Best Fish Finder Under $300 [Ultimate Buyer’s Guide & Review]

Do you believe you're bad at fishing because you don't catch much? You haven't located the proper location yet. So where do you look?

Well, you can use a fish finder in this case. This little device literally opens up the whole underwater world in front of you and guides you to the best fishing spot.

With a fish finder, you'll be able to optimize your time on the water by finding out whether or not there are any fish in the area that you're casting into.

However, many anglers hesitate to buy this because of the high price. But luckily, not all fish finders are expensive. In this article, I’m going to share the best fish finder under $300.

I know, practically under 300 dollars doesn’t mean they are cheap. But they can fit in your budget easily. And spending a few bucks on them is better than fishing blindly without knowing what is beneath the surface.

What Is A Fish Finder?

Before telling you the details, I want to share some basic information about this device. Let me tell you the definition more precisely.

A fish finder is actually an electronic device that works with sonar waves to scan the underwater surface. It can detect aquatic creatures.

Furthermore, the device can also tell you about the fish and bait location, depth and temperature of the water, the presence of things that attract fish, and many other things.

How do Fish Finders Work?

Are you curious to know the working procedure? Basically, the device contains two components. The transducer scans the water with a sonar pulse. It sends pulses through the water, and when they hit any object like fish or others, they come back to the surface.

Then the receiver end of the fish finder measures the time and determines the depth as well as the strength of the returning pulse. The harder or stronger the object, the stronger the return pulse will be.

Why do I Need A Fish Finder?

If you don’t miss your bait, nothing but a fish finder will help you the most. It’s a super useful device that can lead you to a place worth fishing. And not only fish, if you are looking for structure, main channels, underwater weeds, drop-offs, but you can also find those too. Besides, not only detect, but you can also understand the distance.

This way, you will be able to create your fishing strategy correctly. After all, knowing where to throw your casting net is the most crucial factor in catching fish. You can definitely fish without this device, but it won’t be nearly as effective.

So, if you need consistent performance, a fish finder is a must.

List of 9 Best Fish Finder Under 300

Now it’s time to see the list of the best affordable fish finders. Based on performance, features, customer ratings, and others, I have come up with this list.

Check it out now!

Review of Top Fish Finder Under $300

After seeing the list, it’s time to learn about the details. From now on, I will tell you the features, pros and cons of these inexpensive fish finders one by one.

So, let’s start with my first one.

Our Top Pick - Garmin Striker 4 GPS Fish Finder

I have selected the Garmin Striker 4 GPS as our top pick because of its outstanding features. This one proves that the fish-finder does not need to be so expensive to provide noteworthy features. This best fishfinder GPS combo under $300 is perfect for small boats and kayaks. The palm-sized device is easy to carry.

One notable thing is, this device sends a continuous sweep of frequencies instead of one single frequency. Because of this, the sonar wave gives almost photographic images of objects, structures, and fishes.

Moreover, it’s workable at 1600 feet freshwater, 750 feet saltwater. You can find them in 3.5, 5, and 7 inches display sizes.

There is a waypoint map included in it. You can use it to view, mark, as well as navigate locations easily. It also helps you to find your way back to the landing stage. Besides, you may view your sonar data in the classic flasher format.

The Garmin Striker 4 GPS is ideal for vertical jigging or ice fishing. Well, now have a look at their product details and pros-cons.

EDITORS CHOICE - Deeper PRO+ Smart Fish Finder

Those days were gone when fishing was just a guessing work, but nowadays, it also adopts the newest technology. The Deeper PRO+ is one of the greatest inventions. It works with Wi-FI and acts as a hotspot so that without any cellular data, you can easily connect it with your iOS or Android devices.

It provides a very fast data transfer and seamless connectivity. Their transducer sends 15 scans per second and contains a 1-inch target separation. See how fast they are!

Simply cast the device and let it scan the area for you. With your mobile phone, you can find out the depth of different spots and locate the fish hanging around the area.

You know, you can save all this scanning information too! Every scan and map are saved on the Fish Deeper App. The app is also available for desktops. So, you will be able to build up your own database of your fishing area. You can analyze and even share the information with others.

Therefore, the next time, you can find your targeted spots and species more quickly. As a result, you can spend more time catching.

Best 5-Inch Fish Finder- Humminbird HELIX 5 Fish Finder

HELIX 5 is one of the best Humminbird fish finders to bring your fishing experience to the next level. Their CHIRP Digital Sonar and Imaging Sonar reveal the lake bottom. And the GPS mapping, AutoChart Live, and Humminbird Basemap show you the way.

Another notable feature of this device is SwitchFire. This functionality allows you to decide between two display modes which are Max Mode and Clear Mode. You can determine how much you want to see or un-see by choosing from these two modes.

