's use.
I do do that (my 1890 fishes both salt and fresh, and I ice fish), and NOW my garmin unit for ice and fresh water is portable and wifi connected so I can both import what I need (single marks) or swap the chip and get the same info between units if I used auto contour of a reef or something that is generally marked. Inland I think hummingbird has an edge, salt it's garmin all day especially since Garmin bought out navionics.
If you plan on running at night, radar is wonderful as is a spotlight. Save your $ don't get livescope and put it towards radar and a momentary spot.
Also do not do business with Atlantic Outboards, they are crooks.
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Great response, thanks!
"The livescope technology is incredible and Garmin just made it better, "
I do 2-4 trips a year in freshwater with my kids and a guide, he uses livescan. My kids think it's incredible the way he finds the schools and watching the fish come up and eat their bait, my kids LOVE it. I've also taken them ice fishing with the same guy and it's awesome in the ice too.
"sidescan plus a spotlock trolling motor is around the same cost depending on what you choose."
That's in the ballpark of what I figured.
"I do see it's application worthiness for blackfish in regards to finding a giant boulder, but odds are if you're in a boulder field you will be catching no matter what. "
Interesting you'd say that, as the freshwater guide tells me the livescan is very helpful to him when he targets blackfish.
"Something to consider is if you plan to use your boat in fresh and salt and/or also ice fish."
We are looking for something easily trailerable so we can do fresh and salt. Does that make you lean in one direction or the other for what you'd recommend? Not a big ice fisherman.
I did a trip this June with my kids and Captain Mike Roy in the CT River. He used the side scan to find a school of bunker that gave no sign of their presence on the surface, then used it to find schools of bass to drift through. I fell in love with side scan sonar on that trip.
"Sidescan in saltwater makes the most sense"
I assumed that anyone knowledgeable would say that, I've never seen a saltwater captain use livescan. They all use side scan sonar now. there has to be a good reason why.
"I do do that (my 1890"
You have a Maritime 1890? My first choice was actually the 2090 skiff (I have 3 boys I like to fish with), but we may end up with a 21 defiant.
"If you plan on running at night, radar is wonderful as is a spotlight. Save your $ don't get livescope and put it towards radar and a momentary spot. "
I occasionally like fishing at night but especially as I get older, I'm OK paying a pro to take me once or twice a year to Block at night. I don't like night fishing enough to want to take any chances. I just don't know that I'd ever trust myself not to hurt anyone else. It'd be cool to get to Southwest Ledge by myself at night, but I'm planning on being a VERY conservative boater. May still get the radar as you never know when you'll need it.
"Also do not do business with Atlantic Outboards, they are crooks."
I've never heard that before, but wasn't planning on using them.
How do you tell what depth the fish are at, with side scan?