Best Underwater Fishing Camera
While a waterproof camera will give you a shot at snapping fish, it will require you to be underwater with them, which, of course, isn’t what you want if you’re fishing.
Instead, you want an underwater camera system that is made specifically for fishing and that can give you a visual layout of the land – or water- to aid your hunt for the perfect fish.
The cameras in this guide are just that, so if you’re as into fishing as you are gadgets or photography, they’re well worth a look.
Here’s what to expect in this article:
- Reviews of the best underwater fishing camera
- A detailed selection guide
- Your burning questions answered in a FAQ
Without further ado, here are our top picks…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
⭐ Our Other Top Picks for Underwater Fishing Camera
- Best of the Best: Eyoyo Underwater Fishing Video Camera
- Runner Up: MarCum Recon 5
- Best for Features: Anysun Underwater Fishing Camera
Best Underwater Fishing Camera Reviews
MarCum Recon 5 (👑 Best of the Best)
The MarCum Recon 5 is our top pick for the best underwater fishing camera, offering plenty of features to capture underwater scenes in crisp quality.
Whether fishing is a regular pastime for you or just an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon, you could benefit from a piece of equipment like the MarCum Recon 5. While you might not think you need it, and it’s certainly possible that you don’t, this gadget can enhance your enjoyment of the experience and bring renewed enthusiasm to the waiting game. If you get restless sometimes waiting for your next catch, or you’re simply a fan of gadgets, investing in an underwater viewing system like this one is a no-brainer. Endless hours spent whistling and tapping your feet can be replaced with real-time underwater fish tracking as you monitor the movements of the maritime creatures. This gadget can save you a lot of time, and increase the frequency with which you strike lucky, so it’s well worth a shot. For some, this camera can be a way of introducing children to fishing, as few things are more entertaining to kids than watching fish swim around on the device’s color screen.
As for specifications, this underwater fishing camera rocks a wide 5 inch LCD monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 800×480 hi-res color pixels. Perhaps best of all, though, the screen is sunlight readable. So even when the sun begins to rise and the glare diminishes your ability to see movements in the water, you’ll still be able to monitor what’s going on under the water in real time. There’s a ⅓ inch CMOS sensor in the camera, and a 110 degree field of view, which should provide you with a broad view of what’s going on under the water, so you can take in the whole picture. The camera also excels in low-light conditions, so even in the early hours of the morning when the sun has yet to rise you can make the most of this underwater camera.
If you were wondering whether or not the camera has a floatation device or bobber to keep it at a certain depth, it doesn’t. Instead, the MarCum Recon 5 comes with an incredibly long 50 foot camera cable. The cable will give you complete control over the depth and positioning of the underwater camera at all times. If it’s too deep, simply give the cable a tug or two, and if it’s not deep enough you can loosen the slack and gently lower it until it’s in the perfect position. As for how long you can expect to have this camera running for, you’ll get approximately 6 hours of continuous run time, after which you’ll need to charge the lithium ion battery. With the right planning, 6 hours should be more than enough time to enjoy a productive session of fishing.
This underwater viewing system also comes with everything you need right out of the box. There’s storage for the large cable, a built-in sun-shield and screen protector, a soft pack and a camera sack. You’ll also get USB charger and cable to replenish the lithium ion battery when it gets low and the built-in DVR has a MicroSD slot that supports up to 32GB.
Features:
- 5 inch LCD monitor
- 16:9 aspect ratio
- Sunlight readable
- 800×400 hi-res color pixel display
- ⅓ inch CMOS sensor
- 110 degree field of view
- Color kill
- 50 foot camera cable
- 6 hours continuous run time
- Built-in sunshield and screen protector
- Cable storage
- Soft pack and camera sack
Anysun Underwater Fishing Camera (🥈 Runner Up)
Our runner up pick for the best underwater fishing camera is the Anysun model, which offers up a 360 degree view with its unique viewing system.
If you want to be able to throw your camera into the water and see exactly what you’re dealing with underwater, then Anysun might have the perfect viewing system for you. Unlike other underwater fishing cameras, this setup is designed to provide the user with a 360 degree view. That way, you can spin the camera around at a moment’s notice for an immersive experience and to see what else may be lurking in the vicinity. While many devices opt for around a standard 100 degree viewing angle offering you a crisp picture of what’s in front of the camera, Anysun gives you a more adaptable device to play around with. That makes it ideal for ice fishing, night fishing, and boat fishing.
This underwater camera features a 7 inch TFT color monitor with a sun-visor for those moments when the sun peeks up over the water and threatens to blind you with overwhelming glare. It also comes with an OSD menu remote control operated camera, so as you are monitoring the screen you can be adjusting the direction the viewing device is facing to build a clear picture of what exactly is under the water. There are also 16 high-power white LED lights built into the camera, which should provide extra clarity and light in the dark depths of the water and for those early morning and late night fishing sessions.
As far as battery life is concerned, you can expect an impressive 10 hours of continuous usage. That means if you’re planning on staying out on the water for the whole day on your boat, you’ll have the camera at your disposal for a large portion of that time. Likewise, if you want to pull an all-nighter and see what you can catch, you’ll have the camera to keep you company and track the fishes’ movement at all times.
To adjust the position of the camera and its depth, you have weather resistant, waterproof, and pull-resistant cables. The best part about the cable though is that it extends to 20 meters, which is around 65 feet, making it able to reach profound depths. This is a big deal if you’re serious about fishing and you want to know exactly what’s under the water, at various depths.