Perception is everything in fishing, isn’t it? The HELIX 5 will provide you side-to-side perception with the Side Imaging feature. Along with this, the Down Imaging will also help you to understand what’s happening below your boat. You will be able to watch bridge pilling, rocks, or any other structure with precise details.

Furthermore, you can install a Micro SD card in the dedicated slot to see optional maps and also for saving waypoints. It’s also possible to create real-time maps of your fishing spot by utilizing the AutoChart Live functionality.

BEST VALUE - Lowrance HOOK2 4X Fish Finder

Are you wondering about which Lowrance fish finder to buy? Since this brand has a remarkable product line, it’s easy to get confused. However, you can choose the HOOK2 4X Fish Finder without any doubt.

This best low-cost fish finder provides an easy-to-use phone-like interface that you don’t have to spend much time setting your device. The device can automatically adjust to your situation. So just turn it on and fish.

Its Solarmax display provides a crisp and clear view of fish and fish-holding objects. And you know what is more? Lowrance always stays behind their products. Since it’s cheap, you might think their build quality is not that up to date.

We know that usually, manufacturers cut off their production costs by producing less durable products. But surprisingly, this HOOK2 4X is different in this case. It offers a 1-year warranty. Hence, you can be sure that your purchase won’t go in vain.

Top Pick for Pro Anglers - HawkEye Fishtrax 1C Fish Finder

Fishtrax 1C is perfect for experienced anglers who want a high-definition fishing experience. It features a VirtuView TFTN display as well as three operating modes. The mode includes Fish Finder, data and Ice-Mode Digital Flasher.

Besides, like the other FishTrax model, this one is also equipped with FishTrax Intelligent Sonar technology that lets users tweak their fish finder. As a result, it will adjust to any fishing technique or platform.

Every angler can find their ultimate satisfaction in fishing with the 100 level of affectability modification, auto-zoom ground tracking, and multi-level depth range. It even offers 2 functional airwave frequencies. According to shallow or deep water, you will be able to choose from 200 kHz and 83 kHz frequencies.

200 kHz frequency means 200000 sonar pulses are produced and listened to by the transducer every second. Similarly, 83 kHz refers to 83000 sonar pulse per second.

This fish finder device also has built-in expand-ability. For this, it can adapt to any fishing platform. According to your platform, you can pick up accessories to adopt your Fishtrax 1C.

Best Inexpensive Depth Finder - Lucky Wired and Wireless Portable Fish Finder

A fish finder works with both wired and wireless modes! Amazing, right? This Lucky fishfinder combined these two opportunities. For over 10 years, it has remained the favorite device of many anglers.

This castable sonar contains a floating design. It can scan deeper and analyze detailed data. Moreover, it has some notable features that make it simply the best fish finder for bass fishing and others.

With this device, you can adjust sensitivity, choose your preferred color display from 3 options, and narrow to wide beam scanning.

You don’t have to be concerned about the battery life either! Not only does the device come with a rechargeable battery, but it also provides a great battery life.

Please note that there are no wall adapters for the charging cable. You have to charge this one through a USB charging device.

Decent Performance- Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv

This one is a 4-inch color fishfinder that has a high-sensitivity GPS and built-in Quickdraw Contours mapping. Along with these, the hardware part includes cable, a swivel/tilt mount plus transom and trolling motor mounting hardware.

The GPS will assist you in marking waypoints, creating routes, and measuring your boat’s speed. On the other hand, the waypoint marking will lead you to your favorite hot spots easily whenever you want.

Their vivid scanning sonar color palettes make it very easy to distinguish fish and structure. Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv includes a GT20 transducer with built-in Garmin CHIRP traditional sonar and CHIRP ClearVü scanning sonar.

Interestingly, you can pick up 7 color options with maximum contrast and clarity.

Outstanding Navigation Features - Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 Fish Finder

The Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 features FishReveal technology that combines the CHIRP sonar and the DownScan Imaging. Because of this, you will get high-resolution images of fish-holding structures. As a result, fishes are easier to find and identify.

You will also like the SplitShot transducer feature since it gives you a wide angle. This Lowrance fishfinder also ensures that you don’t have to waste time resetting the device again and again.

The function can automatically adjust the fishing condition as soon as it changes. Therefore, you can spend more time fishing.

You know, in daylight, it’s hard to see the screen of some devices. Thankfully, Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 thinks about it. Their SolarMAX display is clearly visible in direct sunlight.

Best Downscan Fishfinder - Humminbird 410160-1 PIRANHAMAX 4 DI

Our last item is Humminbird 410160-1 PIRANHAMAX 4 DI. The Dual Beam Sonar lets you choose from a wide beam to narrow so that you will get broad coverage. The easy-to-handle device delivers sharper images with its large LCD monitor.

