Getting out onto the water in your fishing kayak can be hard enough, so you should do everything in your power to make sure you find fish once you’re there.
A good kayak fish finder will help you do just that. Down imaging and mapping are great tools to have at your disposal when you are trying to locate fish.
While some experienced anglers might claim that using a fish finder is cheating, there’s nothing wrong with making the most of the tools at your disposal.
For those of you looking for a great gift for the kayak angler in your life, a fish finder is a great option. You will need to find one that fits their stable fishing kayak and can be mounted without too much effort but, fortunately, we have plenty of options for you today.
Keep in mind that these fish finders vary greatly in price, design, and durability. If you (or the person you’re shopping for) are new to kayaking, there’s nothing wrong with a lower-priced model to get started with.
For experienced anglers, however, those cheaper models aren’t really going to add to your kayak fishing arsenal. So it may be worth it for you to spend a little more for a unit that is actually going to prove useful once you’re out.
Photo by FedBul via Shutterstock
Who This Guide Is For?
This guide is perfect for kayak anglers who want to add electronics to their setup, whether they are beginners shopping for an affordable starter unit or experienced paddlers ready to invest in GPS mapping and side imaging.
It is also useful for anyone buying a gift for a kayak fisherman and unsure which features actually matter.
How We Chose These Recommendations?
We considered the following factors:
- Mounting compatibility: A fish finder must work with your kayak’s gear tracks, hard points, or adhesive mounts without requiring major modifications.
- Imaging type: Down imaging suits deep water while side imaging covers shallow water, so matching sonar type to your fishery is essential.
- Battery and power setup: The unit needs enough power to last your typical trip without adding excessive weight to your kayak.
- Screen size and readability: Displays must stay readable in bright sunlight while still fitting comfortably on a kayak deck.
- GPS and mapping: Built-in GPS and lake contour maps aid navigation and save space by combining two devices into one.
- Portability and durability: Kayak electronics get moved frequently and exposed to water, so waterproof ratings and protective cases matter.
Things To Note
- Fish finders with larger screens and GPS cost significantly more than basic sonar-only models.
- Units requiring a 12-volt marine battery add weight and consume valuable deck space on a kayak.
- Touchscreen displays can be frustrating to operate with wet or fish-covered hands.
- Budget castable units typically lack the mapping detail and target separation of mounted models.
Best Portable Kayak Fish Finders
- Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 73sv
- Raymarine Element 7 HV
- Lowrance Elite FS 9
- Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv
- Lowrance Hook Reveal 7
- Humminbird Helix 5
- Lowrance Hook Reveal 5
- Garmin Striker 4
- Venterior Rechargeable Fish Finder
- HawkEye FishTrax 1C
- Deeper Chirp 2
- Lowrance Hook 2
- Humminbird PIRANHAMAX 4 DI
- LUCKY Portable Fish Finder
- Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro
Kayak Fish Finder Buying Guide
Photo by Lutsenko_Oleksandr via Shutterstock
Before you peruse the fish finders below, it is best to take some time to consider what exactly you’re looking for in this kayak fishing accessory.
All anglers are a little different, so you can choose which of these factors hold the most weight for you in your decision-making process.
How Will You Mount It?
The obvious place to begin is to visualize what your fish finder will look like once it’s mounted to your kayak. While you can get creative with a DIY mount, the easiest course of action is to find a fish finder that is compatible with the mounting system already on your kayak.
Some lightweight fishing kayaks feature gear tracks that allow compatible mounting hardware to slide in and lock into place. Others will have holes or hard points already secured to the deck of the kayak for mounting accessories.
Still others will require some sort of sticky or suction-cup mount that will adhere right to your plastic kayak. Finally, the most labor-intensive mounting option requires drilling into the body of your kayak, securing your fish finder, and then making sure it is resealed once again.
All of these are options and your choice depends on your preference. If you are okay with mounting your fish finder wherever your kayak’s current mounting points or gear tracks are located, that will be an easy way to go.
However, if you are particular about your fish finder being set up in a location where there currently are no mounting points or gear tracks available, you may be in for a little more work to get your fish finder situated where you want it.
How Deep Will You Fish?
The depth of the waters you intend to fish will play a large role in whether you choose a fish finder with down imaging or side imaging. So let’s talk a little bit more about these two imaging types and their pros and cons.
