Fish Finder Equip Help

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Holy Grail

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Hi All... I have a 38' Cruiser and my buddy was telling me to add a "DSN 300 Fish Finder" to better identify depth patterns.

We boat mostly on the south shore, but are taking more trips further away from our "comfort zone" so this could be a good addition. NYC, Shelter Island, Greenport, Montauk and hopefully Block Island and beyond this season.

I'm not a real "tech" guy with equipment and value your opinions/ knowledge in here. Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
 
Any good quality(Furuno, Raymarine, Garmin, Hummingbird, etc.) fishfinder will do fine. The new LCD units are slim and bright and take up less space than the older CRT models. I'd recommend a through hull transducer and have the boatyard install it. You will get the best performance from a through hull and it's better for your size boat. My personal choice is Furuno, but I'm a fisherman, and am used to these machines. I'd also recommend a color unit, they're easier to see and more importantly easier to interpret what's under your boat.
 
Speaking of fishing, its something I plan to do more of this year.
Where can you get the best advice for fishing on South Shore?
Whats running, where, bait, hooks, etc.
Most of my fishing experience is on the North Shore with Flukes and Porgies.
What season starts in April, winter flounder?
 
Flounder season starts real soon. Best bets early in the season are to hit the flats and drains in the back bay. Key is, anchor up and use lots of chum as there aren't nearly as many flounder out there as there used to be. Thank the offshore draggers for that. Dickerson and Range channels are good places to start. As the season moves on, so do the flounder, closer to the inlets. Spring Srtipers will start soon as well. Early in the season sand and blood worms usually have the edge. Good places to start are drifting the State Channel between Gilgo and the Lindenhurst cut. Also in front of the lighthouse and CG station. Fluke start to show around the end of May. Regs haven't been finalized yet I think but count on a minimum of somewhere around 19". Ocean is the best spot to land a keeper these days, but many fish can be caught drifting in the area of the RM single span and the CG Station. Pickup or subscribe to The Fisherman for great local information as well as the many bait and tackle shops. There are so many species and places to look for them, and not nearly enough room here to cover them all.
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

Speaking of fishing, its something I plan to do more of this year.

Where can you get the best advice for fishing on South Shore?
Whats running, where, bait, hooks, etc.
What season starts in April, winter flounder?

Click to expand...


Dave ....here are the answers to your questions.

1) ask JohnC
2) ask JohnC
3) ask JohnC

I also plan to do some fishing this season.....but I will NOT be using the big boat.
 
Speaking of JOHN....

If he's on some vacation again.. ill be really pissed...

Rob
 
ImRich... thanks for the great info. Helps. I am having the boatyard do it "bronzed through the hull." So I guess I'm on the right track. Now if this weather would cooperate.... Thanks again.
 
Holy Grail

Bronze through hull is the way to go with inboards.

FYI so you can see what the yard is doing. It should be mounted facing downward so as to be shooting straight down when the boat is in the water. A fairing block is used to compensate for the curvature of the hull. It should be mounted where it will remain in the water when you are on plane and in the least turbulent spot. This is usually somewherein the rear half of the hull around a foot or so off the keel.

A high speed fairing block if available will also cut down turbulence and give you a better signal at speed but may require 2 holes to mount.

Just my .02. Hope it helps.
 
If you want to know where not to catch fish, follow me when I go fishing. :)

Walter
 
Glad to hear things are working out well for you HG. I just bought a Furuno CRT fishfinder for the new Chris Craft and will be installing it myself. The previous owner wasn't a fisherman and only has a digital depth gauge. I'm also putting in a bronze through hull transducer with a high speed fairing. Once I get over drilling a 1 inch hole through the bottom of my boat, things should go well. I've done it before and it's something you never seem to get used to.
 
Mintregila... great points. It's always good to head down to the yard and sound like you know what you're talking about! That way I am assured that they will pay attention to what and how they do it. Thanks for the advice.

Imrich... I don't like that digital depth gauge. Too unreliable. Be glad to have the fish finder as part of my electronics. Not sure I could EVER drill a hole in my boat! I can understand how you never get used to it. Good luck. You'll be fine.
 
quote:
Speaking of JOHN....

If he's on some vacation again.. ill be really pissed...
Click to expand...


I'm on a mini-vacation, I'm in Chicago visiting friends. Decided to check in while everyone is getting ready to go out. We were here for a birthday party Friday night, flew in Thursday. Got to spend the day yesterday joining in the St Patrick's Day festivities. We'll be home tonight. Is there much snow on the ground? It was actually sunny and clear here.

The bronze thru-hull is the way to go for seeing details, especially in deeper waters. I also have a 'shoot-thru-hull' setup which works better while running at high speeds. Depending on your hull shape you may get readings that are fine when running with the thru-hull. I have a Garmin combo unit and a Raymarine dedicated fishfinder, Furuno is also very highly regarded for fishfinders.

John
 
Walter,
that kids got way to much time off... ( john)

Almost as much as DON....
 
I suppose I'm legally single but next month will be 5 years together... The key though is no kids :)

While we were in Chicago our friends were trying to talk us into going to Cabo San Lucas with them in May... I think they succeeded. Just need to confirm we can both get the days off. A few days on the beach on the Pacific Coast, average daily high that time of year just under 90 degrees... I think I can use a few days of that.
 
I knew he wasnt married but has had the gf that everyone likes better then him...

So the way Don said single I THOUGHT he meant they broke up .....

Rob
 
John.....congrats to you and Tammie ......I can't believe how fast 5 years went.

Rob...... OK maybe your right ..... I should have said ...not married...no kid$. But you have to start to pay attention.
 
Rob has not been taking his ridilin (sp).
John, I was in Cabo a few years back, great fishing. The town was pretty cool, We were in walking distance of the town, we walked there at night (bunch of male male buddies), If your with your women, I suggest a taxi.

Rob, ask jimmy about Cabo, he almost never came home....those mexican girls are sooooo hot.

Walter
 
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