The notable features of this device are down imaging, depth alarms, zoom, Fish ID+, fish alarms, and everything that you need. Although it would be better if they have GPS and sidescan functionalities, for this price point, they are less expected.

Furthermore, it comes with a lot of hardware support too. You will find XNT 9 DI T transducer, tilt and swivel mount, gimbal mounting bracket, mounting hardware, and a power cable (6 ft).

Let me tell you about their depth capability. It works up to 600 ft in 200 kHz frequency, 320 ft in 455 kHz frequency. And in the case of down imaging, it can cover up to 320 ft.

In addition to these, you will also get a high-resolution, large screen, dual beam sonar, temp, 256-colors grayscale, etc.

Choose A Fish Finder Under $300 – Buying Guide (What should Look)

So far, you have seen the best budget fish finders review. Obviously, all of them won’t be perfect for you. So, how can you find the best-suited one?

Well, let me tell you some of the facts you should consider before selecting a fish finder.

Brand

The majority give priority to the brand name while buying something for them. If you have your favorite fishing brand, you can go for them.

Although I will recommend you to judge the quality rather than follow a brand name. You might find a better option at the same price.

Sonar

Dual-beam sonar is the most important thing you will love to have in your best sonar fish finder. This feature is essential to get clear underwater images. Along with detailed coverage, you can also reach fresh and salty water too.

Waterproof Technology

Since a fish finder is practically an electric gadget, you have to be careful about water damage. You know, water is the biggest enemy of electrical equipment. So, a good fish finder should meet the IPX7 waterproof standard.

Without higher water resistance, your device won’t be efficient at all.

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Transducer

The ability to capture the best images and create accurate maps is the main task of fish finders. These maps come in handy to spend more time fishing rather than finding the best spot all the time.

Basically, the transducer handles this task. It sends cone-shaped sound waves into the water, which lets you see the underwater world. The beamwidth varies from model to model.

Therefore, you should focus on transducer technology and determine whether it can serve your purpose or not.

Navigation Features

The navigation feature should be easy to handle to give you a trouble-free fishing experience. A button interface is handier in this case. But if it can work with mobile phones like Deeper PRO+, it will be okay too.

However, it will be best if a fishfinder comes with auto-adjusting features.

Networking Features

If your fish finder contains great networking features, it can make your fishing experience more enjoyable.

Therefore, you should focus on a model that you can connect with your smartphones or tablets.

Intend to use

You see, ice fishing, saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, everything one different. Some manufacturers build their items with a specific type of fishing in mind. If you are a professional in a particular area, you might find them more reliable.

However, nowadays, manufacturers are designing fishfinders with different transducer modes. These models are ideal for almost all types of fishing. If you are a beginner, you might like them the most.

Type

There are 3 types of fish finders available in the market. They are – normal 2D fishfinder, downscan fish finder, sidescan fish finder. Some fish finders also combine more than one technology to locate more fish.

Anyway, the 2D device is the oldest one. It has either black/white or color display. This device roughly shows the rough texture, soil hardness, fish, etc., with dot or dash.

On the other hand, SideScan sonar offers perfect display quality with adjustable width. From left to right, you will get almost realistic images from 1 meter to 30 meters.

For sampling large lakes and open water, this one is more than perfect. However, this type of fish finder comparatively costs more money.

And because of this, the cheaper DownScan models are gaining popularity. These devices provide photorealistic views of the below interface. The relatively small range is not adjustable.

Simply put, all these three types of fish finders have their own advantages and disadvantages. According to your fishing needs, you have to choose one, so consider carefully about which one to buy.

Frequency

The frequency feature of a fish finder is one of the crucial things. Higher frequency sends more sound waves and thus returns more detailed information.

Meanwhile, low frequency scans more deep down into the water than high frequency. This is because low frequency has a narrow beam and high frequency has wider beams.

Hence, if you have to go deep water fishing, low-frequency scans will assist you, and if you need to scan large areas, high-frequency devices will be the perfect partner.

Cone Angles and Beams

The ideal cone angle for fishing at various depths is 20 degrees. And the beamwidth usually varies between 9-degree and 60-degree.

Moreover, the next feature you will love to have is a dual-beam sonar. This one is important to get clear coverage under the water. They function in both clear and saltwater and deliver either narrow or wide beams.

Display Screen Resolution and Size

The first thing you need to look at is the display screen size and efficiency. Since it will be the eye of you in the water, you should not compromise the quality.

Remember that the wider the display, the more convenient it will be. You can read the screen easily.

As for the resolution, high resolution is always better. It shows clearer and more precise details whenever you need them. The more pixels that a display contains, the better it is. At least 240 pixels x 160 pixels is good enough. But you should go for more if you have the budget.