Features:
- 7 inch TFT color monitor with sun-visor
- Sony CCD 800TVL HD video camera
- 360 degree view
- OSD Menu Remote Control
- 10 hours continuous run time
- 16 white LED lights
- Weather-resistant 20m cables
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Eyoyo Underwater Fishing Video Camera (💎 Best for Ice Fishing)
The Eyoyo underwater fishing camera is the best system for ice fishing in our view, and it’s also available at a very reasonable price.
While this system has a playful, colorful aesthetic that makes it seem like it may be for young fishers, you shouldn’t be fooled by its exterior. This is actually sophisticated device that makes fishing a breeze, even when you’re surrounded by ice. This viewing system is cold-resistant and waterproof, which is one of the main reasons why it’s suitable for the coldest temperatures and ice fishing. It also has a durable camera body, so you don’t need to worry about it taking damage from contact with the ice.
There’s a 7 inch TFT color monitor that comes with a sun-visor, so even if the sunlight bounces off the surface of the ice creating strong glare it shouldn’t affect the visibility of the monitor. The camera is a color CCD and HD 1000, which provides a crystal clear image, so you can see in detail what lays in waiting under the water. The camera has a ⅓ inch CMOS sensor and a view angle of 92 degrees. There are also 12 white LED lights fitted around the viewing device, so that when you dangle it in the water, you will be able to see the fish with a great level of clarity.
With this underwater fishing camera you can expect 10 hours of continuous run time, and the cable is 15 meters which equates to around 49 feet. This should give you plenty of flexibility in the depths you can use it at.
Features:
- Cold-resistant, pull-resistant cables
- 7 inch TFT color monitor with sun visor
- Color CCD and HD 1000 TV
- ⅓ inch CMOS sensor
- View angle of 92 degrees
- 12 white LED lights
- 49 feet cable length
- 10 hours continuous run time
Ultimate Guide
If you want to get your hands on the best underwater fishing camera for your needs, there are a few things to bear in mind.
First, there’s convenience, and then there’s the performance.
Convenience
If a device isn’t convenient, then you aren’t going to want to take it on your fishing trips, it’s as simple as that.
Portability
The first thing to note is how portable the viewing system is.
Ideally, you want everything to pack up neatly so you can easily carry it along with all of your other fishing gear.
That means storage for the long cables, and a case for the viewing system.
Durability
Durability is huge, especially if you’re going to be near or on the water.
You want to find a device that is weather-resistant to some degree, waterproof of course, and perhaps even cold-resistant if you enjoy ice fishing.
The last thing you want is to get to the water and realize that your viewing system is fragile and liable to break as you’re trying to concentrate on your next catch.
Performance
The performance of any underwater fishing camera will depend on various factors, which we believe are the following:
Viewing Angle
The viewing angle determines how much information you’ll receive in real-time on your screen.
If the viewing angle is less than 100 degrees, then you’ll get quite a narrow view which limits what you’re able to see to the sides of the camera.
Over 100 degrees, and you will be able to get a more complete picture of what’s happening around the camera.
360 degrees, and you’ll be able to rotate the camera in real-time so you don’t miss a thing.
Cable Length
The longer the cable, the deeper you’ll be able to submerge the camera.
Generally speaking most underwater fishing cameras will have cables that are at least 50 feet, but you can get cables that are longer than that.
Which depth is best for you will depend on your preferences and how much visibility you’re looking for.
Image Quality
The image quality of any camera is important, and underwater fishing cameras are no exception.
While to some a slightly grainy view of the fish won’t be a big deal, to others this can make the different between a quick identification and letting a potential catch pass by.
Ideally you want to find a camera that’s in color, has top low light performance, and preferably offers high-definition visuals so you can make out exactly what’s going on.
LED Lights
While not directly related to the performance of the camera, LED lights are a big deal if you want the utmost clarity while you’re monitoring the fish’s movements.
Usually the cameras will be fitted with upwards of 10 white LED lights, which should lighten up the dark depths of the water and give you a detailed picture of the various fish that pass by the camera’s lens.
Battery Life
The continuous run time of underwater fishing cameras will range from 5-10 hours, so you can choose the amount of time that best suits your fishing needs.
For those long sessions, make sure you get your hands on a camera that will keep going until the end, otherwise you might lose functionality before you want to.
Frequently Asked Questions About Underwater Fishing Cameras
Are underwater cameras worth it?
Underwater cameras are well worth the money if you’re interested in getting an idea of what’s lurking under the water as you’re preparing your bait.
With this type of camera, it’s more a case of getting advanced warning of what potential catches there will be, as opposed to snapping epic shots of underwater life.
With that said, underwater cameras will let you do both – which makes them an excellent way to enhance your enjoyment of fishing, as well as a fun introduction to the sport for the younger ones in your family.
What is the best underwater camera?
In our view, the best underwater camera is the MarCum Recon 5.
The MarCum Recon 5 comes with everything you could need to track the movement of fish underwater in real-time.
The sharp definition and wide viewing angle of the camera provides a clear view of maritime activity and the extra long cable makes it easy to adjust the device’s depth.
Do underwater cameras scare fish?
Generally, no, underwater cameras shouldn’t scare off fish.
If they did, then it would render them more or less useless as you wouldn’t be able to see anything under the surface of the water.
However, there are exceptions, such as when you switch the lights on with fish staring into the camera – as this can give them quite a fright.
A Final Word From Run Gun Shoot
Underwater fishing cameras do what normal cameras can’t – they can remain underwater and provide a visual of what lurks beneath the calm surface of the water.
It’s an invaluable piece of fishing equipment enjoyed by many hobbyists, and it can be an entertaining way to get into the sport or simply increase the amount of fish you can catch in a session.