Units with down imaging tend to be better suited for deep water fishing. The transducers in down imaging fish finders emit and direct sonar waves downward to provide better imaging of what’s swimming down in the depths.
On the other hand, fish finders that primarily rely on side imaging are ideal if you are fishing in shallower waters (aka blue-gill and bass fishing). These units direct sonar waves to the sides of your kayak to provide a wider field of view.
How Long Will You Stay Out?
Another consideration will be the length of time you typically stay out hunting for your catch. Battery life is limited in any electronic fishing accessory, so you’ll need to be sure the fish finder you choose can stay powered on throughout your adventures.
You will find some units on our list that come with their own rechargeable batteries and others that rely on small batteries or require a connection to a deep cycle, 12-volt marine battery. To keep it as simple as possible, the longer you stay out, the more battery life you will need.
Units that rely on larger batteries will last longer, but you’ll need to carry that battery on your kayak, which takes up space and can also weigh you down.
If you can find a unit with a rechargeable battery, you may save both space and weight by bringing a waterproof portable battery bank as a backup power source if the battery supply runs out.
How Far Do Your Adventures Take You?
Piggybacking on that last point, you should also consider how far you typically travel on your kayak fishing trips. For those that take multi-day trips or cover a lot of ground in a fishing kayak with a trolling motor, it is a good idea to consider a fish finder that also offers GPS capabilities.
This will allow you to navigate as well as scan the waters below your boat. Plus, it will save space on the deck of your kayak by combining two accessories in one unit rather than having to find space to mount a fish finder and a separate kayak GPS unit.
Portable Kayak Fish Finder Reviews
1. Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 73sv
Garmin is one of the most trusted names in both GPS units and fish finders these days, which is why this isn’t the only Garmin model you’ll find on our list. The ECHOMAP model, however, is built for lake fishing with Side scanning and vivid sonar color palettes.
It comes with preloaded lake maps featuring more than 18,000 lakes with one-foot contours for exceptional detail. It also features a seven-inch touchscreen display with clear images and a bright display that you will be able to read in even the most glaring sunlight.
This Garmin fish finder also comes with a transducer that provides a 20 percent greater range than previous models. Finally, this model secures with a ball mount and the full dimensions measure 13” by 8” by 8”.
2. Raymarine Element 7 HV
Also featuring a beautiful seven-inch display, the Raymarine Element 7 HV fish finder provides a dedicated keypad for easier control. It’s designed for those that don’t love the sometimes-tricky nature of touchscreen displays when their hands are covered with fish juices.
It has built-in, three-dimensional sonar that provides accurate imagery of underwater shelves, ledges, and contour changes. The unit’s 1.2-megahertz CHIRP technology gives you high-resolution images so you’re not straining to try to make out what you’re seeing on the lake bed.
While it is great for use on a fishing kayak, this fish finder can also be great for installing on a fishing boat. It offers continuous 3D rendering and a quad-core processor that instantaneously re-draws charts for better accuracy.
3. Lowrance Elite FS 9
The Elite FS 9 Fish Finder from Lowrance offers a nine-inch, multi-touch display with high-resolution imagery. The images even respond to the presence of your lure, with ActiveTarget Live Sonar that shows how fish swim around structures or respond to your bait.
This unit supports active imaging with three-in-one sonar that supports CHIRP technology, SideScan, and DownScan with FishReveal. This means that it will work for both deep-water and shallow-water fishing.
The Lowrance Elite also comes with contour maps for more than 8,900 lakes throughout the United States. These maps feature one-foot contours to help you avoid running aground in unfamiliar territory.
4. Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv
This fish finder from Garmin features a seven-inch display with color imagery to help you distinguish between fish and other underwater structures. You will also be able to take advantage of built-in quick-draw contour mapping.
For those that seek offshore fishing locations or like to cover a lot of ground on multi-day fishing trips, this fish finder includes a high-sensitivity GPS. This GPS allows you to mark waypoints, create new routes, and view the speed of your kayak.
The Garmin Striker also features Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to connect your smartphone to the fish finder. Using the connected app, you will be able to control the display, receive notifications, and transfer waypoints so that you can plan better fishing trips in the future.
5. Lowrance Hook Reveal 7
The Lowrance Hook Reveal 7 fish finder gets its name from its FishReveal feature that makes it easier to find and identify fish below your kayak.