Display Screen Colors

Color displays are standard for fish finders. You can effortlessly read and understand the information that your transducer delivers. Most importantly, they are easy to see under direct sunlight.

On the other side, black and white displays are a little bit difficult to read, especially in the daylight or cloudy weather.

Power

You need to consider the power before going for a fish finder. You see, you don’t need much power while fishing in shallow water.

But it’s an important factor when you are planning to fish in deep water or saltwater. At that time, you have to buy a finder with the highest power.

This is because less power can cover slower waves, and more power can translate faster waves. Therefore, to get accurate and reliable information, you need the best suitable power performance.

The feature also plays a main role in the depth scanning of water. More power means more depth scanning.

Wattage

The power of a fish finder is defined in watts RMS. You should go for a fish finder with a higher wattage since they can bring the information faster to your screen. Their response time is also shorter.

A 500-watt fish finder is decent enough for most operations. However, professional anglers might like 1000 watt or higher sonar.

Portability

The portability of a finder also matters. Obviously, you don’t want a model that you can’t pack up easily or tire you out after some time.

Therefore, it’s important to look into the weight and size. Lightweight and compact designs are preferable in this case.

GPS System

Although GPS is not absolutely necessary, it’s a good feature to have. The GPS lets you download the maps.

As a result, you can learn about the underwater topography or mark waypoints for returns. Some of the devices even allow advanced custom mapping and navigation.

Still, there are a lot of good options available on the market without GPS. Choosing them is also not a bad deal at all.

Storage Capacity

After taking the images, maps, or videos, you may need to store them for further studies. Here the storage capacity comes in handy.

If your finder can integrate with smart devices, that will be great. Your information will be saved in the cloud as well.

Alternatively, you can look for an option with storage capability. A device with an SD Card mount or slot can be a great help in this case.

Runtime

You should examine the battery feature carefully. Imagine you are in the middle of the sea, and suddenly your device runs out of battery! Very unpleasant situation! Isn’t it?

So to avoid this, choose a device with the longest run time. And don’t forget to charge it on time.

Design and Durability

The design of your fishing device should be comfortable for you. It should not be too small that it is hard to read or too big that it takes the maximum space of your boats.

And regarding durability, of course, you don’t want to waste your money on something that expensive. So, to secure your investment, you need to be sure about the durability of your device. It’s better to go for a company that offers a warranty for a long time.

Well, these are the things you have to consider before buying. Now let me enlighten you about another important topic in the next segment.

Maintenance of A Fish Finder

So far, you have seen the best low-cost fish finders and some facts that you should consider before buying. But you know, to have a great experience with your device, you must take care of it. So, before ending the article, I like to include some tips regarding this fact.

• Keep your fishfinder clean by wiping with a damp rag
• Store it in a proper place when not in use
• Follow the manufacturer instruction for setting up
• Don’t use over its water-resistant level

Following these things will ensure a long product life. Anyway, I have nothing more to add to this conversation.

So, let’s conclude here.

Concluding Word

By this time, you have learned enough information in terms of the best fish finder under 300. You have also seen the guideline for buying the best one. Now it’s time to make your decision.

You can pick up any of the fish finders that I have mentioned today. All of them are good at their job.

So, just find the best-suited one for you, and then happy fishing!

FAQ

In this section, I have included some of the question-answers that people ask frequently. Let’s have a look at them.

What’s better Lowrance or Humminbird?

Whether you will like their performance or not, it’s totally up to you. So, there is no exact answer to this question.

However, there are some basic differences, like Hummingbird has relatively more models in general. They are also outstanding in terms of innovation. On the other hand, Lowrance offers more budget-friendly options.

Overall, I think Hummingbird is better, but your thinking can be different.

What is better Garmin or Lowrance?

Lowrance is relatively a feature-rich fish finder. It has better sonar and imaging performance. Moreover, it works with flawless wireless connectivity. After considering all these, I have to say Lowrance is definitely better than Garmin.

Most of the users also said so.

Can I Sync my Fish Finder with my Smart Phone or Tablet?

Yes, it’s possible to sync a smartphone or tablet with a smart fishfinder. Nowadays, some fishfinders work wirelessly. These act as a wifi hotspot, and you can connect them with your phone or tablet.

Can I Use the Same Fish Finder for Shallow Water, Deep Water, And Ice Fishing?

Yes, you can. Most modern fish finders are capable of adjusting to any environment. If the fish finders have a portable power supply, different transducer modes, you can use them anywhere you want.

How much does a fish finder cost?

A fish finder doesn’t cost so much. You can find many of them for under 100$ dollar. However, if you are a professional and need something not basic, you have to spend around 300$. There are also many high-priced fishfinders available in the market for around 1000$.