By combining the target separating capabilities of CHIRP Sonar technology and high-resolution down imaging, fish will almost seem like they are lighting up on your display.
This unit’s Down Imaging capabilities make it a great choice for offshore kayak fishing, even if you haven’t already gotten yourself a proper rod and reel for offshore kayak fishing. That being said, it also features inland maps for more than 4,000 US lakes,
The Hook Reveal 7 is also built with a Tripleshot Transducer and auto-tuning sonar. The benefits of those features include wide-angle, high-resolution imagery, side and down imaging capabilities, automatic sonar adjustments according to conditions, and more.
6. Humminbird Helix 5
The Humminbird Helix 5 fish finder comes in its own portable carrying case so that you do not need to worry about it getting damaged while transporting it from your vehicle to your kayak. Because of the way most kayaks are transported on vehicles, permanently mounting your fish finder is not realistic.
You also don’t want to throw it in a kayak storage hatch without adequate protection. When the Helix 5 is out of its case, it packs a punch with CHIRP digital sonar for clearly displaying individual fish and dual-beam technology that provides more detail and a larger coverage area.
The Helix 5 also comes with a selection of built-in base maps that give you a better understanding of underwater contours and terrain. Plus, SwitchFire technology gives you control of how you view your sonar returns.
7. Lowrance Hook Reveal 5
The Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 fish finder also features the company’s FishReveal technology and boasts down imaging to provide better clarity for deep-water fishing. Inland anglers will also have that access to contour maps on more than 4,000 inland lakes.
The built-in maps also provide custom GPS plotting with Genesis Live and the ability to create your own contour maps. The added detail in these maps allows you to get onto fish faster instead of wondering whether you’re seeing fish or other underwater obstacles.
The Hook Reveal 5 also features a five-inch display that provides great clarity in all lighting conditions. Like the Hook Reveal 7, you will also be able to take advantage of auto-tuning sonar and the wide-angle visibility that comes with this unit’s split-shot transducer.
8. Garmin Striker 4
The Garmin Striker 4 is equipped with Clear scanning sonar that gives you more clear imagery of what is in the water around your boat. The higher frequency of this sonar provides detailed images of fish and other underwater obstacles.
The keypad interface on this fish finder provides a more simple operation than more expensive touchscreen models. It offers an IPX7 waterproof rating and models are available with three-and-a-half, five, and seven-inch displays.
The Striker 4 works at a maximum water depth of 1,600 feet in freshwater and 750 feet in saltwater. It also includes a built-in flasher that makes it ideal for jigging or cold water kayak fishing (and ice fishing too!).
9. Venterior Rechargeable Fish Finder
The Venterior portable and rechargeable fish finder is one of the more affordable models on our list. It features a simpler LCD display and can provide reasonable imagery at a maximum depth of 131 feet.
It provides a ton of useful information for kayak anglers, including water depth and temperature, fish size and depth, and contours of the bottom where you are fishing.
It also comes with a wireless sensor that attaches right to your fishing line instead of having to mount a transducer on your kayak.
This model eliminates the need to drill any holes or otherwise mount a transducer to your kayak. It works for trolling or still kayak fishing and provides useful information on lakes, rivers, ponds, and even coastal environments.
10. HawkEye FishTrax 1C
The Hawkeye fish finder is another small handheld portable model that provides accurate readings at a depth of up to 240 feet. The small color LCD screen offers a glare-free view and good readability in all lighting conditions.
The sonar sensor that comes with this fish finder can be deployed in a variety of manners. It can be trolled behind your kayak, mounted on the deck, or floated out in the water to help you save space on your kayak.
The FishTrax 1C fish finder also includes indicators that give you information on the depth of fish below you. HD images of the bottom landscape also prove useful for trolling kayaks and an audible fish alarm keeps you in the know if you get distracted by paddling or otherwise maneuvering your kayak.
11. Deeper Chirp 2
The Deeper Chirp 2 is a little different from the rest of the fish finders on our list. It does not come with its own display but, instead, casts its data directly to your smartphone so that you do not need to worry about mounting anything to the deck of your kayak.
The transducer itself can be cast up to 394 feet from your kayak so that you can enjoy a wide field of view over areas you have been fishing or plan to fish shortly. It also provides accurate scanning at depths up to 330 feet, so it can be used inland or for coastal fishing.
The Deeper fish finder features a fast-charging battery with an average battery life of 15 hours. If used in power-saving mode, you may be able to extend that battery life to 20 hours and the internal battery recharges in just two hours when plugged into a wall outlet.
12. Lowrance Hook 2
The Lowrance Hook 2 is another great option for kayakers because this specific fish finder comes with an all-weather pack that means you don’t have to worry about the elements when you pack it away after your fishing trips.
When you are using it, however, it offers a high-resolution display with clear images provided by the built-in CHIRP sonar coverage. It is also built with side imaging and down imaging options to provide for both deep-water and shallow-water fishing environments.
The Hook 2 is a battery-powered model with options for five different screen sizes (all in inches): 4, 5, 7, 9, and 12. It also includes autotuning sonar and a broadband sounder.
13. Humminbird PIRANHAMAX 4 DI
This affordable fish finder from Humminbird offers a color, thin-film transistor (TFT) display with a 4.3-inch screen. The tilt and swivel-mount that it comes with make it super easy to adjust your viewing angle no matter where you mount it on your kayak.
It is equipped with down imaging for deep-water fishing and it also offers built-in dual-beam sonar. This sonar system allows you to customize the beam width for narrow, deep coverage, or shallower coverage over a wider area.
The PIRANHAMAX fish finder also makes it easy to differentiate between fish and underwater structures while providing clear contours of the bottom below you.
14. LUCKY Portable Fish Finder
This is another highly-portable handheld fish finder that doesn’t require a direct mount to the deck of your kayak.
It comes with a 2.4-inch color display and provides accurate information on water depth and temperature, fish size and depth, and underwater contours.
The Lucky fish finder works at depths up to 328 feet and includes enough wiring for you to set the transducer up to 26 feet away from your kayak. It also offers a 45-degree beam angle with a 200kHz frequency in all directions.
15. Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro
The Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro fish finder is a combination unit with built-in GPs that will help you navigate uncharted waters. The bright, seven-inch display is easy to see in all conditions and CHIRP sonar provides crystal clear underwater imaging.
This fish finder is equipped with Raymarine’s patented DownVision, as well as conventional sonar. This translates to better accuracy and clearer imaging for both deep-water, offshore fishing, and shallow-water, inland adventures.
It comes with multiple mounting options so you can customize your set up and the push-button interface removes some of the complications that come with touchscreen displays.
Final Thoughts
Photo by FedBul via Shutterstock
Whether you are buying one for yourself or a friend or family member, a portable fish finder is a great addition to any kayak angler’s setup.
They will keep you from casting in vain and can help you identify underwater objects to avoid snags and other hassles of fishing life.
We hope you have enjoyed this collection of fish finders and at least one or two have sparked your curiosity.
As always, we wish all of our readers safe adventures and, in this case, the best of luck yelling “fish on!” next time to set your hook!
People Also Ask
Do I need GPS on a kayak fish finder?
GPS is not strictly required, but it is very useful if you paddle long distances, fish unfamiliar water, or take multi-day trips. It lets you mark waypoints, track routes, and monitor your speed. Combining GPS and sonar in one unit also saves limited deck space.
What is the difference between down imaging and side imaging?
Down imaging directs sonar directly beneath your kayak and performs best in deeper water. Side imaging scans outward to both sides and covers more area in shallow water. Some units offer both, which suits anglers who fish a variety of depths.
How do I power a fish finder on a kayak?
Common options include built-in rechargeable batteries, small replaceable batteries, or a 12-volt marine battery carried on board. Rechargeable units paired with a waterproof battery bank save weight and space. Match the power setup to how long you typically stay on the water.
Can I mount a fish finder without drilling into my kayak?
Yes, many fishing kayaks include gear tracks or hard points that accept compatible mounting hardware. Adhesive and suction-cup mounts are also available for kayaks without built-in mounting points. Drilling is only necessary if you want a custom location with no existing hardware.
Are cheap portable fish finders worth buying?
Budget units can be a reasonable starting point for new kayak anglers learning the basics of sonar. However, they usually lack detailed mapping, GPS, and strong target separation. Experienced anglers generally get more long-term value from a mid-range or premium unit.
